Accused killer Travis Vader is escorted out of court by police

Credits: Pamela Roth/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

EDMONTON - Travis Vader, the man accused of murdering two St. Albert, Alta., seniors who vanished four years ago, is set to stand trial beginning March 7, 2016.

Vader, 42, faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths Lyle McCann, 78, and his wife Marie, 77.

Police said the couple was last seen fuelling up their motorhome in St. Albert, just northwest of Edmonton, on July 3, 2010.

Two days later, their RV was found burning near the Minnow Lake campground, about 200 km west of St. Albert. The SUV they were towing was discovered six days later in a remote wooded area 10 km away near Carrot Creek.

Their bodies have yet to be found, but police have declared them dead and presumed murdered.

Murder charges were stayed against Vader on March 19, but they were resurrected on Dec. 19. He was arrested again and taken into custody, but was released and placed on house arrest following a Dec. 23 court appearance.

"I don't know of any new evidence," Vader's lawyer, Brian Beresh, said outside court Friday. "None has been provided to me. I am led to believe there is no new evidence."

"The way this entire case has been handled is unusual," he said. "This man wasn't allowed a preliminary inquiry. A stay of proceedings entered when we're prepared to proceed to trial. I think someone should answer for this."

Beresh told reporters Vader wants his day in court.

"And if this delay infringes on his right to a fair trial, that will certainly be an issue we are going to raise and ask for the appropriate remedy," he said, adding that remedy could be a judicial stay of proceedings.

Beresh also said he would fight any attempt by the Crown to introduce new police evidence discovered in the period between the first stay and the trial.

"In my view it would be an abuse of process to gain an advantage by delaying a trial," he said.

Vader has filed a $1-million lawsuit, alleging RCMP misconduct, malicious prosecution, and correctional officer abuse.