Cause of death uncertain Edmonton murder trial told

Medical examiners were unable to determine the cause of death for two Edmonton-area prostitutes Thomas Svekla is accused of killing, his trial was told Thursday.

Svekla is charged with second-degree murder in the deaths of Rachel Quinney, 19,and Theresa Innes, 36.

Alberta's Chief Medical Examiner, Graeme Dowling, testified he examined Quinney's mutilated and badly decomposed body, which was found in June 2004 in a wooded area east of Edmonton.

Dowling testified that based on toxicology results, "cocaine may have been a factor in this person's death."

But he told the court he was reluctant to list that as the cause of death because of the condition of the woman's body.

Dowling also told the court that it's possible Quinney was smothered to death. But under cross-examination, he admitted he could find no evidence to support that.

Later in the day, medical examiner Dr. Bernard Bannach gave similar evidence about the death of Theresa Innes. Her body was found in a home in Fort Saskatchewan, just northeast of Edmonton, in May 2006 stuffed in a hockey bag and wrapped tightly in plastic.

Bannach testified there was cocaine inthe woman'ssystem, but not enough to kill her.

"The concentrations appear to be consistent with recreational use of cocaine rather than a fatal overdose," he said.

Bannach said Innes's body was discoloured and decomposed, which prevented him from confirming a cause of death.

"I can't rule out asphyxia, but I have no objective evidence of it either," he said.

Meanwhile, members of Quinney's family expressed outrage after the judge banned one of them from the courtroom Thursday morning.

Justice Sterling Sanderman said he saw Quinney's brother Keith Lajmodiere change position in the courtroom, make eye contact with Svekla, and then put his finger to the side of his head, making a shooting motion.

Outside court, family members complained that Svekla has been laughing at them and denied doing anything improper.

"We're coming here to hear evidence and hopefully have justice served," said Charlotte Lajmodiere, Quinney's sister-in-law.

"Now my husband has been thrown out of the courtroom and we're going to sit back and have a murderer laugh in our face. I don't think so."

The family is planning to discuss the ban with their lawyer, Lajmodiere said.