Scoffs of the late Rama Gauravarapu91裸聊视频檚 family filled the courtroom as Tejwant Danjou91裸聊视频檚 defence lawyers painted him as a man who was so in love that it 91裸聊视频渄rove him crazy.91裸聊视频�
As the Crown rested its case in Danjou91裸聊视频檚 second-degree murder trial on Tuesday, June 2, defence lawyer Donna Turko picked up hers, giving the court a different representation of the man who had been previously shown to the courts, through numerous witnesses, to be abusive, controlling and jealous.
In her brief opening statement, Turko submitted that Danjou, in addition to harbouring severe jealousy, was mentally unwell at the time he bludgeoned his common-law partner to death with a wine bottle in a West Kelowna hotel room on July 22, 2018.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e heard it from the victim herself,91裸聊视频� Turko said. 91裸聊视频淲ords to the effect of 91裸聊视频榶ou91裸聊视频檙e crazy91裸聊视频�, 91裸聊视频榶our head91裸聊视频檚 not working91裸聊视频�.91裸聊视频�
Turko said Danjou became delusional about Gauravarapu having relationships with other men.
91裸聊视频淚t tormented him,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淎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.91裸聊视频�
If the defence can prove that Danjou did not have intent to kill Gauravarapu, or couldn91裸聊视频檛 form it due to his mental state, he could end up being convicted of manslaughter rather than second-degree murder.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Todd Tomita, the defence91裸聊视频檚 first witness, provided some insight into Danjou91裸聊视频檚 delusion.
Through two interviews with Danjou, amounting to six hours total, Tomita diagnosed Danjou with delusional disorder-jealous type.
91裸聊视频淎 delusion is by definition, a false, fixed idea that91裸聊视频檚 held with subjective certainty,91裸聊视频� Tomita testified. 91裸聊视频淚f that idea is influencing someone91裸聊视频檚 interpretation of events, then it can affect their decision making in a way that they91裸聊视频檙e not making decisions on objective, consensual reality. They91裸聊视频檙e making it based on their delusional interpretation of what is occurring.91裸聊视频�
Tomita drew several examples of Danjou91裸聊视频檚 pathological jealousy from the six hours they spent speaking at Okanagan Correctional Centre, one of which stemmed from a 2018 flight Danjou and Gauravarapu took to Las Vegas.
Danjou claimed to Tomita that Gauravarapu had 91裸聊视频渉iked up her dress91裸聊视频� while on the plane, allowing the man in the seat next to her to 91裸聊视频渇lirt and fondle her.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 took it as nothing, but he said a man sitting next to him fondled her leg,91裸聊视频� Tomita said.
Even something as simple as 91裸聊视频渆ndearing eyes91裸聊视频� from Gauravarapu to one of Danjou91裸聊视频檚 friends led to fights between the two, Tomita told the courts.
Danjou upheld this belief after Gauravarapu91裸聊视频檚 death, according to the testimony of one officer tasked with keeping custody of Danjou on the night of his arrest.
Const. Rick Goodwin testified Danjou wanted the RCMP to check a Ford F150 in Surrey that contained 91裸聊视频渃rucial evidence91裸聊视频� of Gauravarapu91裸聊视频檚 infidelity.
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 RCMP91裸聊视频檚 arrival and Danjou was arrested.
Danjou 91裸聊视频� who entered a surprise guilty plea as the trial commenced on Feb. 25 before retracting it the next day 91裸聊视频� has admitted to causing Gauravarapu91裸聊视频檚 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 trial resumed on Monday (June 1) after two and a half months of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Two weeks have been set aside for the completion of Danjou91裸聊视频檚 judge-alone trial.
READ MORE: Surrey man accused of murdering his partner in West Kelowna back in court
READ MORE: Surrey couple had abusive relationship prior to woman91裸聊视频檚 West Kelowna murder
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