Travis Vader's bail on murder charges revoked

Accused killer Travis Vader had his bail revoked Tuesday on the first-degree murder charges he faces for the alleged slayings of an elderly St. Albert couple.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Paul Belzil cancelled Vader’s interim release after defence lawyer Nate Whitling told him he could not oppose Crown prosecutor Eman Joumaa’s application as a result of there being reasonable grounds to believe Vader had committed an offence while he had been free on bail.

Vader still has the right to again seek release on the murder charges in a show-cause hearing, where the onus would be on the defence to show that there is a reason why he shouldn’t be held pending the end of his trial. Whitling deferred that possible application.

Vader, who appeared in person for the brief hearing sporting orange Edmonton Remand Centre coveralls, has been in custody since being arrested May 10 for allegedly violating conditions of his bail.

Vader, 44, was also charged at the time with break and enter to commit theft, possession of stolen property under $5,000, breach of recognizance and breach of probation.

Vader was denied bail on May 30 on both his latest charges and for breaching the release conditions on his murder charges.

There was a court-ordered publication ban on all of the evidence and arguments heard during that bail hearing.

However, police earlier said Vader 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.

Vader’s murder trial into the deaths of Lyle and Marie McCann wrapped up June 23. A decision in the case is scheduled for Sept. 15.

Lyle McCann, 78, and Marie McCann, 77, were 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 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 that Vader had sent several texts to his then-girlfriend using a cellphone that belonged to the McCanns and was seen driving an SUV believed to be the one the couple had.

In closing arguments, the Crown asked the judge to come to the "inescapable conclusion" thatVader had killed the McCanns, while the defence said Vader should be acquitted as the case against him was just speculation and the Crown had failed to prove it.