Travis Vader’s lawyers and a Crown prosecutor will meet in an Edmonton courtroom this morning, two weeks after Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Denny Thomas found Vader guilty of second-degree murder in the deaths of St. Albert couple Lyle and Marie McCann.
Travis #Vader has just been brought into the prisoner’s box in his orange coveralls and no more beard. His gf in front row. #CBC #yeg
The date was initially set aside so the court could arrive at a sentencing date, but that was before Vader’s defence team filed a motion for a mistrial.
Now it could take months for the court to take the next steps in the case, which dates back six years.
In his decision, Thomas cited Section 230 of the Criminal Code — a section that was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada more than 25 years ago.
It allowed for a finding of second-degree murder if a killing occurred during the commission of another crime, such as robbery.
Thomas said in his ruling he found no evidence Vader intended to kill the McCanns.
Some legal experts believe Thomas could find Vader guilty of manslaughter.
In his decision, Thomas said he believed Vader was a desperate drug addict who came across the McCanns in their motorhome in a rural area west of Edmonton in 2010, shot them during a robbery and torched their RV.
The McCanns, who were in their 70s, were on a road trip when they disappeared. Their bodies haven’t been found.
Days and years: The long road to the Vader verdict2:13