Svekla liked to choke people: witness

Accused prostitute killer Thomas Svekla liked to choke himself and others when he was using drugs, an acquaintance testified at his double murder trial in Edmonton Monday.

Shawna Gordon told the court that in 2004 she saw the accused stand face to face with a woman who had her back against a door, andwatched Svekla wrap his hands around her neck.

Svekla continued choking the woman until Gordon was "pretty sure she blacked out and went to the floor," she testified.

Gordon said she saw Svekla do the thing same to himself.

"He always liked to choke himself. He'd say, 'Choke me. Choke me,'"Gordon told the court. "He said it a lot."

Gordonand others, including the accused,would meet at homes in Edmonton's southeast to smoke crack cocaine, and the choking incident took place at one of those meetings,she said.

Svelka is accused of killing Theresa Innes, 36, and Rachel Quinney, 19. Medical examiners were not able to establish a cause of death for either woman but they suggested it's possible both victims were choked.

Innes's remainswere found in May 2006, stuffed in a hockey bag discovered in a home in Fort Saskatchewan, just northeast of Edmonton.

Quinney's body was found in a field outside Edmonton in 2004. Svekla, who reported the body to police,told them he tripped over it inthebush.

Svekla has pleaded not guilty to both killings. His trial began in February and is expected to continue until June.