Legal move means pain for McCann family may continue.
In Edson, on May 15, 2012 Travis Vader made his first appearance at the Edson Provincial Court over the case of missing couple Lyle and Marie McCann. The couple who were on their way to B.C. from St. Albert in July 2010 disappeared enroute and Travis Vader was charged with the McCann’s murder, which is thought to have taken place somewhere near Edson. The senior couple’s remains have not been found to this day despite a high profile and lengthy campaign that included a substantial reward.
On Thursday, September 15, 2016 Travis Vader was found guilty of second degree murder. Vader, 38 when he was first taken into custody is now 44. Vader still declares he did not kill the couple and it has been reported that his lawyers have filed an appeal.
There are valid arguments for the prosecution and defence and the McCann murder case has never been straightforward. This tragic uncertainty for the McCann family sadly looks set to go further because the grounds for an appeal are, we understand, based on an alleged legal error by Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench Justice, Danny Thomas.
The basis of the appeal filed on Friday, September 16 was that Justice Thomas used a section of the Criminal Code of Canada that was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada in 1990.
Because the appeal is on a matter of law it is likely that an appeal will be heard and this matter will continue. Whatever happened and whoever perpetrated the deaths of the McCanns the agony of the remaining family and friends goes on until the case is finally decided and even then not until their loved ones remains are discovered and laid to a proper and respectful rest. It is never too late for anyone that has any information to come forward.