Travis Vader, accused in McCann murders, returned to jail

The man accused of murdering St. Albert couple Lyle and Marie McCann is back behind bars.

CBC News has learned Travis Vader is now accused of attempting to obstruct justice in an assault case involving his former fiancee.

Last spring, Travis Vader was charged with assaulting his former partner on two occasions, released on bail and ordered to stay away from her.

But last week she told RCMP Vader tried to persuade her not to testify at his trial in January and to drop the criminal charges against him.

"We entered into an investigation with regards to that contact and after we collected enough evidence, he was arrested on Nov. 12th," said Insp. Gibson Glavin.

Vader was charged with obstructing justice and two counts of failing to comply with bail conditions.

Vader's re-application for bail was denied and he is being held in custody while waiting to appear in Barrhead Provincial Court next Tuesday.

Vader is still facing a trial on first-degree murder charges in the disappearance of the McCanns, who were last seen leaving St. Albert for a road trip in British Columbia in July 2010. Their burned RV was found days later near Edson, Alta.

Vader was re-arrested for in the McCann case last December, 10 months after the charges were stayed.

He has repeatedly denied having any involvement with the McCanns' disappearance. 

Vader's trial on the first-degree murder charges is scheduled for March.