A Hicksville man awaiting a murder trial at Nassau County jail was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on charges that he attempted to hire a hitman to murder his sister-in-law, who will testify in his upcoming trial, according to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice.

Harpal Hira, 34, was arrested last year for killing his 56-year-old stepmother, Meena Kohli, and trying to kill his wife, Ritika Hira, 24, at the couple’s Hicksville home on Aug. 2, 2008.  Ritika Hira survived the attack. The couple’s two newborn twin boys, who were home at the time, were unharmed, as was and Ritika’s sister, who witnessed some of the attack and helped fend off Hira before he fled.

Following a nearly four-week manhunt, Hira was apprehended on Aug. 27, along with a friend who was charged with helping Hira evade authorities.

Harpal Hira

As Hira’s trial date approached, investigators were tipped off that he attempted to hire a hitman to kill his sister-in-law, Rice said.  A jail informant whom Hira had approached earlier about the hit cooperated in the investigation, according to the district attorney. The informant allegedly set up a meeting between Hira and a hitman who was, in reality, an undercover officer. Hira was recorded on electronic surveillance giving the details about his sister-in-law and later agreed to pay $10,000 in exchange for the murder, Rice said.

In addition to the prior murder and attempted murder charges, the charges he is facing now include criminal solicitation and conspiracy. He faces up to 25 years in prison, if convicted on the new charges, which will be handled separately from the murder case. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday before Nassau County Judge Meryl Berkowitz and will continue to be held at Nassau County jail.

“This is a dangerous, violent inmate who will do anything to improve his chances of beating this murder case,” Rice said in a statement. “Luckily we learned of the plot with enough time to keep the witness safe and to hold the defendant accountable for his sinister plan.”

Defense attorney Michael Dergarabedian said he hasn’t seen the evidence, but is suspicious when jailhouse informants are involved.