Manassas Park Man Accused Of Murdering Wife Starts Trial By Accusing Judge Of Bias: Report

Naresh Bhatt's trial for murder and defiling and concealing the body of his wife began on Monday.

By Michelle Witte, Patch Staff

Oct 6, 2026 10:35 AM EDT

MANASSAS, VA – A Manassas Park man accused of killing his wife pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, concealing a dead body and physically defiling a dead body on Monday, even as his lawyers continued to argue that they were not prepared for trial, according to new reports.

Naresh Bhatt, 39, of Manassas Park, is accused of murdering his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a nurse at the UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, who was 28 years old when she disappeared in July 2024. She was last heard from on July 28 and was reported missing by her husband days later.

Bhatt's trial has been scheduled and postponed twice so far, as his team has requested delays and changed attorneys. Bhatt was originally set to face trial for concealing a body in December 2024, but that was rescheduled as a jury trial for September 2025 when new charges were added. The 2025 trial was subsequently delayed at his defense's request due to the volume of evidence to be considered, the Prince William Times and others reported.

In September 2026, Bhatt attempted to fire his attorney after she failed to secure another delay. Chief Public Defender Tracey Lenox, who took over the case in January 2026, first argued that she needed more time, as reported by InsideNoVA and others. Lenox took the case over when former Senior Assistant Public Defender Shalev Ben-Avraham left for private practice in December.

The day after that request was denied, Bhatt asked to fire his attorneys, as reported by WUSA 9 and others, saying they were prejudiced against him. Judge Kimberly Irving denied the request.

Bhatt pleaded not guilty on Monday and began his trial by accusing the court of being prejudiced against him and requesting that Judge Irving recuse herself, InsideNoVA reports. Irving refused his requests once more.

Lenox also once again asked for the trial to be delayed and was rebuffed, according to the outlet.

Jury selection is underway.