Edmonton

Travis Vader sent love texts on McCanns' phone the day they were killed, Crown says

Two texts believed to be sent by Travis Vader to his ex-girlfriend on Lyle and Marie McCanns’ cellphone on the day the elderly couple were killed were entered as evidence in court Tuesday.

Vader and Amber Williams, both crystal meth addicts, had split but Vader tried to woo her back, trial told

Travis Vader is on trial for first-degree murder in the deaths of Lyle and Marie McCann. (CBC)

Two texts the Crown says were sent by Travis Vader to his ex-girlfriend on Lyle and Marie McCanns' cellphone on the day the elderly couple were killed were entered into evidence in court Tuesday.

Earlier in the trial, the Crown suggested Vader used the cellphone, which the McCanns kept for emergencies, to send love texts to Amber Williams, his ex-girlfriend he was trying to woo back.  

The texts were sent within four minutes of each other on July 3, 2010.

"Hey babe its me how are doing today you know can still text my phone i can still recieve text i miss you so much," reads the first text sent at 4:28 p.m.

"I have been trying to call you and text you and email you and face book you and i cant get in touch with you its me t," the second text reads.

Vader, 44, also used the cellphone to call Williams five times that day, the Crown says.

The Crown has said Vader, 44, and Williams, both crystal meth addicts, broke up in June 2010. But Vader persistently tried to win her back with phone calls, text messages and on Facebook.

There has been no testimony about the texts at the trial to confirm their authenticity and relevancy.

Williams is expected to testify later that Vader used the McCanns' cellphone to try to contact her and send the texts.

Travis Vader is charged with the first-degree murders of the elderly St. Albert couple. They were last seen alive on July 3, 2010. Their bodies have never been found.

CBC has learned Vader's trial is now expected go longer than scheduled. The Crown doesn't expect to wrap up its case until the end of April, when it will turn the trial over to the defence.