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91ƵVery violent91Ƶ: Eyewitness recalls seeing altercation between Surrey couple prior to woman91Ƶs murder

A driver saw accused murderer Tejwant Danjou91Ƶs argument with wife at Mission Hill Winery
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Rama Gauravarapu was calm throughout the interaction, according to the witness. (Contributed)

A Surrey man accused of murdering his common-law wife was violent and angry during an argument between the two at an Okanagan winery just hours before she was killed, according to witness testimony heard in BC Supreme Court in Kelowna on March 9.

Tejwant Danjou is facing trial for a second-degree murder charge related to the death of Rama Gauravarapu in their West Kelowna hotel room on July 22, 2018.

Bryan Van, a driver who takes tourists between Okanagan wineries, took the stand on Monday to tell the court what he saw at Mission Hill Family Estate earlier that same day.

After dropping off his passengers around 3 p.m., Van stayed near the entrance area of the winery waiting for the people he dropped off to finish a quick one-hour tour.

While passing time and people-watching Van saw a man and a woman, whom he later identified as Danjou and Gauravarapu, having an argument.

Although too far away to hear what they were discussing, Van said he saw Danjou 91Ƶviolently91Ƶ grab Gauravarapu91Ƶs sunglasses off of her face.

91ƵIt looked like he slapped them off her face,91Ƶ he said.

After this, Gauravarapu went to sit down at some nearby tables, while Danjou went to lean on a nearby wishing well. There, Van said, he heard Danjou muttering some unsavoury words about his partner.

91Ƶ91ƵF91Ƶking c91Ƶt; f91Ƶking b91Ƶch.91Ƶ Harsh, harsh words,91Ƶ he said, adding Danjou was staring intensely at Gauravarapu.

Van said the two eventually returned to the same spot they were arguing before, where Danjou was 91Ƶright up in (Gauravarapu91Ƶs) face.91Ƶ

After another brief argument, Danjou took his own sunglasses, threw them on the ground and stomped on them, Van testified.

He said Gauravarapu calmly knelt down and picked up the pieces of the glasses.

91ƵShe looked calm 91Ƶ not happy 91Ƶ but sombre and calm,91Ƶ he said.

Van eventually found his passengers and went back to his car. He said Danjou approached the car and stuck his head in, thinking it was an Uber he had called.

91ƵHis eyes stuck out to me. They were bloodshot,91Ƶ he said.

Van left with his passengers, attended a couple of other wineries and returned them to the Best Western 91Ƶ the same hotel Danjou and Gauravarapu were staying at 91Ƶ around 8 p.m.

He testified he saw ambulances and police cars upon his return.

While Van didn91Ƶt think much of it, his wife scoured local news websites over the next few days to see what had happened.

When RCMP announced Danjou had been charged, the two Googled his name out of curiosity.

91ƵI saw a Realtor from Surrey who looked just like the guy I91Ƶd saw at the winery,91Ƶ he said.

The trial continues.

READ MORE: Handholding before homicide: Video shows final hours before West Kelowna murder

READ MORE: Accused West Kelowna murderer claimed wife cheated, wanted RCMP to investigate



michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com

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