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New video evidence in Surrey mansa国际传媒檚 West Kelowna murder trial shown in court

The defence closed its case following the playing of the video in court, marking the end of the evidentiary phase of the trial
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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 sa国际传媒 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 Gauravarapusa国际传媒檚 infidelity. Danjou claimed to Tomita that he took the video after Gauravarapu had sa国际传媒渉iked up her dresssa国际传媒 while on the plane, allowing the man in the seat next to her to sa国际传媒渇lirt and fondle her.sa国际传媒

When played in court, the video mostly showed the underside of Danjousa国际传媒檚 airplane tray table, and a leg sa国际传媒 likely Danjousa国际传媒檚. Gauravarapu and Danjou were heard speaking Hindi through the duration of the video.

sa国际传媒淚 took it as nothing, but he said a man sitting next to him fondled her leg,sa国际传媒 Tomita said of the video while testifying on Tuesday, June 2.

According to Danjousa国际传媒檚 defence lawyer, Donna Turko, the content of the video, specifically Danjousa国际传媒檚 interpretation of it, is important in determining whether Danjou had delusions regarding Gauravarapusa国际传媒檚 infidelity or if it progressed to hallucinations.

sa国际传媒淗allucination then makes the disassociation more in the realm of completely-out-of-touch,sa国际传媒 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 RCMPsa国际传媒檚 arrival and Danjou was arrested.

Danjou sa国际传媒 who entered a surprise guilty plea as the trial commenced on Feb. 25 then retracted it the next day sa国际传媒 has admitted to causing Gauravarapusa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e heard it from the victim herself,sa国际传媒 Turko said. sa国际传媒淲ords to the effect of sa国际传媒榶ousa国际传媒檙e crazysa国际传媒, sa国际传媒榶our headsa国际传媒檚 not workingsa国际传媒.sa国际传媒

Turko said Danjou became delusional about Gauravarapu having relationships with other men.

sa国际传媒淚t tormented him,sa国际传媒 she said. sa国际传媒淎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.sa国际传媒

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

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com



michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com

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