The WUSA9 video focuses on a dramatic moment in the ongoing murder trial of Naresh Bhatt, when prosecutors called the defendant a liar and members of the courtroom audience applauded.
The development comes as Bhatt testifies in the trial over the disappearance and presumed killing of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, whose remains have not been recovered.
Prosecutors challenge Bhatt’s account as he testifies
The case has drawn considerable attention among the Indian American and Nepali communities since Mamta, a 28-year-old nurse originally from Nepal, disappeared in July 2024.
According to WUSA9’s courtroom video, the reaction followed prosecutors describing Bhatt as a liar. The applause marked an unusually emotional moment in a trial that has included disturbing testimony about the alleged disposal of Mamta’s remains.
READ: Mamta Bhatt’s friend alleges abuse in murder trial (October 8, 2026)
Bhatt took the witness stand on November 4 and 5, 2026, giving his account of what happened after he allegedly found his wife unresponsive at their Manassas Park, Virginia, home.
During his testimony, Bhatt said Mamta had apparently consumed a pesticide and that he attempted to revive her. He acknowledged that he subsequently cut up her body and disposed of the remains in trash bags, but denied killing her, according to Court TV’s report.
Bhatt also told the court that he did not call 911 because he was frightened and panicked. He described struggling to separate his wife’s body before eventually using a saw and knives to dismember it, according to his testimony.
Prosecutors, however, allege that Bhatt murdered Mamta and then attempted to conceal the crime. Her remains have never been recovered.
Prosecution’s case
Prosecutors have presented forensic and circumstantial evidence, including bloodstains found in the couple’s bedroom and bathroom, surveillance footage showing Bhatt purchasing cleaning supplies and garbage bags, and evidence linked to a power saw.
A forensic scientist testified that it was “beyond likely” that most of the blood found on the bedroom carpet belonged to Mamta. Prosecutors have also presented evidence suggesting that the bedroom carpet had been moved and cleaned after the alleged killing.
READ: Mamta Kafle Bhatt disappearance: What prosecutors allege about her husband’s murder charge (October 6, 2026)
Bhatt has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, concealing a dead body and defiling a dead body. He has remained in custody since his arrest in August 2024.
The prosecution rested its case on Nov. 2, following testimony from Mamta’s brother and forensic experts. The defense is now presenting its case, with Bhatt’s testimony providing his account of the events surrounding his wife’s disappearance and death.
The trial is being closely followed by members of the Indian American and Nepali communities, particularly because of the circumstances surrounding Mamta’s disappearance and the couple’s young daughter, who is being cared for by relatives.