Two convicted murderers attempted to kill the father of tragic schoolgirl Sara Sharif in Belmarsh prison by 'slicing his throat with a can lid', a court heard.
Steven Sansom and Adam Watson allegedly set upon 44-year-old Urfan Sharif and slashed his throat on New Year's Day last year after duping him into believing they were his friends.
The attack was only stopped when prison guards ran to Sharif's defence after hearing his screams from cell 16. Two other inmates allegedly helped raise the alarm.
Sharif was taken to hospital in a critical condition but ultimately survived.
Sansom, 47, and Watson, 39, appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court today via video link from separate parts of HMP Wakefield where they spoke to confirm their names and dates of birth during the five-minute hearing.
Prosecutor Jack Wadsworth told the court: 'This was a planned attack and coordinated prison cell attack on January 1 at Belmarsh prison.
'On that date, using the pretext of friendship, after a period of signalling, Sansom lured Sharif to cell 16.
'Watson was already inside the cell, Sansom then attacked Sharif from behind, mounted him on the floor and applied sustained pressure to his throat.
Steven Sansom is already serving a life sentence for murder when he allegedly attacked Urfan Sharif
Adam Watson was also in Belmarsh for murder when he allegedly struck Sharif
Sharif was allegedly attacked at the category A high-security prison on New Year's Day 2025
'Watson positioned himself at the cell door and stood against it to prevent entry.
'Sharif states Watson passed an unidentified weapon to Sansom, understood to be a tin lid.
'Sansom made repeated cutting motions towards Sharif's throat.'
He said Sansom then allegedly tried to 'force an item into Sharif's mouth'.
Sharif was 'found bloodied and distressed' on the floor with Sansom over him, the court heard.
The prosecutor said: 'The intention was to kill Urfan Sharif and this was only prevented by the prison officers intervening and Sharif's resistance.'
Sara Sharif was just 10 when she was murdered by Sharif and his wife Beinash Batool
Batool is serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 33 years before she can be considered for release
Watson is charged with attempted murder, while Sansom is charged with attempted murder, grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon.
Sharif had been in the maximum security category-A prison following his conviction for murdering his daughter, ten-year-old Sara, at the family home in Woking in August 2023.
Such was the severity of her injuries leading up to her death, the post-mortem examination concluded that Sara died from complications from multiple injuries and neglect and could not give a definitive cause of death.
Sharif had fled to Pakistan with his wife Beinash Batool, before phoning police in the UK claiming he only meant to 'legally punish' his daughter for her supposed misbehaviour.
The pair were handed life sentences for Sara's murder, with minimum terms of 40 and 33 years respectively before they can be considered for release.