Judges in Sara Sharif Case Identified After Court Lifts Anonymity Ban

Court of Appeal ruling allows naming of judges involved in decisions that placed Sara Sharif in the care of her father, who later murdered her.

Judge Alison Raeside, who handled most of Sara Sharif’s family court proceedings, has been named alongside Judges Peter Nathan and Sally Williams after a media gag order was overturned.
Sara Sharif, murdered in 2023 by her father and stepmother, had been placed in their care following a 2019 court decision supported by social workers and her parents.
The Court of Appeal ruled in favor of naming the judges to promote transparency, while acknowledging the challenges they faced in assessing risks based on available evidence.
Judge Raeside had previously approved custody arrangements for Sara despite documented allegations of domestic violence and abuse involving her father, Urfan Sharif.
The case has prompted scrutiny of family court processes and decisions, with calls for greater accountability and protection for vulnerable children.