2016-04-07 DNA found in McCann SUV all but certainly Travis Vader's, expert says | CBC
Published by Bretton McCann,
DNA found in McCann SUV all but certainly Travis Vader's, expert says
Travis Vader's trial heard DNA found in the McCanns' SUV has a one-in-three-trillion chance of belonging to anyone but Vader. (CBC)
An RCMP scientist told the Travis Vader first-degree murder trial Thursday there is a one-in-three-trillion chance the DNA she tested on a key piece of evidence belongs to someone other than Vader.
Vader is accused of killing Lyle and Marie McCann in July 2010. Their bodies have never been found.
The McCanns' SUV was found hidden in the bush near Edson, Alta., 13 days after they disappeared. Most of the key DNA evidence was found inside the Hyundai Tuscon.
The McCann's Hyundai Tucson SUV, which was being towed behind their motorhome, was located 13 days after the couple vanished, 24 km east of Edson, Alta. (RCMP)
RCMP obtained Vader's DNA through a court order when he was arrested in 2010.
Vashni Skipper was the reporting scientist assigned to the McCann investigation. On Wednesday and Thursday she painstakingly led the court through the methods taken at the RCMP lab to test DNA.
Skipper testified blood found on the front console of the Hyundai SUV matched Vader's, saying there is a one-in-three-trillion chance of it being anyone else's.
A beer can in the same console was also tested for DNA and again, the match to Vader was given the same one-in-three-trillion odds. Court has already been told Vader's fingerprint was on the beer can.
Skipper also tested DNA found on the SUV steering wheel and matched it to Vader, saying the chances of it being someone other than Vader's was one in 7.4 billion.
The World Population Clock estimated the number of people on earth in March 2016 as the same number — 7.4 billion.
DNA was also found on the front passenger seat of the Hyundai Tuscon. Skipper tested the sample and determined it also matched Vader. She estimated that sample has a one-in-12-million chance of it matching someone else.
That's just slightly better odds than winning Lotto 649, estimated at one-in-14-million.
In his opening address, defence lawyer Brian Beresh said he hoped to establish "serious doubt as to whether or not Travis Vader's DNA was found anywhere in the McCann SUV."
Beresh has been assisted in his cross-examination of Skipper by Randell Libby of Seattle, Wash. whom he describes as an outstanding DNA expert from the United States.
The prosecution plans to call more DNA evidence.