Bal Khadka pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and child-cruelty charges after his wife died from injuries suffered at their Burlington apartment.
BURLINGTON, Vt. — A Vermont man has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and three counts of cruelty to a child after authorities accused him of fatally attacking his wife with a large flashlight while three young children were present in the family’s Burlington apartment.
Bal Khadka, 44, entered the pleas Tuesday in Chittenden Superior Court in connection with the death of his wife, Lila Darjee Khadka, 44. Police said officers found her unresponsive in a bed early Saturday after receiving several 911 calls reporting a fight and requesting an ambulance. She was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center in critical condition and died Sunday evening. A judge ordered Khadka held without bail as the criminal case moves forward.
Burlington police said officers were called to an apartment on South Champlain Street at about 5:48 a.m. Saturday. Investigators initially arrested Khadka on a charge of attempted second-degree murder after determining that he allegedly struck his wife with a large flashlight. After Lila Khadka died at the hospital at about 7:07 p.m. Sunday, detectives submitted an additional probable-cause affidavit seeking a second-degree murder charge.
Police said three juveniles were present during the alleged attack. Subsequent court reporting identified them as the couple’s daughters, ages 3 and 10, and a 10-year-old friend who was staying overnight. According to court records described by local news organizations, the two older children got out of the apartment during the incident. Prosecutors later added three counts of cruelty to a child, one for each child authorities say was present.
Charging documents made public at Khadka’s arraignment provided additional allegations about what the children told investigators. Authorities said the children described seeing Khadka attack his wife during an argument inside the apartment. Those accounts are allegations contained in the criminal case and have not been proven at trial. Police have not released a full public account of every event leading up to the confrontation.
Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George said in court-related reporting that the presence of the children was an aggravating factor for prosecutors. She said authorities were particularly concerned about the lasting effect of witnessing such violence on the children. The children’s identities have not been released publicly, and reporting on the case has generally withheld information that could further identify them.
Police records show the case began as an attempted-homicide investigation because Lila Khadka was still alive when officers arrived. Burlington firefighters transported her to the hospital with serious head injuries. Her death the following evening changed the direction of the case, and investigators amended the allegations to second-degree murder. Police have described the investigation as active and ongoing.
Court records cited by Vermont news organizations also describe earlier legal problems involving Bal Khadka, including past convictions for violating an abuse-prevention order, violating conditions of release and driving under the influence. Reports also said the children told investigators about previous violence in the household. Those claims about earlier incidents remain separate from the current murder prosecution, and Khadka has not been convicted of the charges arising from his wife’s death.
At Tuesday’s arraignment, Khadka appeared in court while represented by defense counsel. His attorney entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to the murder and child-cruelty counts. Under the criminal justice system, the charges are accusations, and Khadka is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Burlington Police Department said its Detective Services Bureau is continuing to investigate the case. Khadka remained held without bail following his arraignment. No trial date had been publicly announced as of Wednesday, and authorities had not released additional findings changing the murder charge or the three child-cruelty counts.
Author note: Last updated October 15, 2026.