HOUSTON — A judge denied bond Tuesday morning for the man accused of killing a young woman from Nepal inside her southwest Houston apartment.
Bobby Shah, 51, is charged with capital murder in the August 24 shooting death of 21-year-old Muna Pandey.
During his court appearance, prosecutors said when police arrested Shah several days later, he was still wearing the same blood-stained clothing seen on surveillance camera when he left the victim's apartment. Officers also found a gun in his car, according to prosecutors. Investigators said Muna was shot three times in the torso and once in the back of the head, “execution style."
Members of the Nepali community packed the courtroom in a show of force to demand justice for Pandey.
The victim's mother said last week that she wants the maximum punishment for Shah for the death of her only child. We learned that Anita Pandey was approved for a travel visa on Tuesday and is making arrangements to come to Houston.
“I can only imagine what Muna’s mother is going through being halfway across the world, so I wanted them to know what would happen in court, what they could expect," prosecutor Rebecca Marshall said after the hearing.
Anita said she raised money from the community in Kathmandu to send Muna to America to get an education and have a better life.
“I had such high hopes for Muna. She was so bright,” Anita told the Kathmandu Post.
Her daughter's friend, Nepalese Association of Houston board member Drona Gautam, delivered the heartbreaking news one week ago.
“I was devastated when the caller broke the bad news while sobbing,” Anita said. “I fainted as soon as I heard the news. I’ve lost my support, my everything. I don’t know what to do next; I can’t think ahead.”
Gautam knew Pandey from the restaurant where she once worked off Hillcroft. Her current boss said Shah was a regular in the restaurant and was known for leaving big tips for the women who worked there.
Now, the community is wondering why he allegedly killed Muna.
“How could that person do it?” Gautam asks. “I cannot even think about it.”
Shah's attorney insisted Tuesday that his client is innocent.
“He’s excited to get this case over with so he can prove his innocence," defense attorney Wilvin Carter said.