The defense rested its case on Monday, November 9, in the Virginia murder trial of Naresh Bhatt. Prosecutors then called rebuttal witnesses. The shift came on Day 18 of testimony over the death of his wife, Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a nurse and mother whose body has not been found.

WJLA’s live courtroom coverage describes testimony from Bhatt, a clinical psychologist, a bloodstain expert and several prosecution rebuttal witnesses. The account is a report of evidence presented to jurors, not a judge’s finding that any disputed testimony is true.

Why It Matters

When the defense rests, the trial does not necessarily end. Prosecutors may call limited evidence to challenge points raised by the defense. That is called rebuttal. The judge must still handle the remaining legal steps before jurors can consider a verdict. A witness’s medical or psychological opinion also does not prove how Mamta died.

Go Deeper: What Bhatt Said

Bhatt returned to the stand Monday. Last week, he acknowledged using a saw to dismember and dispose of his wife’s body, but denied killing her. He has described finding her unresponsive and said he panicked rather than calling authorities. Those statements are his defense account. Prosecutors dispute the claim that Mamta took her own life.

On Monday, Bhatt spoke about his military-related work helping Afghan allies resettle in the United States. He testified that difficult experiences affected his mental health. He also said he regretted how he treated Mamta during their marriage and suggested that his behavior had contributed to what he characterized as her suicide.

What the Psychologist Could and Could Not Say

Barry Rosenfeld, a Fordham University professor and clinical psychologist called by the defense, testified that Bhatt met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Rosenfeld described an evaluation based on interviews and testing, and said those tests did not show Bhatt was exaggerating symptoms.

Under cross-examination, he acknowledged that he could not independently confirm many of the events Bhatt reported from his past. He also could not establish that Bhatt actually experienced panic at the time of Mamta’s death. Rosenfeld explained that a person with PTSD can still plan, understand right from wrong and make deliberate decisions. These limitations belong beside the diagnosis, not buried after it.

Forensic Evidence and Rebuttal Witnesses

WJLA reported that defense bloodstain analyst Elizabeth Lu Pierri raised possible limits in how the physical blood evidence could reconstruct a precise sequence of events. She did not say the physical evidence alone proved either homicide or suicide.

After the defense rested Monday afternoon, prosecutors called officers who said Bhatt had not told them Mamta died by suicide when she was first reported missing. Mamta’s mother, Gita Kafle, and brother, Mahesh Kafle, also testified during rebuttal. Their statements were offered to challenge the defense account and are still evidence for jurors to evaluate, not a verdict.

What Happens Next?

The court must finish any remaining rebuttal and arguments before the jury is instructed and begins deciding the case. No new verdict, final jury instructions or precise deliberation start was independently verified for this article. Readers can compare our November 5 testimony report and November 6 legal-instructions report without confusing them with today’s court session. The accused retains the presumption of innocence on the murder charge.