A close friend of Mamta Kafle Bhatt testified that her husband, Naresh Bhatt, had physically abused and controlled her in the months before she disappeared, as testimony continued in his murder trial in Virginia.
The friend, Sarita Neupane, told the court that Mamta had sought refuge at her home following a dispute with her husband. Her testimony formed part of the prosecution’s effort to establish the circumstances of the disappearance of the 28-year-old pediatric nurse in July 2024, according to WUSA9 and NBC Washington. Naresh Bhatt has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, concealing a dead body and defiling a dead body. Mamta’s body has not been recovered.
Friend describes alleged abuse and financial control
Neupane testified that she saw Mamta crying outside her home several months before the disappearance and brought her inside. Mamta subsequently stayed with her for nearly two weeks while the couple were experiencing marital problems, according to NBC Washington.
The friend also alleged that Naresh had hit Mamta during an argument over household cleaning, leaving a bruise on her face. The injury reportedly forced Mamta to reschedule a traditional ceremony marking their baby’s first consumption of solid food.
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Neupane further testified that Naresh restricted Mamta’s access to money and her cellphone and prevented her from driving his car or obtaining a vehicle of her own. She said she had been helping Mamta establish a bank account and begin the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship.
The allegations have provided jurors with testimony about the couple’s relationship before Mamta went missing. They remain witness accounts presented as part of the criminal proceedings.
Mamta’s mother recounts last contact
Mamta’s mother, Gita Kafle, also testified about losing contact with her daughter.
According to trial coverage, Kafle said she had spoken with Mamta daily, typically in the morning and evening. Those calls abruptly stopped in July 2024.
Kafle testified that she tried contacting Naresh after she could not reach her daughter for several days. When he eventually spoke with her, he said Mamta had gone to stay with friends, according to the account reported by NBC Washington.
Kafle later traveled from Nepal to Northern Virginia to help search for her daughter and seek answers about her disappearance.
Mamta was last known to be in contact with people close to her in late July 2024. She failed to report for her shift at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center on August 1, prompting concerned co-workers to request a police welfare check at the couple’s Manassas Park home the following day.
Prosecutors cite forensic and circumstantial evidence
The testimony follows opening statements in a trial that began this week in Prince William County Circuit Court. Prosecutors allege that Naresh killed his wife and dismembered her body. They have told jurors they intend to present forensic evidence, electronic records, surveillance footage and testimony about the couple’s relationship. Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Sweet said during opening statements that Naresh gave a saw to a landscaper after Mamta disappeared. Prosecutors allege that forensic testing linked the saw to Mamta through blood and DNA evidence.
Investigators also found substantial blood evidence in the couple’s home, including the bedroom and bathroom, according to earlier reporting by The Associated Press and local news outlets.
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The prosecution is expected to rely on a combination of physical evidence and witness testimony because Mamta’s remains have not been found.
The defense, however, has argued that the prosecution must prove its case with evidence rather than speculation. Defense attorney Tracey Lenox has challenged the prosecution’s account and pointed to gaps in the evidence. Naresh has remained in custody since his arrest in August 2024. The trial is expected to continue for several weeks as prosecutors present their witnesses before the defense puts forward its case.
The disappearance drew significant attention from the local Nepali community, with friends, relatives and volunteers organizing searches and public appeals for information. Mamta’s family continues to seek answers about what happened to her.