Defense to question Naresh Bhatt again in Manassas Park murder trial

Naresh Bhatt is expected to return to the witness stand as his defense team seeks to reinforce his claim that he dismembered but did not kill his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, according to WTOP.

Last week, Bhatt testified that he found his wife dead in their Manassas Park home in July 2024 and admitted to dismembering and disposing of her remains. He said he feared being blamed for her death, which is why he did not inform police, family, or friends.

Despite pleading not guilty, Bhatt acknowledged concealing and defiling his wife's remains but denied causing her death. When asked directly if he killed her, he responded through a translator, "No, not even imagination."

Prosecutors challenged his testimony by presenting photos of injuries Mamta Kafle Bhatt had sent before her disappearance and questioned Bhatt about his military training and failure to call 911. They accused him of killing her and questioned his motives.

The defense will have another opportunity to question Bhatt to address these points and persuade jurors of his account's truthfulness. This follows several weeks of prosecution testimony and evidence in the trial.