The son of Lyle and Marie McCann said Thursday that RCMP errors in the investigation of his parents’ deaths were understandable and have not shaken his confidence in the case.

Bret McCann attended court this week and watched a hearing that will determine if prosecutors abused the judicial process by staying murder charges against Travis Vader in 2014 and causing a two-year delay in his murder trial. Court heard that late, incomplete disclosure of evidence by RCMP caused prosecutor Michelle Doyle to enter the stay.

"Attending these sessions has renewed my confidence in both the RCMP and the Crown," McCann said. "I don’t personally see that any abuse of process took place. This was a formidable case. It was mishandled, but it’s understandable."

McCann said he admired Doyle’s professionalism in staying the charges in the interest of ensuring a fair trial for Vader. McCann added that he would be "shocked" if the abuse-of-process hearing resulted in a halt of the prosecution, as Vader is seeking.

Though the RCMP made errors, McCann said, he was pleased to hear they have since made changes to avoid disclosure problems in the future.

On the witness stand, primary investigator Sgt. Frederick Jané said the RCMP learned a "lot of lessons" in the Vader investigation. The disclosure problems convinced the Alberta RCMP to hire more support staff and centralize their major case units in Edmonton instead of in various detachments.

Vader, 43, faces murder charges in the deaths of Lyle McCann, 78, and his wife, Marie, 77.

The St. Albert couple was last seen on July 3, 2010, buying gas before they headed toward British Columbia. Two days later, their burning motorhome was found near an Edson-area campground. Their bodies have never been found.

Vader‘s previously scheduled trial was derailed on March 29, 2014, when prosecutors stayed the murder charges because of the RCMP’s disclosure problems.

Later that year, they lifted the stay and Vader faced the murder charges once more. Vader’s lawyer, Brian Beresh, has said the stay was only to buy the investigation more time to collect evidence.

McCann said his family has not lost hope that even more information may come out about what happened to his parents. A $60,000 reward for information is still available. "Who knows? Someone might still come forward."

In April 2014, Vader filed a million-dollar lawsuit alleging malicious prosecution and mistreatment by police, the Crown and others involved in the investigation of him in the McCann killing.

That lawsuit remains before the courts.

Vader is now scheduled to go to trial in March 2016.

rcormier@edmontonjournal.com

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