MANASSAS, Va. — A Virginia man charged with the murder of his wife, who is still missing and presumed killed, is set to go to trial in September, following a ruling from the court on Wednesday.
Naresh Bhatt, aged 37 and from Manassas Park, was recently indicted on charges that include murder and the desecration of his wife Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s body. The 28-year-old nurse has not been located, and investigators believe her remains may have been dismembered.
Mamta Kafle Bhatt disappeared in late July, prompting a series of community-led searches for her. Although police had strong suspicions regarding her husband’s involvement in her presumed death, Bhatt was initially arrested in August on a lesser charge related to concealing a dead body. It was only this week that the more serious murder charge was brought against him.
During his appearance at the Prince William County Circuit Court, Bhatt was dressed in an orange jail uniform and communicated through a Nepali interpreter. He chose to give up his right to a speedy trial, agreeing to a court date on September 8, and the trial is anticipated to last around four weeks.
The trial that was originally slated to commence next week regarding the concealment of a deceased body has been delayed and combined with the upcoming murder trial.
This case has garnered significant attention, reaching even the Bhatts’ home country of Nepal. Judge Kimberly Irving mentioned during the hearing that she had received a request from Court TV to tap into the trial proceedings, which is within the judge’s discretion in Virginia.
Neither the prosecuting attorneys nor the defense provided an immediate stance on the request for cameras to be permitted in the courtroom. Following the hearing, Angel Rodas, one of the supporters of Mamta Kafle Bhatt in attendance, expressed her disapproval of broadcasting the trial due to concerns over the impact on the family. “I don’t think their business should be out there for the whole world to see,” she remarked, adding that the nature of the crime scene was already distressing and did not warrant further public intrusion.
Experts in law enforcement suggest that prosecuting murder cases without a recovered body can be challenging. However, advancements in evidence-gathering methods, including DNA analysis, cellphone tracking, and surveillance footage, have made such cases comparatively easier in recent years. Tad DiBiase, a former federal prosecutor who has documented bodiless murder trials on his website, reported an impressive 87% conviction rate from 604 trials across the United States as of September 2.
