KELOWNA, B.C. - A man accused of second-degree murderer in West Kelowna, B.C., asked for a ride to the hospital after being found by police covered in blood and hiding in a dumpster, a court heard Tuesday.

Tejwant Danjou is charged with killing his common-law wife, Rama Gauravarapu, and on an audio recording of his arrest he is heard telling police officers that his heart was racing after he was hauled out of the dumpster and handcuffed.

"I need to go to the hospital because my heart is beating very fast," he says on the tape played in B.C. Supreme Court.

Danjou has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is being tried by judge alone.

He told police he thought a police dog bit him during the arrest.

"I think he bit me but that's OK. He's a dog," Danjou says.

Danjou was found in a recycling dumpster near a hotel where he is alleged to have murdered Gauravarapu on July 22, 2018.

On the tape, he appears to give contradictory answers when asked if he understands that he is being arrested for homicide.

"Maybe," Danjou says.

"What is homicide?" he asks moments later.

RCMP Const. Rick Goodwin, the arresting officer, tells him that homicide involves the killing of a person and is asked again if he understands. Danjou replies: "No."

Goodwin was one of first officers to respond to the Best Western Plus Wine Country Hotel after reports of a disturbance in one of its rooms.

He testified that Danjou did not appear agitated after being found in the dumpster.

"His demeanour seemed perfectly calm at the time," Goodwin said.

The Crown alleges that Danjou killed Gauravarapu after the couple had been at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery earlier that day. They lived in the Lower Mainland where Danjou was a real estate agent and Gauravarapu was a financial planner.

During opening statements last week, the Crown alleged that the relationship was a troubled one characterized by Danjou's jealousy and excessive drinking.

(The Daily Courier)

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2020.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2020