New video evidence that surfaced in the second-degree murder trial of Surrey man Tejwant Danjou was played in a Kelowna courtroom on Friday, June 5.
The three-minute video was shot by Danjou himself on May 7, 2018, as he and Gauravarapu were on a flight to Las Vegas 乌鸦传媒� three months before he bludgeoned her to death with a wine bottle in their West Kelowna hotel room on July 22, 2018.
According to testimony from forensic psychiatrist Dr. Todd Tomita, Danjou believed the video to show evidence of Gauravarapu乌鸦传媒檚 infidelity. Danjou claimed to Tomita that he took the video after Gauravarapu had 乌鸦传媒渉iked up her dress乌鸦传媒� while on the plane, allowing the man in the seat next to her to 乌鸦传媒渇lirt and fondle her.乌鸦传媒�
When played in court, the video mostly showed the underside of Danjou乌鸦传媒檚 airplane tray table, and a leg 乌鸦传媒� likely Danjou乌鸦传媒檚. Gauravarapu and Danjou were heard speaking Hindi through the duration of the video.
乌鸦传媒淚 took it as nothing, but he said a man sitting next to him fondled her leg,乌鸦传媒� Tomita said of the video while testifying on Tuesday, June 2.
According to Danjou乌鸦传媒檚 defence lawyer, Donna Turko, the content of the video, specifically Danjou乌鸦传媒檚 interpretation of it, is important in determining whether Danjou had delusions regarding Gauravarapu乌鸦传媒檚 infidelity or if it progressed to hallucinations.
乌鸦传媒淗allucination then makes the disassociation more in the realm of completely-out-of-touch,乌鸦传媒� she said on Thursday.
In March, the court heard RCMP discovered Danjou hiding in a dumpster shortly after Gauravarapu was found covered in blood, clinging to life in their nearby West Kelowna hotel room. She died a short time after RCMP乌鸦传媒檚 arrival and Danjou was arrested.
Danjou 乌鸦传媒� who entered a surprise guilty plea as the trial commenced on Feb. 25 then retracted it the next day 乌鸦传媒� has admitted to causing Gauravarapu乌鸦传媒檚 life-ending injuries but did not admit to having the intention to kill her, the latter being a key component of a second-degree murder conviction.
The defence began its case on Tuesday, as the Crown rested its own. In her brief opening statement, Turko laid out her case claiming Danjou could not have formed intent to kill Gauravarapu due to him being mentally unwell.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e heard it from the victim herself,乌鸦传媒� Turko said. 乌鸦传媒淲ords to the effect of 乌鸦传媒榶ou乌鸦传媒檙e crazy乌鸦传媒�, 乌鸦传媒榶our head乌鸦传媒檚 not working乌鸦传媒�.乌鸦传媒�
Turko said Danjou became delusional about Gauravarapu having relationships with other men.
乌鸦传媒淚t tormented him,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淎t the time of the tragic death of Ms. Gauravarapu, Mr. Danjou did not have the requisite intent to commit the murder of the woman he loved so much.乌鸦传媒�
The defence closed its case following the playing of the video in court, marking the end of the evidentiary phase of the trial.
The matter is expected back in court on June 12 at 10 a.m. for both Crown and defence to give final submissions.
READ MORE: Undisclosed video evidence comes to light in West Kelowna murder trial
READ MORE: Defence claims Surrey man was mentally unwell at time of West Kelowna murder
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