The man on trial for two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of a St. Albert couple will remain in custody after a provincial court judge denied him bail Monday on separate charges including break and enter.
Travis Vader was seeking freedom after being arrested May 10 for allegedly breaching conditions of his bail.
Details of the bail proceedings are under a publication ban, however, earlier this month police said Vader breached a condition of his bail when he allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine.
Police also previously alleged Vader contacted a witness sometime between March 12 and April 17. Information filed with the court said Vader contacted Don Bulmer before he testified on Monday, May 2, which went against the conditions of Vader’s bail.
Monday’s decision also included no contact orders, relating to his girlfriend Samantha Dandeneault and Bulmer.
Following his May 10 arrest, Vader was charged with the following:
- Break and enter and commit theft
- Possession of stolen property under $5,000
- Breach of a recognizance
- Breach of a probation order
Vader is currently on trial for the murder of Lyle and Marie McCann.
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Over the course of the trial, which started on March 8, Vader has been late for court four times. Once he told court he slept in, twice he cited car troubles and the most recent tardiness was because someone borrowed his vehicle and didn’t return it. That prompted Justice Denny Thomas to review the 44-year-old’s bail conditions.
Justice Paul Belzil was called in to preside over the bail review and issued the added conditions, which include:
- Random drug testing once a week unless suspicion of a breach (urine sample)
- Random residence search once a week unless suspicion of a breach
- No unlawful drugs in his residence
READ MORE: Travis Vader late again, delays Day 19 of double murder trial
The McCanns, who were in their late 70s, were last seen fuelling up their motorhome in their hometown near Edmonton on July 3, 2010. The motorhome was found on fire about 200 kilometres west of the city two days later. Their bodies have yet to be found.
Vader has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Final arguments will be heard starting on June 22.
The Crown said Justice Thomas hoped to have a decision in the case between the end of August and mid-September.
With files from Caley Ramsay and Kendra Slugoski, Global News
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