Convicted prostitute-killer Thomas Svekla was found guilty yesterday of molesting a five-year-old girl back in 1995 — in a case where a piece of evidence went missing during the trial.
Svekla slumped in his chair and stared at his feet as he sat in the defendant’s chair when the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench justice read his verdict.
“I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt about the guilt of the accused,” Justice Mel Binder said.
Svekla’s defence lawyer, Robert Shaigec, asked to have a stay in proceedings last week when court heard a videotaped interview police had with the victim back in the mid-1990s went missing.
“The accused was able to receive a fair trial,” said Crown prosecutor Marilana Carminati said outside court.
Shaigec argued the girl, who is now 18, was unreliable during her testimony since she couldn’t remember details of the attack, but Binder said her testimony was “sound.”
The girl, who didn’t want to talk to media, was seen hugging family members outside.
“I feel like celebrating now,” she said to her family.
