A jury of 17 members, including five alternates, was seated Wednesday in Prince William County Circuit Court for the murder trial of Manassas Park resident Naresh Bhatt. Bhatt faces a first‑degree murder charge and several related counts for the July 2024 disappearance of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt.
Prosecution outlines its case
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Sweet opened with a reminder of Mamta’s daily calls to her mother, her active social‑media presence, and her devotion to their young daughter. He asked jurors to consider how her life abruptly stopped.
Sweet argued that Bhatt offered “unbelievable spin” to police and the media about his wife’s disappearance. The prosecution said it will present blood evidence found in the couple’s home and on a saw that matched Mamta’s DNA, as well as testimony that Bhatt gave the saw to a landscaper shortly after she vanished.
Additional evidence includes purchases of cleaning products, surveillance video showing Bhatt wearing gloves and disposing of trash at multiple locations, and phone searches about what happens when a spouse disappears or dies.
Background on the marriage
Prosecutors described a marriage on the rocks, noting that Mamta had spoken to friends about leaving Bhatt and was close to completing her U.S. citizenship interview, which Sweet called “the last hurdle” to her freedom.
Defense response
Public defender Tracey Lenox, chief public defender for Prince William County, told the jury there is a “black hole” in the prosecution’s evidence and suggested witnesses have taken sides. She offered no theory of what happened to Mamta in her opening remarks.
First testimony
The first witness, Jessica Harasek, a nurse manager at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, testified that Mamta missed scheduled shifts and that coworkers repeatedly tried to contact her. When asked if she had heard from Mamta since the disappearance, Harasek replied, “I have not,” becoming emotional.
Jurors also viewed about 13 minutes of body‑camera footage from a welfare check at the Bhatt home. During that visit, Sgt. Brandon Johnson testified that Bhatt told police Mamta had disappeared before and returned, and that he believed she would come back again.
Trial outlook
The trial is expected to last roughly seven weeks. The jury, composed of six men and 11 women, will consider the evidence and determine whether Bhatt is responsible for his wife’s death.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
