BURLINGTON, VT – Aita Gurung, 40, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for the murder of his wife, Yogeswari Khadka, 32, and the attempted murder of his mother-in-law, Tulasa Rimal, in a violent attack with a meat cleaver. The sentence, which is part of a 35-to-life punishment, will be followed by probation.
The conviction, reached on November 3, 2022, came despite jurors acknowledging Gurung’s significant mental health issues. However, they did not find these issues sufficient for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, resulting in convictions of first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
Prosecutors argued that Gurung’s attack was deliberate, occurring after Khadka refused to get him a beer. VTDigger reported that the sentencing hearing on Wednesday recognized Gurung’s mental health condition but also emphasized the irreplaceable loss of Khadka and her history of suffering physical abuse at Gurung’s hands.
The impact of the crime on the family was evident in court, with statements from Khadka’s relatives. Their daughter, identified as S.R., portrayed Gurung as an absent father, highlighting the deep personal and familial consequences of the tragic events.
The case has shed light on the complexities of domestic violence and mental health in the criminal justice system, leaving the Burlington community and the families involved to cope with the aftermath of the violence.
