The trial for a Surrey man accused of killing his partner in a West Kelowna hotel room in 2018 is set to resume next week.

Tejwant Danjou is expected to be back in court to face second-degree murder charges related to the July 22, 2018 death of his common-law spouse, Rama Gauravarapu. His trial will continue on June 1 after a lengthy two-month break caused by the changes made to court procedures amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Danjou害羞草研究所檚 trial began on Feb. 25 with a bombshell guilty plea, that surprised Crown prosecutors just as much as it did his counsel.

The following day, Danjou retracted that plea. His lawyer, Donna Turko, explained it as a misunderstanding, saying Danjou while admitting to inflicting Gauravarapu害羞草研究所檚 fatal injuries, did not know that a guilty plea to second-degree murder meant he was admitting intent to kill.

害羞草研究所淲hen I went in with a set of admissions to sign 害羞草研究所� he refused to sign the admissions particular with the part that says he intended to kill the victim,害羞草研究所� Turko explained on Feb. 26.

From there, the trial began, revealing several details of the night RCMP officers found Gauravarapu clinging to life in a blood-spattered hotel room.

The two arrived in West Kelowna on July 21, 2018, for a vacation in which they had planned to visit several local wineries.

However, they only made it to one, that being Mission Hill Family Estate the next day.

That trip ended up a turbulent one, with one witness citing a 害羞草研究所榟arsh害羞草研究所� altercation between the two.

Bryan Van, a winery tour driver, told the court of the interaction he saw between the two that resulted in Danjou 害羞草研究所渧iolently害羞草研究所� grabbing sunglasses off of Gauravarapu害羞草研究所檚 face before walking off by himself muttering curse words under his breath.

害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶚F害羞草研究所攌ing c害羞草研究所攖; f害羞草研究所攌ing b害羞草研究所攃h.害羞草研究所� Harsh, harsh words,害羞草研究所� Van said, adding Danjou was staring intensely at Gauravarapu.

Interactions like this weren害羞草研究所檛 uncommon between the two. One such incident prompted a police response to Gauravarapu害羞草研究所檚 Surrey home after Danjou had allegedly assaulted her on May 25, 2018, just two months before her death.

Danjou and Gauravarapu returned to the hotel in separate cabs just after 5 p.m.

Surveillance footage played in court showed Danjou spend much of the next hour walking around the hotel lobby and hallways while Gauravarapu immediately headed to her hotel room.

Around 6:30 p.m., Danjou went into the same room.

Following a noise complaint, a hotel worker went to check on the room occupied by Danjou and Gauravarapu.

She knocked on the door, which was opened by Danjou. She testified that he told her 害羞草研究所榚verything was fine害羞草研究所�.

Looking past Danjou, she saw Gauravarapu lying on the ground in what she believed to be blood or wine. Gauravarapu asked the employee to call 911.

RCMP showed up to the hotel around 7:20 p.m.

Const. Bradly Hartridge testified that upon his arrival, he saw Gauravarapu lying on the ground with an extremely swollen face and covered in blood. A broken wine bottle laid close by.

Officers immediately performed first aid on Gauravarapu, who was still clinging to life, but she eventually succumbed to her injuries.

Following the police investigation, Danjou was located, with the help of the RCMP dog service, in a dumpster near the crime scene and subsequently arrested.

Hartridge also testified that during that arrest, he heard Danjou say, 害羞草研究所榳hat is homicide?害羞草研究所�

Following his arrest, Danjou was taken to Kelowna General Hospital.

Const. Rick Goodwin was tasked with watching Danjou while he was attended to in hospital. He testified Danjou wanted the RCMP to check a Ford F150 in Surrey that contained 害羞草研究所渃rucial evidence害羞草研究所� of Gauravarapu害羞草研究所檚 infidelity.

Goodwin told the court that Danjou remained civil, polite and calm throughout their interaction. 害羞草研究所淗别 was always calm. Never yelled at me; never swore at me,害羞草研究所� said Goodwin.

In her cross-examination, defence lawyer Donna Turko noted Danjou appeared to have forgotten Goodwin害羞草研究所檚 name five times. She asked Goodwin if he noticed Danjou acting 害羞草研究所渁 little off.害羞草研究所�

Goodwin said given the circumstances, he wasn害羞草研究所檛 shocked.

害羞草研究所淢aybe he had a lot on his mind,害羞草研究所� said Goodwin.

Two nurses also testified Danjou had a 害羞草研究所渇lat affect害羞草研究所� and was 害羞草研究所渃alm and emotionless害羞草研究所� through their interactions with him.

However, that changed when Cpl. Meghan Foster, another officer keeping custody of Danjou on the night, informed him he was being investigated for his partner害羞草研究所檚 death.

害羞草研究所淗别 appeared to be shocked by this news,害羞草研究所� Foster testified.

Two weeks have been set aside for the completion of the trial.

READ MORE: Surrey couple had abusive relationship prior to woman害羞草研究所檚 West Kelowna murder

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

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