Naresh Bhatt recently took a polygraph test related to the 2024 disappearance of his wife, the defense revealed on the second day of his murder trial Tuesday, and witness lists for the defense and prosecution were announced amid ongoing jury selection.
Prince William County Circuit Court Judge Kimberly A. Irving promptly declared the polygraph inadmissible and granted the defense’s motion to exclude it.
Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Sarah Sami argued that Virginia law prohibits only the use of polygraph results, but not the questioning and responses involved.
Irving told Sami she could raise the polygraph matter again Tuesday afternoon if supported by additional case law.
The court returned to session at 2 p.m. Tuesday to finish jury selection after a one-hour lunch break.
Bhatt asked for a new judge on Monday, but Irving denied his request.
Chief Public Defender Tracey Lenox and Assistant Public Defender Laurel Rodewald are representing Bhatt throughout the trial.
Representing the commonwealth are lead prosecutors Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Sweet and Sami, along with their third chair, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Katherine Williams.
Pleas and timeline
Naresh Bhatt pleaded not guilty Monday morning to the three charges he is facing in the disappearance of his wife.
Monday’s court session also revealed Bhatt declined a plea bargain from the commonwealth, although its terms were not disclosed.
Bhatt, Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s husband, was arrested in connection with his wife’s disappearance in August 2024. He has been charged with first-degree murder, concealment of a dead body and physical defilement of a dead body, though no body has been found.
A Manassas Park nurse and mother, Mamta Kafle Bhatt was last heard from on July 29, 2024. She is presumed dead. Her final moments alive were likely during the night of July 31-Aug. 1 that year.
Jury selection is taking place Monday and Tuesday – and it may run into Wednesday morning depending on what transpired later Tuesday, though that is unlikely.
On Tuesday, Bhatt once again appeared in the courtroom clean-shaven with a comb over while wearing a black suit jacket, a gray collared dress shirt and black slacks – as opposed to his typical orange jumpsuit.
Jury selection continues
Irving has asked potential jurors eight questions thus far. Her points of inquiry have been as follows:
- The potential jurors’ availability during the seven-week trial period (the sole question from Monday)
- Whether they did any research on the case Monday night
- Whether they spoke about it to anyone
- Whether they are “related to blood or marriage” to the accused, Bhatt
- Whether they are “related to blood or marriage” to the victim, Mamta Kafle Bhatt
- Whether any of them are an employee, friend or client of any witness for either side
- Whether any of them have a financial interest or stake in the case
- Whether they have acquired information on the case via news media prior to Tuesday
The first and eighth questions have taken the longest up to this point.
Several potential jurors raised their hand for the sixth question on knowledge of witnesses, which was based on the defense and commonwealth’s witness lists – read in court by each party Tuesday morning.
The commonwealth’s list featured approximately 95 witnesses – including notable Mamta Kafle Bhatt friends, supporters and community advocates such as:
- Holly Wirth and Sunita Basnet, Mamta’s former nursing coworkers
- Gita and Mahesh Kafle, Mamta’s mother and brother
- Prabha Bhattarai Deuja, a Nepalese community leader in Northern Virginia who is also founder and president of the Tender Hearts Foundation
- Nadia Navarro, Mamta’s friend and former roommate
Meanwhile, Lenox revealed the defense’s list of 17 witnesses – chief among whom were six of Naresh Bhatt’s family members.
Under Irving’s order, all witnesses must be absent from the trial proceedings until after their testimony.
Jury details and pay
On Monday, Irving admitted that juror pay would amount to “not a lot of money” – or about $50 per day, she said. This adds up to $200 for four days per week and $800 per month, or about $1,400 for the entire, seven-week trial.
The final jury will consist of 17 total jurors, including five alternates. Around 62 potential jurors remained as of 2 p.m. Tuesday, with 20 having been dismissed during today’s morning session.
Bhatt’s trial is set to run four days per week – Monday through Thursday, except Columbus Day, Election Day, Veterans Day and Oct. 22.
Proceedings and jury deliberation are scheduled to conclude on Nov. 19.
Day 2 of the Naresh Bhatt Trial: Bhatt’s polygraph, witness lists and jury selection 2026
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-10-07 05:14:41
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