Two Belmarsh Prisoners Charged in 2025 Attempted Murder of Urfan Sharif

Q: How did two Belmarsh inmates allegedly ambush Urfan Sharif, and what evidence convinced prosecutors to pursue attempted murder charges?

Prosecutors appear to be relying on evidence that Urfan Sharif was allegedly lured or cornered in a cell at HMP Belmarsh and then attacked by two inmates, reportedly using the jagged lid of a tuna tin. Media reports say Sharif suffered cuts to his face and neck and was treated in prison, while police described the injuries as non-life-threatening. The Crown Prosecution Service has not publicly set out the full case or disclosed the detailed evidence behind the charges. What it has said is that, after working closely with the Metropolitan Police, prosecutors decided there was “sufficient evidence” to bring attempted murder and related charges against Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39. That means the CPS believes the available material meets the evidential test for a realistic prospect of conviction. Based on what has been reported, the attempted murder allegation is likely tied less to the ultimate level of injury and more to the alleged circumstances: a two-on-one ambush in a confined prison cell, the claimed use of a sharp improvised weapon, and wounds to vulnerable areas including the neck. Those factors can support an inference of intent to kill, which is central to an attempted murder charge. Beyond that, the precise evidence, such as CCTV, forensic material, witness accounts or prison intelligence, has not been released publicly. The circumstances of the attack remain under investigation, and fuller details are likely to emerge in court.

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 14

Steven Sansom, 47, and Adam Watson, 39, were charged with attempting to murder fellow inmate Urfan Sharif over an incident at Belmarsh Prison on Jan. 1, 2025.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the pair also face other offences tied to the attack and are due at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a first hearing on Aug. 26.
Sharif, 43, is serving a life sentence for the murder of his daughter Sara Sharif after he and stepmother Beinash Batool were convicted at the Old Bailey.
The charges bring a new legal case inside Belmarsh, linking the prison attack to one of Britain's most high-profile child murder convictions.