Naresh Bhatt found guilty of first-degree murder of wife Mamata Kafle Bhatt in US

A jury in Prince William County, Virginia, found Naresh Bhatt guilty of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Mamata Kafle Bhatt. The jury delivered its verdict on Tuesday evening after approximately five hours of deliberation, also convicting Bhatt of concealing a body and desecrating a body.

The prosecution successfully argued that Bhatt had intentionally killed Mamata and hidden her dismembered remains in trash bags across various locations in northern Virginia. Mamata Kafle Bhatt’s body has not yet been recovered.

Bhatt had testified in court that Mamata died by suicide and that he dismembered her body out of fear. He admitted to using a saw to cut her body into pieces to make it easier to dispose of in trash containers. Bhatt also stated that he was unhappy in their marriage and wanted a divorce, claiming Mamata only appeared happy when making TikTok videos for social media. The defense argued that the prosecution failed to prove its allegations.

Mamata’s friends expressed satisfaction with the verdict outside the courthouse, stating their faith in the justice system. Sunita Basnet Thapa, a close friend and colleague of Mamata, claimed she had seen bruises on Mamata’s face in December 2023, which she suspected were caused by Bhatt’s abuse.

Sentencing and Penalties

For the first-degree murder conviction, Naresh Bhatt faces a sentence of at least 20 years to life imprisonment. He could also receive an additional five years for each of the two charges of concealing a body and desecrating a body. The prosecution presented approximately 100 witnesses and nearly 500 pieces of evidence during the trial.

The court denied Bhatt’s request for release on bail, meaning he will remain in custody until his sentencing.