Accused killer Travis Vader was given a stern warning from the judge hearing his double-murder trial Wednesday after turning up late for court for the third time.
Vader apologized for being about 30 minutes late, saying he “slept in” after his alarm did not go off.
“I’m sorry for being late,” said Vader.
He also told the judge he is being evicted from the Edmonton motel he stays at during the week as a result of the owners being upset over the RCMP Major Crimes Unit repeatedly contacting them.
Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Denny Thomas noted Vader has been late several times and had provided explanations, but people were being inconvenienced.
“I’m warning you to not let it happen again,” said Thomas.
“Yes sir,” replied Vader.
Vader showed up late for court twice earlier as a result of vehicle problems.
Vader, 44, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the 2010 disappearance of an elderly St. Albert couple Lyle and Marie McCann.
Last week, court heard the police had matched a fingerprint on a beer can found in the McCann’s SUV to Vader.
In their opening address at the start of the trial, the Crown said Vader’s DNA was also found on the beer can.
Defence lawyer Brian Beresh suggested the fingerprint could have been put on the beer can at an earlier date or at various other locations.
Earlier, Beresh told court the presence of fingerprints is a “live issue” in the case and said a U.S. expert will testify that fingerprint testing is not infallible and mistakes have been made.
A witness has also testified he saw Vader driving an SUV that looked like the one belonging to the McCanns following their disappearance.
The seniors were last seen July 3, 2010, leaving a Superstore in St. Albert.
Two days later, their motorhome was found ablaze and abandoned at a campground by Minnow Lake, near Edson.
The couple’s daughter, Trudy Holder, has testified her parents were supposed to pick up her and her daughter at the Abbotsford airport on July 10, 2010, but they never showed up.
The Hyundai SUV they were towing was found in the woods on a rural property just off of Highway 16 east of Edson on July 16, 2010.
Court heard police found blood spatter from the McCanns on items in the SUV, as well as Vader’s DNA, blood and fingerprints.
Beresh has accused the RCMP of suffering from “tunnel vision” in the investigation, failing to pursue other suspects.
He has also told court there is no proof the McCanns are dead and said defence expert witnesses will raise questions about the evidence allegedly linked to Vader.
