Scoffs of the late Rama Gauravarapu香蕉视频直播檚 family filled the courtroom as Tejwant Danjou香蕉视频直播檚 defence lawyers painted him as a man who was so in love that it 香蕉视频直播渄rove him crazy.香蕉视频直播�
As the Crown rested its case in Danjou香蕉视频直播檚 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.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e heard it from the victim herself,香蕉视频直播� Turko said. 香蕉视频直播淲ords to the effect of 香蕉视频直播榶ou香蕉视频直播檙e crazy香蕉视频直播�, 香蕉视频直播榶our head香蕉视频直播檚 not working香蕉视频直播�.香蕉视频直播�
Turko said Danjou became delusional about Gauravarapu having relationships with other men.
香蕉视频直播淚t tormented him,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淎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.香蕉视频直播�
If the defence can prove that Danjou did not have intent to kill Gauravarapu, or couldn香蕉视频直播檛 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 defence香蕉视频直播檚 first witness, provided some insight into Danjou香蕉视频直播檚 delusion.
Through two interviews with Danjou, amounting to six hours total, Tomita diagnosed Danjou with delusional disorder-jealous type.
香蕉视频直播淎 delusion is by definition, a false, fixed idea that香蕉视频直播檚 held with subjective certainty,香蕉视频直播� Tomita testified. 香蕉视频直播淚f that idea is influencing someone香蕉视频直播檚 interpretation of events, then it can affect their decision making in a way that they香蕉视频直播檙e not making decisions on objective, consensual reality. They香蕉视频直播檙e making it based on their delusional interpretation of what is occurring.香蕉视频直播�
Tomita drew several examples of Danjou香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播渉iked up her dress香蕉视频直播� while on the plane, allowing the man in the seat next to her to 香蕉视频直播渇lirt and fondle her.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚 took it as nothing, but he said a man sitting next to him fondled her leg,香蕉视频直播� Tomita said.
Even something as simple as 香蕉视频直播渆ndearing eyes香蕉视频直播� from Gauravarapu to one of Danjou香蕉视频直播檚 friends led to fights between the two, Tomita told the courts.
Danjou upheld this belief after Gauravarapu香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播渃rucial evidence香蕉视频直播� of Gauravarapu香蕉视频直播檚 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 RCMP香蕉视频直播檚 arrival and Danjou was arrested.
Danjou 香蕉视频直播� who entered a surprise guilty plea as the trial commenced on Feb. 25 before retracting it the next day 香蕉视频直播� has admitted to causing Gauravarapu香蕉视频直播檚 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 Danjou香蕉视频直播檚 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 woman香蕉视频直播檚 West Kelowna murder
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