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Selenski Ex Testifies About Cash

WILKES-BARRE — The person who may have been the closest to Hugo Selenski during the time he allegedly killed two people testified Monday for the prosecuti...

WILKES-BARRE -- The person who may have been the closest to Hugo Selenski during the time he allegedly killed two people testified Monday for the prosecution.

Selenski's ex-girlfriend Christina Strom spent the entire day on the stand.

Hugo Selenski was visibly upset in court as he listened to the testimony of his ex-girlfriend. At one point, he even objected.

Strom testified in court about her relationship with the accused killer, saying, "it was great in the beginning."

“It was great in the beginning.”But then describing how buying a home with Selenski in Luzerne County's back mountain changed everything.

When making a down payment on the home in 2002, Strom testified, "I was a nervous wreck writing that check (on April 30, 2002) because I knew I didn't have it. Hugo said he would have it there, that he would get it from Michael Kerkowski."

The prosecution contends Selenski did get the money from Kerkowski when he allegedly robbed and killed him and his girlfriend Tammy Fassett and then buried their bodies outside that home in Kingston Township.

Prosecutors say paying for that home was a large part of Selenski's motive for the robbery and murder, but during cross examination the defense tried to weaken that motive by asking Strom, "you were going to move into a home with a man who had no job?"

"Yes, because I was perfectly capable of paying the bills myself," she replied.

Strom earned about $55,000 from her job with an insurance company and had been approved for a mortgage on the home.

Strom struggled to look at Hugo Selenski during her testimony. She testified for the prosecution as part of her plea deal for federal money laundering and perjury charges. Strom is awaiting sentencing on those charges.

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