MANASSAS, Va. – After a four‑hour deliberation, a local jury returned a guilty verdict in the murder trial of Naresh Bhatt, convicting him of first‑degree murder in the death of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt.

Mrs. Bhatt, a registered nurse and mother, vanished in July 2024 while pursuing U.S. citizenship. Her infant daughter was just weeks shy of her first birthday when the disappearance was reported. Her body has never been recovered.

Defense pivot and self‑incrimination

During the third week of the six‑week trial, Mr. Bhatt took the stand and testified that he found his wife dead from suicide on July 30, 2024, and subsequently dismembered her body. He admitted to cutting up the remains but denied causing her death, claiming he first attempted life‑saving measures.

Trial attorney Mike Hollingsworth, who was not involved in the case, said the defense’s strategy collapsed the moment Bhatt testified. “They didn’t have a great defense to begin with, but the case was over as soon as he said that,” Hollingsworth noted.

Potential appeals and sentencing outlook

Virginia law grants Bhatt an automatic right to appeal to the Virginia Court of Appeals. However, Hollingsworth believes the appeal has little chance of success because Bhatt’s own admissions under oath undermine any procedural arguments.

The defense had previously sought a trial postponement in September, citing a change of counsel and insufficient time to review discovery. While that motion might have supported an ineffective‑assistance claim, Bhatt’s decision to testify effectively nullified that strategy.

Bhatt is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on March 12, 2027, where he could face life imprisonment. According to Hollingsworth, the narrative Bhatt presented on the stand has likely eliminated any prospect of leniency from the court.

Original reporting: Arlington County | FOX 5 DC — read the source article.