By CHAT News Today

Travis Vader eligible to apply for unescorted temporary absences in March

Feb 22, 2017 | 1:00 PM

EDMONTON – The man sentenced to life in prison in connection with the deaths of a St. Albert couple will be eligible for unescorted temporary absences on March 13.

Travis Vader was convicted last year on two counts of manslaughter in the deaths of Lyle and Marie McCann, who disappeared in July 2010. Their bodies have never been found.

The Parole Board of Canada says Vader has not applied for unescorted temporary absences and such applications can take about five months to process.

The board would consider sentencing comments made by the judge, a report from the Correctional Service of Canada and a review of Vader’s criminal record.

The McCann family would also have the right to submit a statement to the parole board about how the crime has affected them.

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Under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, Temporary releases may be granted when it is considered that the inmate will not, by re-offending, present an undue risk to society during the absence. The temporary absence must also fit within the framework of the offender’s correctional plan. Temporary absences may be granted for medical, administrative, community service, family contact, parental responsibility, personal development (rehabilitation), or compassionate reasons.

Offenders must have served a portion of their sentence before being eligible to apply for a UTA. Offenders classified as maximum security are not eligible for UTAs.

Vader’s sentence included no parole eligibility for seven years, but the time is calculated based on the date of arrest on the charges.

The parole board says he is eligible for day parole on Sept. 13, 2019, and for full parole on March 13, 2020.

-With files from The Canadian Press