MANASSAS, Va. – The murder trial of Manassas resident Naresh Bhatt entered its fifth week on Monday as the Prince William County prosecutor’s office prepared to rest its case. Once the prosecution rests, the defense will be allowed to call its own witnesses and present evidence.
Charges and evidence presented so far
Bhatt faces three serious counts: first‑degree murder, concealing a dead body, and defiling a dead body. He has remained in custody since his arrest in August 2024 following the disappearance of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt.
During the first two weeks of the trial, jurors have examined what prosecutors describe as the most compelling evidence. A power saw recovered from the home was identified by the deputy Commonwealth’s attorney as the murder weapon, and forensic testing reportedly found blood and hair fragments on the tool.
Prosecutors also introduced text messages in which Bhatt argued with his wife and expressed a desire to be with a Colombian woman. The prosecution argues these exchanges establish a motive, alleging Bhatt killed his wife because he was ready to move on.
Additional evidence included testimony from a Prince William County forensics investigator who detailed Bhatt’s mobile internet searches, as well as surveillance footage showing Bhatt wearing gloves and discarding bags in trash dumpsters at two apartment complexes.
Defense challenges
The defense has raised several challenges to the prosecution’s case. Attorneys argue that communications in the couple’s native Nepali language may have been mistranslated, potentially altering the meaning of the text messages. They also question the reliability of a hairbrush belonging to Mamta Kafle Bhatt that was used for DNA testing.
Defense counsel has not yet indicated whether Bhatt will be called to the stand, though the defendant retains the constitutional right not to testify, a right jurors are instructed not to consider when deliberating.
Background of the disappearance
Mrs. Bhatt was reported missing after she failed to report for work at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center on August 1, 2024. Co‑workers requested a welfare check at the couple’s Heather Court residence the following day. Bhatt initially told officers he did not believe his wife was missing and claimed he last saw her on July 29. Relatives maintained that she would never abandon her infant daughter.
On August 5, Bhatt filed a missing‑person report, telling police his wife had threatened to leave and that they were discussing divorce. Later that day, authorities classified her disappearance as involuntary. Police arrested Bhatt on August 22 after discovering extensive bloodstains in the primary bedroom and bathroom of the home. Mrs. Bhatt’s body has not been located.
Next steps in the trial
With the prosecution expected to rest Monday, the defense will have the opportunity to present its case in the coming days. The trial is set to continue through the week, and jurors will ultimately decide whether the evidence proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Bhatt committed the alleged crimes.
The case remains a focal point for the Manassas community, highlighting concerns about family violence and the importance of thorough forensic investigation in violent crimes.
Original reporting: Arlington County | FOX 5 DC — read the source article.
