Vermont man charged with murdering wife with flashlight in front of three children

Bal Khadka, 44, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder after allegedly beating his wife to death with a flashlight. Three children witnessed the attack at the couple's Burlington apartment.

Burlington man pleads not guilty to murder after wife dies from flashlight attack

A Vermont man has appeared in court charged with beating his wife to death with a flashlight in front of three children, fox49.tv reports.

Bal Khadka, 44, of Burlington, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to second-degree murder and three counts of child cruelty. The murder charge was upgraded after his wife, Lila Darjee Khadka, died from her injuries.

Police officers responded to the couple's apartment on Saturday morning following calls about an assault. They found Lila Darjee Khadka unresponsive in a bed with substantial head injuries. Firefighters transported her to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she later died.

Court documents cited by WPTZ allege that Khadka struck his wife with a large flashlight at least ten times after accusing her of infidelity. The three children who witnessed the alleged attack were not physically harmed.

One of the children reportedly recorded audio of what investigators believe was the assault. The Burlington Police Department said the recording "captured children screaming and sounds believed to be repeated blows from the flashlight."

A judge ordered Khadka held without bail. The case remains under investigation, and The National News Desk said it had reached out to authorities and was awaiting a response.

Source: The Sun