A resolution that's been a long time coming: Burlington meat cleaver murderer sentenced

Aita Gurung, the Burlington man found guilty of killing his wife with a meat cleaver in 2017, has been sentenced to life in prison.

The Attorney General's Office announced Dec. 20 that Gurung, 40, received a sentence of 35 years to life in prison, with 27 years to serve for the murder of Yogeswari Khadka. He also received a second, concurrent sentence of 20 years to life for the attempted murder of Tulasa Rimal, the victim's mother and Gurung's mother-in-law.

Gurung's conviction and sentencing has languished in the courts until now, in part because of his mental health state. His lawyers pursued an insanity defense, saying he was not competent to stand trial.

Mental health concerns

Gurung had gone to Burlington police before the murder with mental health concerns and spoke of a deteriorating relationship with his wife. Police took him to UVM Medical Center where he voluntarily admitted himself for mental health observation. Upon his release, he returned home and killed his wife and seriously injured his mother-in-law, according to police reports.

After his arrest, Gurung served a year and a half in a psychiatric facility. Once he was moved to a therapeutic facility, a lower level of care, charges were again brought to try him for murder.

In November 2022, following a four-week trial, Gurung was found guilty of murder and attempted murder.

Lessons from this case

Attorney General Charity Clark said the lesson in this case that she wants people to receive is that victims of domestic abuse are not alone. And everyone, including those for whom English is not their first language, deserve to be heard.

“Yogeswari was a brave, hardworking mother who immigrated to the United States in hopes of building a brighter future for her family," Clark said in a statement. "Her voice and the voice of her mother, Tulasa, who tried to save her, deserved to be heard. We are grateful that Tulasa and members of her family were able to share with the Court the impact that these tragic acts of domestic violence had and continue to have on their lives."

The couple, who were Nepalese refugees, had an 8-year-old daughter who was at school at the time of the murder. The state required her father to give permission for her to be in the custody of family members following his arrest.

The Attorney General's Office added: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Contact reporter April Barton at abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton.