More than two years after mother and nurse Mamta Kafle Bhatt, of Manassas Park, Virginia, was last seen, her husband, Naresh, is set to stand trial on Monday for her murder.
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Naresh Bhatt is charged with killing Mamta, defiling her body, and hiding her remains. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday morning in Prince William County Circuit Court, for what is expected to be a seven-week trial.
Mamta was employed at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center and her co-workers grew concerned when she didn’t report for work at the end of July 2024.
Mamta was last seen during a video call with her mother, on July 29, 2024, according to prosecutors.
While Naresh Bhatt told investigators he last saw his wife on July 31, 2024, prosecutors charged him with crimes they say occurred on July 29.
Court records show prosecutors have subpoenaed forensic specialists, blood-spatter experts and mapping analysts among their witnesses. Prosecutors said those expert witnesses will help jurors understand the evidence they say tracks Naresh Bhatt’s movements and actions before his wife disappeared.
Prosecutors have alleged that Naresh Bhatt killed his wife in their home, dismembered her body with a power saw and disposed of her remains in several garbage bags left in area dumpsters. In addition, investigators found a white bathmat covered with blood stains in a clothing donation bin outside a Loudoun County gas station.
Naresh Bhatt’s Google searches at the time included: “how long does take to get married after spouse dies” and “what happen in the event of dying spouse,” according to prosecutors.
One prosecution witness will likely describe evidence suggesting Bhatt tried to clean up the alleged murder scene.
“He will testify to the spike in water usage, namely the use of 111 gallons of water in a 1-hour period on 7/31/24,” according to the prosecution notice. “He will opine that this amount of water usage is unusual and significant for a residence that is not experiencing a water leak.”
On Thursday, Judge Kimberly Irving denied a defense motion to limit discussions of domestic violence during the trial. Naresh Bhatt’s public defenders argued asking potential jurors about domestic violence during jury selection and mentioning it during opening statements would prejudice the jury against him.
Chief Public Defender Tracey Lennox and public defender Laurel Rodewald have not revealed what direction they will take in Naresh Bhatt’s defense.
Three hundred prospective jurors have been summoned as members of the jury pool.
The judge has ruled that media organizations’ still and video cameras will be allowed in the courtroom. However, livestreaming will not be permitted.
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