Two journalists have appealed the decision of a High Court judge to grant anonymity to members of the judiciary who were involved in proceedings concerning Sara Sharif and her siblings.
The father and stepmother of Sara Sharif were found guilty of her murder last year.
In December 2024 Mr Justice Williams imposed an order preventing the judges, who had previously dealt with the family, from being named.
“the appeal raises an issue of fundamental constitutional significance in relation to a case which is of a high order of public interest”
Written submission of Louise Tickle and Hannah Summers
We don’t propose to make any comments on the appeal which is being extensively covered by others.
Live tweets by Charlie Moloney, and live posts on Blue Sky by the Transparency Project are worth a read for contemporaneous reporting.
The appeal was live streamed on YouTube and is available to watch:
14th January AM : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bE4BrMjlgE&t
14th January PM : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIoi404I5TM
15th January AM : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Y0d4cgdd4
As a small contribution to open justice we are publishing the parties written submissions to the court. These have been redacted pursuant to a reporting restriction order imposed on Jan 9th 2025.
Case Details:
In The Court Of Appeal Of England And Wales (Civil Division)
On Appeal From The High Court Of Justice (Family Division)
Appeal No: CA-2024-002784 / Case No: FD23P00425
Between:
(1) Louise Tickle
(2) Hannah Summers
Appellants
And
(1) The British Broadcasting Corporation
(2) Pa Media
(3) Associated Newspapers Ltd
(4) Times Media Ltd
(5) Guardian News And Media Ltd
(6) Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd
(7) News Group Newspapers Ltd
(8) Independent Television News Ltd
(9) Reach Plc
(10) Surrey County Council
(11) Olga Sharif
(12) Urfan Sharif
(13) Beinash Batool
(14 – 19) U, V, W, X, Y (Children)
(By Their Children’s Guardian)
Respondents
Mouse in the Court 