Vader bail decision expected Monday

Police say accused in double murder trial violated numerous conditions

Accused killer Travis Vader will have to wait until Monday to find out whether or not he will be released from custody following a bail hearing Friday.

Vader, who is currently on trial for the slayings of an elderly St. Albert couple, is facing additional charges stemming from incidents that allegedly took place earlier this month.

There is a publication ban on the evidence and arguments heard during the bail hearing.

However, police earlier said Vader had breached his bail conditions by allegedly failing a drug test and contacting a Crown witness from his murder trial.

Police also allege he was involved in a copper-wire and truck theft at a west-end industrial park when they arrested him.

Provincial court Judge Lloyd Malin reserved his decision on Vader’s bail and said he would give his ruling Monday.

Meanwhile, Vader’s defence lawyers closed their case at his murder trial and final arguments were scheduled for June 22.

Vader, 44, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the July 2010 deaths of Lyle McCann, 78, and Marie McCann, 77.

The St. Albert couple was last seen on July 3, 2010, leaving a Superstore in St. Albert while en route to British Columbia for a family camping vacation.

Their bodies have never been found. Two days later, their motorhome was found ablaze and abandoned at the Minnow Lake campground near Edson.

The Hyundai SUV they were towing was found July 16, 2010, in the woods on a rural property just off Highway 16 east of Edson.

The trial has heard police found Vader’s DNA, blood and fingerprints in the SUV, as well as blood spatter from the McCanns.