Family members take stand at murder trial of alleged cleaver killer

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - More family members took the stand Tuesday on day 3 of the trial of Aita Gurung, a Burlington man charged with the 2017 cleaver murder of his wife in Burlington.

Wednesday will mark five years to the day that Yogeswari Khadka was killed in her Hyde Street apartment in Burlington. On Tuesday, a Burlington jury heard from Khadka’s mother, who survived the attack.

“‘What are you doing? What are you doing?’ In the meantime, he just struck her on her head,” said Thulsa Rimal, recalling the day in 2017 when she says her son-in-law attacked them.

Thulsa is the state’s final witness in the first-degree murder and attempted murder trial of Aita Gurung. Prosecutors say Gurung first attacked his wife as they were discussing his drinking and money. She says she tried to protect her daughter and then Gurung set his sights on her. “And then, after cutting her, he was approaching me, and a lot of people saw and were screaming a lot,” she testified.

Thulsa’s husband, Khadka Rimal, also detailed Gurung’s unusual behavior at home and how he previously described him as a madman. He spoke of one instance of seeing Gurung outside on their apartment balcony at 1 a.m. making noises. “I asked him why he was strolling outside and he said, ‘It’s ok, nothing,’” Rimal said.

Thulsa has also said Gurung was acting like a crazy man in the days before the alleged murder, including making noises and speaking when no one was around. She says he walked around naked in front of her. “Because that is strange, especially if you’re doing it in front of your mother-in-law. You’re not doing it in front of your brothers or other people, but in front of mother-in-law? That is strange, that is crazy,” she said.

The state rested its case Tuesday and appears to have shown enough evidence that Gurung was the killer. But if the jury believes psychiatric experts -- who say Gurung was legally insane at the time of the crime -- they have to find him not guilty by reason of insanity. The defense is expected to present their testimony Thursday.

Related Stories:

Daughter, police officers testify at murder trial of alleged cleaver killer

Trial gets underway for accused cleaver killer

Jury selected in trial of accused cleaver killer

Jury draw starts in trial of accused meat cleaver killer

Judge denies new psych evaluation for alleged cleaver killer

Attorney general points to translator trouble in case of accused cleaver killer

Meat cleaver murder suspect found competent to stand trial

Attorney general gets new hearing in case of accused cleaver killer

Hospitalization ordered for accused cleaver killer

Decision on where to hold accused killer delayed again

Accused cleaver killer to be held in prison

What kind of treatment will accused cleaver killer get in prison?

Man accused of murder found not competent to stand trial

Psychiatric experts testify on competency of alleged cleaver killer

Alleged cleaver killer found not competent to stand trial

Cleaver attack suspect to use insanity defense

Attorney general reinstating murder charges against suspect in deadly cleaver attack

Judge orders new mental health screening for alleged cleaver attacker

Does deadly cleaver attack suspect belong in jail or mental hospital?

Decision on where to hold accused killer delayed again

Accused cleaver killer to be held in prison

What kind of treatment will accused cleaver killer get in prison?

Man accused of murder found not competent to stand trial

Psychiatric experts testify on competency of alleged cleaver killer

Copyright 2022 WCAX. All rights reserved.