Travis Vader has been found guilty in the deaths of Lyle and Marie McCann.
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But he says regardless of the verdict, he hopes today’s proceedings will finally end the long nightmare his family has endured.
Crown prosecutor Ashley Finlayson told court the evidence shows Vader was driving the seniors’ SUV and using their cellphone on the day they vanished and said the fact his DNA, blood and fingerprints were found in the SUV is “crucial” and “overwhelming” evidence.
In July 2010, the McCanns’ burned-out motorhome was discovered in the bush near Edson, about 200 kilometres west of their home in St. Albert, on the northwestern outskirts of Edmonton.
A search was launched five days later, when their daughter, Trudy Holder, contacted RCMP to report that her parents had failed to arrive in Abbotsford, B.C. Their SUV was found several days after that.
Vader, who is originally from Summerland, was charged with first-degree murder and had pleaded not guilty. Nearly two years after that, Vader filed a $1-million wrongful prosecution lawsuit against RCMP officers, Crown prosecutors and jail guards. However, Beresh says it could be a coincidence, Vader could have simply walked by and sneezed, or it could have been transferred from someone he came in contact with. They argued there is public interest because of the cost of the extensive police investigation and trial.
He also suggested that two key Crown witnesses, who identified an SUV Vader was driving as similar to one owned by the McCanns, had conspired against his client and lied about the identification. Thomas issued repeated warnings not to let it happen again.
The Crown was opposed to having a camera in the courtroom for the Vader verdict.
The McCanns left their home in St. Albert, just outside Edmonton, on July 3, 2010, en route to B.C.
The couple was towing their Hyundai Tucson SUV, which would later become a key piece of evidence in the trial.
The trial also heard evidence from Vader’s then-girlfriend, Amber Williams, who testified she received texts from Vader about 2:15 p.m. on July 3, 2010, and phone records were submitted showing that the cellphone used belonged to the McCanns and was transmitting off a cellphone tower located north of Peers. Stewart pointed to significant evidence found inside the SUV, including Vader’s DNA found on Lyle’s hat, more DNA and blood found on the wheel and the passenger seat, a fingerprint belonging to Vader on a can of beer in the front-seat console and cans of food tainted with Marie’s blood.
The Crown’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence that tied Vader to the McCanns’ SUV.
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Lyle McCann’s ball cap was found with a bullet hole and stained with his blood.
