Indian man Vijay Kumar, accused of killing his wife Meenu Dogra and three other relatives after a heated argument in Georgia earlier this year, has pleaded not guilty to the murders. His defense attorney described the incident as a "tragic case of self-defense." The plea was entered during a recent court appearance, but the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office disputes the self-defense claim.
Court Proceedings
During the proceedings, the judge asked, "Ms Merchant, how's your client plead?" Ashleigh Merchant, the defense lawyer, responded, "Not guilty." Merchant stated that Vijay Kumar is innocent and that the case will be presented as one of self-defense. "He actually is innocent. This is a case that we plan on presenting to you and presenting throughout this case as a case of innocence. It's a tragic case of self-defense," she said.
Defense Motion and Allegations
The defense submitted a motion for a bond hearing, alleging a "prolonged campaign of threats, extortion, and violence by his wife's family." Merchant clarified that these claims refer to only a select few of the wife's family members. The victims, besides Meenu Dogra, included Nidhi Chander, Harish Chander, and Gourav Kumar.
The motion further claimed that on the night of the incident, Gourav Kumar coerced Vijay Kumar from his home without his phone or coat, and he was physically shoved into the Chander residence. The motion described the home as a place where Kumar reportedly feared for his life after months of threats, armed intimidation, and financial extortion.
Supporting Evidence
The defense also cited "the recanted testimony of his minor daughter" to support the claim that Kumar acted in reasonable fear for his life. Merchant described her client as someone with no criminal history, saying, "He has 150-something people here and 100 letters of support. He's in a highly regulated, highly visible industry."
Incident Details
On the night of January 23, a fight broke out between Kumar and others, leading to the shooting in the presence of children. One child dialed 911 and called the police. Kumar has been in custody since his arrest.
