New video evidence that surfaced in the second-degree murder trial of Surrey man Tejwant Danjou was played in a 琉璃神社 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 鈥� three months before he bludgeoned her to death with a wine bottle in their West 琉璃神社 hotel room on July 22, 2018.
According to testimony from forensic psychiatrist Dr. Todd Tomita, Danjou believed the video to show evidence of Gauravarapu鈥檚 infidelity. Danjou claimed to Tomita that he took the video after Gauravarapu had 鈥渉iked up her dress鈥� while on the plane, allowing the man in the seat next to her to 鈥渇lirt and fondle her.鈥�
When played in court, the video mostly showed the underside of Danjou鈥檚 airplane tray table, and a leg 鈥� likely Danjou鈥檚. Gauravarapu and Danjou were heard speaking Hindi through the duration of the video.
鈥淚 took it as nothing, but he said a man sitting next to him fondled her leg,鈥� Tomita said of the video while testifying on Tuesday, June 2.
According to Danjou鈥檚 defence lawyer, Donna Turko, the content of the video, specifically Danjou鈥檚 interpretation of it, is important in determining whether Danjou had delusions regarding Gauravarapu鈥檚 infidelity or if it progressed to hallucinations.
鈥淗allucination then makes the disassociation more in the realm of completely-out-of-touch,鈥� 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 琉璃神社 hotel room. She died a short time after RCMP鈥檚 arrival and Danjou was arrested.
Danjou 鈥� who entered a surprise guilty plea as the trial commenced on Feb. 25 then retracted it the next day 鈥� has admitted to causing Gauravarapu鈥檚 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.
鈥淲e鈥檝e heard it from the victim herself,鈥� Turko said. 鈥淲ords to the effect of 鈥榶ou鈥檙e crazy鈥�, 鈥榶our head鈥檚 not working鈥�.鈥�
Turko said Danjou became delusional about Gauravarapu having relationships with other men.
鈥淚t tormented him,鈥� she said. 鈥淎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.鈥�
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 琉璃神社 murder trial
READ MORE: Defence claims Surrey man was mentally unwell at time of West 琉璃神社 murder
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