BURLINGTON, Vt. (TCN) — A 44-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to murder after allegedly bludgeoning his wife with a large flashlight in the presence of three children.
According to the Burlington Police Department, officers responded to an apartment on Oct. 10 after receiving several 911 calls. Some of the calls reported there was a fight in progress, and others requested an ambulance.
When officers arrived, they located Lila Khadka unresponsive in bed, suffering from severe injuries to her head. According to police, she was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Bal Khadka was arrested on attempted second-degree murder charges and ordered held without bail.
Law & Crime reports that when police arrived, they located a crying child outside the building. The girl alleged she was having a sleepover with her friend when her father started to beat her mother with a flashlight. The girl said she and her friend escaped out a window.
Investigators learned Bal Khadka had allegedly bludgeoned his wife with a large flashlight in front of his 3- and 10-year-old daughters as well as a friend who had spent the night at their house, according to WCAX. Law & Crime reports the flashlight was found in a bedroom drawer.
During his interview with authorities, Law & Crime reports Khadka was “stone-faced” and “appeared unaffected by the incident.”
One of the children reportedly recorded the alleged attack on her phone, and Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George said, “The audio recording is one of the worst things I think I’ve ever heard.” WCAX reports the children also alleged to investigators that Bal Khadka was using drugs and accused Lila Khadka of cheating on him, and that he had allegedly tried to kill his wife several times in the past.
Lila Khadka was pronounced dead at the hospital on Oct. 11, WCAX reports. On Oct. 13, Bal Khadka pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
WCAX reports George said, “The fact that this was done in front of his own 3-year-old and 10-year-old and then another 10-year-old — the lasting impacts that this will have on them and just the callous nature of doing it in front of children certainly, from the state’s perspective, is an aggravating factor.”
Bal Khadka’s criminal history includes convictions for violating an abuse prevention order, violating conditions of release, and DUI, per WCAX. Law & Crime reports the children are staying with relatives.
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