last link on the left › deadmonton

Thomas George Svekla, 38, was charged with second-degree murder and indecently interfering with human remains in connection with the death of Theresa Merrie Innes.

Svekla was also charged with second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a human body in connection with the death of Rachel Liz Quinney.

In early 2007, Thomas Svekla's preliminary hearing took place in Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Court in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta.

It was in the bedroom community 20 minutes northeast of Edmonton that Svekla was first charged after the body of Theresa Innes was found in May 2006.

On January 4th, 2007 a judge ruled that the preliminary hearing – originally to be held for the Innes murder – would also include the matter of Rachel Quinney whose body was found east of Edmonton in June 2004.

The Crown maintained Svekla murdered Innes between August 7th, 2005 and May 8th, 2006 and interfered with her human remains by transporting her body in a hockey bag from High Level to Fort Saskatchewan.

The Crown also maintained Svekla murdered Quinney sometime between May 25th and June 11th, 2004, in or near Edmonton or Fort Saskatchewan and interfered with her human remains by mutilating her body and improperly disposing of it.

The charges were the first to be laid by the Project KARE task force looking into the murders and disappearances of more than seventy women over the past several decades.

For a complete recounting of events in the case prior to the preliminary hearing, visit the Thomas George Svekla page.

For more about Svekla's alleged victims, visit the Theresa Merrie Innes and Rachel Liz Quinney pages.

January 8th, 2007

The day began early for Thomas George Svekla.

He was ushered into the Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Court building in the 8:00 a.m. darkness accompanied by sheriffs who would stay by his side the entire day.

The scene became a familiar ritual as Svekla was shuttled daily between the Edmonton Remand Centre and the court building in the town of Fort Saskatchewan, located twenty-minutes northeast of Edmonton, over the month the hearing took place.

The preliminary hearing was held before Judge Doug Rae.

Crown prosecutor Clifton Purvis (at left), assigned fulltime to the Project KARE task force, was joined by prosecutors Marilena Carminati and Karl Wilberg for what was being dubbed a “mega” case.

Representing Svekla was defence lawyer Robert Shaigec (at right) who most recently acted for Michael White.

Preliminary hearings are held to determine if the Crown has enough evidence to warrant a trial.

Svekla appeared calm and attentive during the first day of the hearing.

He wore simple civilian clothes, a blue long-sleeved pullover with a white undershirt underneath, blue jeans, white flip-flop style sandals with grey socks and chains that ran from his wrists to his ankles.

Since his last court appearance, Svekla looked much heavier. His hair had thinned on top over the year since he was first arrested but he has grown it longer in the back.

In the courtroom, one sheriff stood immediately to Svekla's left at the prisoner's box and three others stood in the courtroom.

Also present were a dozen media personnel and three members of the Quinney family, Rachel's mother Delia and two others not identified.

Delia told Global Edmonton cameras outside court she was not sure if she was able to attend the entire hearing. There was no reason given.

No one from the Innes or Svekla families were in attendance.

Almost immediately Shaigec asked for and was granted a publication ban, preventing media from releasing any details from the hearing.

The request for a ban is usually made when the defence feels the publication of evidence would not best serve their client.

Shaigec took over the defence of Michael White from lawyer-turned-judge Larry Anderson. During White's preliminary hearing, Anderson did not ask for a publication ban until five days into the procedings during which notable evidence against his client was made public.

Both Shaigec and Judge Rae warned assembled reporters that the evidence that was to be presented was not to be printed or broadcast anywhere, including the internet.

However, it can be reported that the court was warned about the "grisly" nature of the some of the evidence expected to introduced.

After court heard opening remarks from Crown prosecutor Purvis, testimony came from RCMP Cpl. Douglas Standing and Const. Sonia Joyal.

Throughout the procedings, Svekla frequently leaned over to whisper to his lawyer.

At one point he wrote some notes on Shaigec's notepad – something he found difficult to perform due to his wrist restraints.

From his purchase in the prisoner's box, Svekla surveyed the gallery on several occasions.

Defence lawyer Shaigec has previously said his client wasn't responsible for the two women's deaths and if he is committed to stand trial, it would be before a judge and jury.

On the first day of the preliminary hearing, 630 CHED Radio's Byron Christopher was questioned by news show host Eileen Bell during a live on-air interview about Svekla's status as the only person charged so far by the Project KARE task force.

Christopher took a deep breath and uneasily revealed that sources "on the range" where Svekla is being housed at the remand centre have told him police should be looking at the accused for other murders.

The veteran crime reporter prefaced that revelation by stating he wasn't sure how much he could say without getting into trouble.

Christopher did not identify the source of that possible trouble, but on October 18th, 2006 Edmonton police served 630 CHED with a search warrant for material related to Christopher's interviews with convicted wife-killer Michael White.

The reporter also stated the hearing began with forensic evidence and he described photographs introduced as being "grisly."

After the hearing broke in mid-afternoon, Svekla was escorted to a waiting sheriff's car to the staccato of media still cameras.

Staring almost steadily into their lenses, Svekla did not offer photographers much in the way of expression.

January 9th, 2007

With a publication ban in place, news coming from the preliminary hearing consisted mainly of a list of appearing witnesses.

No doubt for Svekla it was a day of mixed emotions as he heard testimony from four of his former co-workers – folks he likely hadn't seen for over a year-and-a-half.

