EDMONTON – Travis Vader’s ex-girlfriend testified in his first-degree murder trial Wednesday. Amber Williams said a slew of texts were sent to her from Vader’s phone on July 3, 2010 along with two other texts and eight calls from a number she didn’t recognize. That number was registered to Lyle and Marie McCann.
Phone logs show that around 8:37 p.m. on July 3, a text was sent from Vader’s phone number to Williams, saying “Hey my love i have a phone again pls it would be so nice to talk to you adn see you again pls get back to me im so lonely and miss you so.”
“Where you at?” read one from Williams’ number to Vader’s.
“I cant say that on here where are you my love pls i want to see you im so tiered baby what are you doing,” read the reply.
The text exchange continued.
A message from Williams’ phone reads: “Im around and we cant be around each other. Its not safe. Your wanted pretty bad.”
A message from Vader’s number replies: “Baby pls and why do they want me so bad?”
Another number texted Williams’ phone, writing “Don’t want him no anything bout me rite now. He being watched bad.” It wasn’t revealed in court whose phone this message was sent from.
READ MORE: Text messages show Travis Vader used McCanns’ cellphone: Crown
A series of text messages was laid out in a Crown evidence binder. The phone logs show many texts from Vader’s phone pleading with Williams to see him.
“I didnt realizes how much you realy do for me and how much i count on you our my everything and i want to say thank you sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart its all going to be Ok i know it looks bad now but i talked to a lawyer again and seems to think ill be ok.”
Vader is on trial for two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of St. Albert couple Lyle and Marie McCann.
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.
TIMELINE: The key events in the Travis Vader case
Court heard Wednesday that two texts were sent to Williams’ phone from the McCanns’ cell phone on July 3, 2010.
Williams said she and Vader had been dating a couple of months but split up about a week before July 3, 2010, the last day the McCanns were seen alive.
The Crown also asked her about eight phone calls from the McCann number on July 3. Williams said she didn’t answer them because she didn’t recognize the number.
She testified both she and Vader were addicted to meth while they were dating. When the Crown asked if they had used the drug more than 20 times together, she answered “oh yes.”
“We were both constantly doing it. That’s one of the reasons we split up. We couldn’t get along. It was just too much.”
Williams said Vader wanted her back but that she wasn’t interested and rarely replied to his barrage of text messages.
During cross examination Williams was questioned about how Vader signed off his texts. She testified it was always “Travis” and not the initial “t.”
Defence lawyer Brian Beresh also asked if she ever saw Vader use his cell phone on that date, suggesting someone else could have sent her the long list of texts.
Williams, who admitted to selling meth, is in custody awaiting a drug charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
READ MORE: Travis Vader’s bail conditions to be reviewed after 4th time late for McCann murder trial
For the fourth time Wednesday, Vader was late to his double murder trial. The 44-year-old’s bail conditions were being reviewed but the details were under a publication ban. The bail review was put over until Friday at 1 p.m.
With files from Kendra Slugoski, Global News
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