KELOWNA, B.C. — A B.C. Supreme Court judge has allowed a man to withdraw a guilty plea in the killing of a woman in a West Kelowna hotel room in July 2018.
Tejwant Danjou startled his own lawyer on Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in the killing of Rama Gauravarapu, who Danjou was in a relationship with.
Then the 70-year-old former real estate agent in Surrey, B.C., refused to sign papers confirming his plea later that day.
In a hearing Friday, Danjou's lawyer Donna Turko told Justice Alison Beames that her client objected to a phrase in which he was to acknowledge that he had the "intent to kill,'' since Danjou maintains he did not intend to kill Gauravarapu.
Turko told the court she received an indication on Wednesday that Danjou wanted to withdraw the guilty plea he had unexpectedly offered.
Beames accepted his application on Friday, which allowed him to enter a not guilty plea to second-degree murder before his trial by judge alone began.
A conviction for second-degree murder carries a life sentence, with the earliest chance of parole set at 10 years.
(The Daily Courier)
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 28, 2020.
The Canadian Press
