A Vermont man appeared in court Tuesday charged with fatally assaulting his wife in a downtown public housing unit, where their young children witnessed the attack, police said.

Bal Khadka, 44, was arraigned in Chittenden Superior Court in connection with the death of his wife, Lila Darjee Khadka, 44. Khadka faces one count of second-degree murder and three counts of cruelty to a child. A public defender entered not guilty pleas on his behalf, and the judge ordered him held without bail.

According to an affidavit filed by Detective Corporal Erica Schaller of the Burlington Police Department, the incident occurred early Saturday morning. Two 10-year-old children—one the couple's daughter and the other a friend staying overnight—along with a 3-year-old, were present in the apartment at the time. The affidavit states that Khadka was using drugs and verbally assaulting his wife throughout the night.

Around 5:45 a.m., Khadka allegedly struck Lila Khadka about 10 times with a foot-long flashlight. The children called 911 and fled the apartment through a first-floor window, seeking help from responding officers. Police reported that the friend recorded roughly 30 minutes of audio capturing the violent episode, including the sounds of the children pleading and the repeated blows.

When officers entered the unit, they found Khadka in the living room, calmly putting shoes on the youngest child and seemingly unfazed by their presence. Lila Khadka was discovered on a bed, lying in a pool of blood, unresponsive and barely breathing. She was rushed to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she underwent emergency brain surgery but was pronounced dead just after 7 p.m. Sunday.

Family members reportedly informed police that Khadka had a history of domestic violence. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.