Court MinutesDetective Ventura testifies the master bedroom lit up blue under Bluestar and says she never saw a video of Mamta at USCIS
2 min read
Video: Court TV · Published 6:45 PM ET
Today in five bullets · Commonwealth v. Bhatt · Day 5 · Oct 13
- The detective testified that investigators applied Bluestar liquid in the master bedroom, and after the lights were turned off the room lit up blue. 2:12:17
- Detective Ventura testified she did not see, with her own eyes, any video showing Mamta at USCIS on July 31, 2024. 2:00:19
- Detective Ventura testified that in the closet on Aug. 9, 2024, she noticed Lysol and other cleaning products while looking for more medication. 1:10:59
- The judge said Commonwealth exhibit 319, the statement form, would be received without objection after the prosecutor moved it into evidence. 1:51:30
- Judge Irving sustained the defense objection to the prosecutor's question about how investigators applied the Blue Star technology. 2:11:48
The Case
Charged: First-degree murder; concealing a dead body; defiling a dead body.
What happened: Mamta Kafle Bhatt has been missing, and her body has never been found. Her husband, Naresh Bhatt, is charged in her death. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The state says: Bhatt killed his wife, dismembered her body and threw the remains away in trash bins in Manassas Park and Fairfax, and his Google searches beforehand show premeditation.
The defense says: there is a "black hole" in the evidence the prosecution cannot fill, and most of the forensic work speaks to hiding a body, not to a premeditated killing.
Where it stands: prosecution's case · scheduled through Nov 19.
Judge Kimberly A. Irving · Defense: Tracey Lenox
Updated Day 10
What's next
The clip ends with the prosecutor telling the judge the Commonwealth had "no further questions at this time" for Detective Ventura; the clip does not show what came next.
The Aug. 9 visit and the Aug. 14 statement
Detective Ventura testified that in a closet in the home on Aug. 9, 2024, she noticed Lysol and other cleaning products while looking for more medication. 1:10:59
Judge Irving said the prosecutor could approach but noted that an exhibit was still playing. 1:50:39 The judge received Commonwealth exhibit 319, a statement form the defendant filled out on Aug. 14, 2024, without objection after the prosecutor moved it into evidence. 1:51:30
The USCIS video question
Detective Ventura testified she did not see, with her own eyes, any video showing Mamta at USCIS on July 31, 2024, though she had told the defendant she was aware of surveillance video of Mamta that day. 2:00:19
Bluestar in the master bedroom
Judge Irving sustained a defense objection to a question about how investigators applied the Bluestar technology. 2:11:48 The detective then testified that investigators applied Bluestar liquid in the master bedroom, and when the lights were turned off the room lit up blue. 2:12:17
All 6 Moments
| Position in the clip | Moment |
|---|---|
| 1:10:59 | Detective Ventura testified that in the closet on Aug. 9, 2024, she noticed Lysol and other cleaning products while looking for more medication. Direct (state) 1:10:59 into Court TV · Day 5 · lead detective's testimony and bodycam (edited clip) |
| 1:50:39 | Judge Irving said the prosecutor could approach but noted that an exhibit was still playing. Ruling 1:50:39 into Court TV · Day 5 · lead detective's testimony and bodycam (edited clip) |
| 1:51:30 | The judge said Commonwealth exhibit 319, the statement form, would be received without objection after the prosecutor moved it into evidence. Ruling 1:51:30 into Court TV · Day 5 · lead detective's testimony and bodycam (edited clip) |
| 2:00:19 | Detective Ventura testified she did not see, with her own eyes, any video showing Mamta at USCIS on July 31, 2024. Direct (state) 2:00:19 into Court TV · Day 5 · lead detective's testimony and bodycam (edited clip) |
| 2:11:48 | Judge Irving sustained the defense objection to the prosecutor's question about how investigators applied the Blue Star technology. Ruling 2:11:48 into Court TV · Day 5 · lead detective's testimony and bodycam (edited clip) |
| 2:12:17 | The detective testified that investigators applied Bluestar liquid in the master bedroom, and after the lights were turned off the room lit up blue. Direct (state) 2:12:17 into Court TV · Day 5 · lead detective's testimony and bodycam (edited clip) |
Times are positions in the Court TV clip; no time in court was published. Each opens the clip at that moment.
Witnesses today
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