A murder defendant accused of stabbing his wife 55 times allegedly told police she was responsible for her own injuries. The police interview that took place in 2019 was played in court during the retrial of Amith Kumar, 47, Sept. 24 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Michael A. DiPietro.
Kumar is being retried on charges of first-and-second-degree-murder allegedly stemming from his wife’s infidelity.
He was previously found guilty of a weapons charge on Feb.21,2020 and sentenced to three years in prison. In the interim he was found mentally competent to be retried for his wife’s homicide.
According to court documents, officers responded to Kumar’s apartment at the 6700 block of Holabird Avenue on Jan. 11, 2019, and discovered his wife Ankita Verma, 29, suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Prosecutors say the murder was motivated by Kumar’s discovery that his wife was having an affair with her boss who was also the couple’s landlord.
In thickly accented English, Kumar said he found out about the affair when he was visiting his family in India after his father died. Three months after discovering the illicit relationship Kumar told police that he was going to reveal it to Ankita’s family and an argument ensued.
Under repeated questioning by detectives, Kumar insisted his wife’s wounds from a kitchen knife were self-inflicted. He said she first slit her wrists and when he tried to stop her, she cut her throat. Before leaving the apartment, Kumar allegedly said he saw that his wife was unconscious but didn’t notify the authorities. Later in New York City, he turned himself in.
In response, one of the officers said, “Say your prayers.”
Meanwhile during cross examination, defense attorney Judit Otvos questioned why a phone and tablet discovered in the apartment wasn’t searched and taken into evidence.
Testimony from the medical examiner is expected as the trial continues.
