Bellevue, WA man charged in wife's 2025 murder

SEATTLE - A Bellevue software engineer accused of strangling his wife to death in a premeditated killing last fall pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

Avinash Narne, 30, was arrested last week in connection with the suspicious death of his wife, who was found dead inside their Bellevue apartment in October 2025.

The backstory:

According to court documents, Bellevue police officers were dispatched to the Woodland Commons Apartments on Oct. 27 after receiving a 911 call from Narne, who stated his wife, 27-year-old Raajitha Sabbineni, was locked in a bathroom and unresponsive.

Responding officers found Sabbineni dead on the bathroom floor. Despite efforts from first responders to save her life, Sabbineni was pronounced dead at the scene.

Narne allegedly told police he "came home and found this situation." He and Sabbineni had entered into an arranged marriage approximately four months before she was found dead.

The King County Medical Examiner's Office later ruled that Sabbineni died from asphyxia due to strangulation. Bellevue police then upgraded the case from a suspicious death to a homicide investigation.

Police said Narne was involved in a secret romantic relationship with a woman in India at the time of his wife’s death. 

Narne denied any involvement in his wife's death, however police cite WhatsApp messages and door lock records as evidence in probable cause documents. Investigators said no one entered the couple's apartment during the woman's death apart from Narne, and that he spontaneously referenced a deleted picture of his wife's body during an interview.

What's New:

During Monday’s court hearing, Narne’s defense attorney sought an order preventing cameras from showing Narne’s face, arguing media coverage could prejudice potential jurors and affect his ability to receive a fair trial. King County Superior Court Judge Nelson Lee denied the request.

"To the extent that there might be a viewing of the news by prospective jurors, that is always a risk," Lee said in court. "But I believe that the jury selection process together with a detailed questionnaire can effectively weed out anyone who might have been exposed to the news, seen the news and/or be familiar with the case."

Lee noted that the case involves allegations that Narne killed his wife and that the defendant’s identity is not disputed. The judge also ordered Narne to surrender his passport and kept his bail set at $5 million while the case proceeds toward trial.

Narne remains in custody at the King County Jail.

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