2014-12-23 Vader to be released on house arrest | St. Albert Gazette

Published by Bretton McCann,


Vader to be released on house arrest

Matter returns to the courts Jan. 23, 2015

Tuesday, Dec 23, 2014 10:52 am

  • Given URL is not allowed by the Application configuration.: One or more of the given URLs is not allowed by the App's settings. It must match the Website URL or Canvas URL, or the domain must be a subdomain of one of the App's domains.
    Like
    0
  • HOUSE ARREST - Travis Vader was released on house arrest with strict conditions and a $25,000 recognizance. He is due back in court on Jan. 23, 2015.
    HOUSE ARREST - Travis Vader was released on house arrest with strict conditions and a $25,000 recognizance. He is due back in court on Jan. 23, 2015.
    File photo
    • .

Travis Vader was granted house arrest after a brief appearance in an Edmonton courtroom Tuesday. 

Vader appeared in person to speak to the recommencement of double murder charges involving St. Albert couple Lyle and Marie McCann.

The 42-year-old was rearrested on the charges on Dec. 19.

Crown prosecutors stayed the charges against Vader in March, one month before trial, with one year to bring them back to court.

Crown prosecutor Ashley Finlayson consented Vader be released on house arrest under strict conditions and a $25,000 recognizance.

He said he took into account that Vader had been released in October after being acquitted on charges unrelated to the McCanns.

Prior to being released, Vader had been in custody for four years.

Finlayson said "disclosure issues" resulted in the stay of proceedings in March. Additional material has come to light since then.

Vader's lawyer Brian Beresh says he has no information about any new evidence in the case.

"Imagine if every time the prosecution wanted an adjournment, they stayed proceedings. People would be before the justice system all their lives."

Vader is pleased to be on release, says Beresh. Both were surprised by his arrest last Friday.

"He was leading a normal life. Taking courses, doing various things in the community. He was assimilating back into society as one might expect."

Vader was charged with the murder of the McCanns in 2012, two years after he was named a suspect.

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. Their bodies have never been found.

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. 

Vader's next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 23, 2015.

Rating

recommend to friends

Comments



NOTE: To post a comment in the new commenting system you must have an account with at least one of the following services: Disqus, Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, OpenID. You may then login using your account credentials for that service. If you do not already have an account you may register a new profile with Disqus by first clicking the "Post as" button and then the link: "Don't have one? Register a new profile". The St. Albert Gazette welcomes your opinions and comments. We do not allow personal attacks, offensive language or unsubstantiated allegations. We reserve the right to delete comments deemed inappropriate. We reserve the right to close the comments thread for stories that are deemed especially sensitive. For further information, please contact the editor or publisher.


http://www.stalbertgazette.com/article/20141223/SAG0801/141229995/0/sag