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A senior coroner has rejected anonymity applications from three Surrey County Council workers who are expected to give evidence at the inquest into the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif.
Sara was found dead in a bunk bed at her family home in Woking, Surrey, in August 2023.
Her father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, were convicted of her murder in December 2024 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The three Surrey County Council employees applied for anonymity ahead of the full inquest, which is expected to take place next year.
Alethea Redfern, representing Surrey County Council, told a pre-inquest review hearing that the applications were intended to protect the employees from potential harm to their health and private and family lives if their identities were made public while giving evidence.
The council also argued that disclosure of their identities could affect their ability to continue working and potentially result in the loss of experienced staff.
However, senior coroner Richard Travers rejected all three applications in a written judgment.
Mr Travers said he had carefully considered the evidence and relevant legal principles before deciding that anonymity should not be granted.
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He said he was not satisfied that anonymity was justified under common law principles of fairness or through balancing the employees' rights to private and family life under Article 8 against the media's freedom of expression under Article 10.
The coroner also referred to the important principle of open justice when reaching his decision.
Concerns about Sara's welfare had reportedly been raised within a week of her birth in 2013, while her family had also been known to social services before her death.
Mr Travers has previously ordered Surrey County Council to disclose 24,606 documents relating to Sara's siblings as part of the inquest process.
The forthcoming inquest is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding Sara's death and the involvement of agencies responsible for safeguarding her and her siblings.
Urfan Sharif was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years.
Beinash Batool was also sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve at least 33 years in custody.
Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, was convicted of causing or allowing her death and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
The full inquest is currently expected to take place in October 2027.
The coroner's latest ruling means the three Surrey County Council workers will not receive the anonymity they had sought when they give evidence during the proceedings.
Daily Dazzling Dawn will continue to follow developments in the Sara Sharif inquest.
