EDMONTON – A foster child who was sexually assaulted by prostitute killer Thomas Svekla is suing the province, her foster mother and Svekla for $2.5 million.
In a 15-page lawsuit filed June 8, the girl claims her life was ruined by the abuse she suffered at Svekla’s hands in 1995, when she was five years old and living in foster care.
Her "life was destroyed by the abuse that she suffered from Thomas Svekla and (foster mother) Mona. All aspects of (her) life were harmed, including her relationships with family," the statement of claim says. "(She) lost her self-esteem, felt that she was viewed as a liar and suffered severe psychological injuries."
The girl, who is now at least 19 years old, cannot be identified under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act because she was once in foster care. She claims the province failed her.
"The Crown maliciously, carelessly and recklessly failed to perform a reasonable assessment and investigation into the qualifications of Mona and Thomas Svekla, including … failing to perform an independent investigation into the family … (and) failing to conduct a criminal record check," the statement of claim says.
"The Crown took (her) from an unsafe environment and forced her into a more dangerous environment."
The lawsuit goes on to claim the province failed to provide adequate training and support to Mona — whose last name is not given — and to Svekla, who was Mona’s boyfriend at the time.
The allegations in a statement of claim have not been proven in court. A statement of defence has not yet been filed.
Svekla, 42, was convicted of sexually assaulting the girl in March 2009. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for that crime.
In June 2008, he was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of prostitute Theresa Innes. During the trial, court heard he bound her body with wire and transported her to Fort Saskatchewan from High Level in a hockey bag. He has appealed that conviction.
During the same trial he was acquitted of killing prostitute Rachel Quinney, 19. In 2004, Svekla found her mutilated, naked body in a field near Fort Saskatchewan.
Last month, he was designated a dangerous offender, which means he will be locked up indefinitely.
The girl claims she has suffered as a result of Svekla’s criminal trials and media coverage.
"After (she) heard the news that Thomas Svekla had been charged with murder, her psychological injuries worsened," the statement of claim says. "(She) ruminates over the incompetence of the Crown to have allowed her to live with a dangerous offender. … (She) ruminates over the failure of the Crown to have taken action against Thomas Svekla in 1995 that could have prevented the murder and other crimes that he committed."
The suit also names the Public Trustee of Alberta and an unidentified John Doe who was involved with the girl when she was in foster care.
She claims the province knew she could seek compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Act and the Victims of Crime Act, but failed to do so.
kkleiss@thejournal.canwest.com
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