Wednesday, Dec 24, 2014 06:00 am

By: Amy Crofts

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  SEEKING ANSWERS – Bret McCann, son of Lyle and Marie McCann, holds up photographs of his parents at a police press conference in July 2010. In a recent statement to the media, the family says they will now have the opportunity to learn more about the investigation into their parents’ death when the case goes to trial.

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The man once charged with the murders of Lyle and Marie McCann is back in police custody.

Travis Vader was rearrested on the double first-degree murder charges on Dec. 19.

Crown prosecutors stayed the charges against the 42-year-old in March, one month before trial, stating "the Crown cannot continue prosecution unless there is opportunity to review all the evidence, especially if there is new evidence from investigators."

Prosecutors could bring the charges back to court within one year.

At the time the charges were stayed Vader's lawyer Brian Beresh said RCMP "unfairly vilified" Vader by indicting him in the public eye. He said the length of time the proceedings had stretched out for, nearly four years, spoke to the holes in the prosecution’s case.

Not wishing to speak publicly, the McCanns’ son Bret McCann released a statement to the media on Friday:

"We will now have the opportunity to learn more about the investigation into our parents’ death when this case comes to trial. Our goal now is to ensure the accused receives a fair trial."

Lyle, 78, and Marie McCann, 77, went missing in July 2010 on a trip to British Columbia to visit family. The burnt-out shell of the their motorhome was discovered at a campground near Edson a few days later.

Although the McCanns were legally declared dead in July 2011, their bodies have never been found.

Vader was formally charged in the disappearance of the St. Albert couple nearly two years after he was named a suspect.

In April, Vader launched a $1 million lawsuit against 60 people including Crown prosecutors, RCMP and the attorney general of Canada.

The statement of claim stated RCMP and the Crown deliberately prolonged the prosecution of the homicide charges despite there being "no reasonable prospect of conviction."

It also includes allegations made in an earlier statement of claim filed in February for $150,000. That claim stated that RCMP held Vader in custody under fraudulent charges to buy them more time to gather evidence for another investigation.

In October, Vader was acquitted on unrelated charges, including theft, drug trafficking and careless storage of a firearm and was released after serving more than four years in custody.

Vader was scheduled to appear in Court of Queen's Bench in Edmonton on Tuesday to speak to the charges.

Visit www.stalbertgazette.com for updates on this story.