Vader murder trial crawls to conclusion
Closing arguments possible in late June with verdict by end of August
The Travis Vader murder trial is slowly moving toward the finish line with the judge in the case speaking Thursday about potential dates for closing arguments and an ultimate decision.
After noting that Thursday was Day 50 of what was initially scheduled to be a five-week trial, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Denny Thomas accepted that final arguments by Crown and defence could possibly be made on June 23 or 24 and said he would likely be able to complete a written decision by the end of August.
The defence case is expected to be closed Friday after Thomas gives a ruling on the last of many procedural battles that were waged during the trial and an amended transcript of the defence DNA expert’s evidence is submitted as one of the approximately 200 exhibits in the case.
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 B.C. 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 of 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.
The trial also heard evidence from Vader’s then-girlfriend, Amber Williams, who testified she received texts from Vader about 2:15 p.m. on July 3, 2010, and phone records were submitted showing the cellphone used belonged to the McCanns and was transmitting off a tower located north of Peers.
The Crown alleges the seniors were murdered sometime on July 3, 2010, in the Edson-Peers area, about one hour and 40 minutes driving time from Edmonton.
However, the defence called several witnesses who testified they saw the motorhome they believe was the McCanns’ at the Minnow Lake campground on the day after they were supposedly killed, with one woman claiming she saw Marie McCann outside the motorhome.
Another defence witness testified Vader was at her Edmonton home on the afternoon of the day the McCanns were allegedly slain.
The defence DNA expert disputed some of the findings by the Crown DNA experts as being inconclusive and a telecommunication expert suggested to court that there can be problems with interpreting information transmitted from cellphone towers.
Meanwhile, Vader is also slated to have a bail hearing on Friday after being arrested and charged last week for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. He was also charged with break and enter to commit theft and possession of stolen property under $5,000.