Police matched a fingerprint on a beer can found in the SUV belonging to an elderly St. Albert couple who disappeared in July 2010 to accused killer Travis Vader, court heard Friday.

Testifying at Vader’s first-degree murder trial, RCMP Sgt. Michael Donnelly said the fingerprint was lifted off  the beer can and sent to a national database containing 10 million fingerprints of known criminals. 

Court has heard the Boxer beer can was in the cupholder between the two fronts seats of a 2006 Hyundai Tucson SUV belonging to Lyle McCann, 78, and his 77-year-old wife Marie.

A defence fingerprint expert sat through Donnelly’s testimony and is expected to testify on behalf of Vader later in the trial.

During cross examination, defence lawyer Brian Beresh suggested the fingerprint could have been put on the beer can at an earlier date or at other locations. Donnelly agreed those were possibilities.

Beresh also questioned Donnelly on the methods he used to compare the fingerprint found on the beer can with Vader’s fingerprints in the database. While Donnelly conceded there is not a standard method used, the veteran officer said his career is on line every time he makes a finding and he will not sign off on it unless he is sure.

In his opening address at the trial, Beresh told court a U.S. expert will testify that fingerprint testing is not infallible and mistakes have been made.

Vader, 44, is accused of murdering the McCanns.

Court has heard the couple was last seen July 3, 2010, leaving a Superstore in St. Albert.

Two days later, their motorhome was found ablaze and abandoned at a campground by Minnow Lake, near Edson.

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

Court heard police found blood spatter from the McCanns on items in the SUV, as well as Vader’s DNA, blood and fingerprints.