Yandamuri, Defending Himself, Says He'll Take The Stand at His Murder Trial
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- The prosecution rested its case today in the trial of an Upper Merion man accused of murdering an infant girl and her grandmother in their King of Prussia apartment nearly two years ago.
Prosecutors contend that Raghu Yandamuri, 28, planned to kidnap ten-month-old Saanvi Venna and hold her for ransom to pay off his gambling debts. According to investigators, the girl's grandmother was killed during the kidnapping.
Today, the vice president of gaming operations at the Valley Forge Casino testified that Yandamuri was down nearly $35,000 at the blackjack tables in the three days leading up to the murders, in October 2012.
Yandamuri claims he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, forced to the apartment by two men who committed the crimes. Those two have never been found.
Yandamuri, who is defending himself, began his defense presentation by calling some county detectives to the witness stand. He indicated to the judge that he plans to take the stand in his own defense.
Testimony resumes Monday.