Flown in from High Level, George Braun and brothers Philip Gerbrandt, Jarrett Gerbrandt and Henry Gerbrandt – who all worked with Svekla at one time in the town's Fountain Tire shop – each took the stand.

Braun was the owner/manager of the tire outlet, located 700 km northwest of Edmonton, where Svekla used to work as a mechanic.

As Henry Gerbrandt took the stand, he waved slightly to Svekla and gave him a half-smile and a nod before he started his testimony.

Also on the stand were RCMP Cpl. James Marsh and Const. Kelly McPherson, who worked on forensic matters in the Rachel Quinney investigation.

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP constables Steve McQueen and Amanda Hackett also testified.

A civilian witness, Karen Clarke, also took the stand.

Svekla appeared relaxed throughout the day, but perhaps a little bit more animated when his old working buddies were on the stand.

January 10th, 2007 - publication ban in effect

A severe winter blizzard blew through central Alberta, bringing with it snow, high winds and bitterly cold temperatures.

An equal chill fell over coverage of Thomas Svekla's preliminary hearing.

With the publication ban in effect, no details of evidence presented at the hearing can be reported and it appears media resources were deployed elsewhere.

Area roads were in treacherous condition and it has to be assumed Svekla was transported safely between the Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Court Building and his accommodations at the Edmonton Remand Centre.

The same cannot be said for a group of prisoners who were being taken to the Edmonton Law Courts building.

Nine prisoners were scheduled to make an appearance in court on January 10th but instead made an appearance in hospital.

The van transporting them slid down an icy ramp, leading to a secure below-ground transfer area, and crashed into a metal door.

While it seemed no one was seriously hurt, the inmates were taken to hospital for observation.

January 19th, 2007

Since the beginning of the preliminary hearing on January 8th, dozens of men and women – most never before in the public eye – have taken the witness stand. None of their testimony could be reported due to a strict publication ban in effect.

What can be told was that on January 19th, Thomas Svekla's father appeared in court.

George Svekla, walking with slow, halting steps, is about the same height and stocky build as his son.

Walking out of the courthouse after testifying, the elder Svekla held his head high with a female family member on hand to support him.

He donned a parka and earflap-style hat, made his way down the stairs from the second-floor courtroom and left the building without a word.

None of George Svekla’s testimony could be made public.

Throughout the first two weeks of the preliminary hearing, Svekla was reported to appear comfortable and in good spirits.

Wearing his usual blue jeans and pullover sweater with a white T-shirt underneath, Svekla appeared to have been growing a mustache and goatee, both tinged with grey.

The most significant news of the day came from the reporters of news.

In December 2006, Edmonton Journal reporters Chris Purdy and David Staples were subpoenaed by Crown prosecutors to testify at Svekla's preliminary hearing.

The order to appear was due to interviews Purdy and Staples had conducted with Svekla through letters and phone calls while he was in the Edmonton Remand Centre.

On January 19th, 2007 Journal lawyer Matt Woodley argued in court that compelling journalists to testify would have an adverse effect on their jobs.

"A reporter's ability to collect and disseminate information is affected by a subpoena," Woodley told Judge Douglas Rae.

"The likelihood of future reporting efforts might be hindered if journalists are seen as agents of the state."

Testifying would also prevent Purdy and Staples from continuing to cover a story they have invested months in, Woodley pointed out. Neither reporter covered Svekla's preliminary hearing.

Crown prosecutor Marilena Carminati argued there was no evidence to support the idea there would be a "chill effect" should journalists have to testify.

Carminati said that evidence from those interviews was important in the determination of Svekla's guilt.

Specifically, she pointed to quotes from Svekla that contained inconsistencies when compared to what he has told others.

"These subpoenas are not fishing expeditions," she told court. "It's important for the Crown to show there are a large number of inconsistencies."

The Journal was also issued orders to turn over all material it had concerning Svekla or the cases of Quinney and Innes.

Judge Douglas Rae was expected to deliver his decision on the Crown's subpoenae in late January 2007.

On January 3rd, 2007 the Edmonton Journal had published the details of the interviews Purdy and Staples had conducted with Svekla.

February 8th, 2007

Thomas Svekla's five-week preliminary hearing concluded in a Fort Saskatchewan courtroom.

Judge Douglas Rae made the decision there was enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.

All told, the hearing saw 83 witnesses provide evidence.

Svekla was scheduled to enter a plea in an Edmonton courtroom on March 23rd, 2007.

Svekla's lawyer, Robert Shaigec (at left), said he and his client have yet to decide whether to elect trial by a judge or a judge and jury.

"He's doing fine and he's looking forward to starting this trial."

Clifton Purvis (at right), the Crown prosecutor assigned full-time to Project KARE, expected Svekla's trial to start in late 2007 or early 2008.

"You know right now I'm estimating the trial time to be somewhere between three and five months."

"We took five weeks to conduct the preliminary inquiry – it's a lengthy matter and there a number of witnesses to call."

Likely missing the media spotlight while the publication ban kept details of the hearing from public scrutiny, Svekla seized the opportunity a CTV Edmonton news camera provided.

Leaving the the courthouse in handcuffs and shackles, Svekla turned to the camera and said, “Hi Mom. I love you, Mom.”

return to main Svekla page

deadmonton - thomas george svekla - preliminary hearing