A murder suspect startled his own lawyer when he pleaded guilty in a Kelowna, B.C., courtroom on Tuesday.
The surprise plea brought an abrupt end to what was expected to be a three-week trial for Tejwant Danjou on a charge of second-degree murder.
Danjou simply said ``I'm guilty'' when asked for his plea by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Alison Beames.
When she asked if Danjou had discussed his plea with his lawyer, the 70 year old Vancouver real estate agent said he didn't need to speak to anyone, and then repeated, ``I'm guilty.''
Danjou has been in custody since July 2018 when he was arrested in West Kelowna after the body of Rama Gauravarapu, a woman who was known to him, was found in a hotel room in that city.
The case is expected to return to court today for a joint submission from the Crown and defence, and sentencing has been scheduled for March 13.