Judge BANS Alleged Abuse Claims in Wife’s Murder Trial

The judge in the trial of Naresh Bhatt, who is accused of murdering his wife, Mamta, dealt prosecutors a setback by blocking much of the testimony about alleged domestic abuse that Mamta reportedly described to a friend in February 2024. Prosecutors argued the statements were relevant to establishing the couple’s relationship and Bhatt’s alleged motive, but the judge questioned whether the claims were admissible under hearsay rules and how they could establish malice or premeditation. The judge ultimately excluded the accounts of past abuse from the prosecution’s case-in-chief while allowing certain statements about divorce, couples counseling and Mamta’s emotional distress. The ruling followed an extended debate over Virginia case law and the admissibility of statements about a victim’s relationship.

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