Travis Vader's ex-girlfriend testifies at accused killer's trial

Travis Vader's ex-girlfriend says her relationship with the accused killer fell apart because they both had serious addictions to crystal methamphetamine.

Amber Williams is a convicted drug dealer who is currently in custody facing further trafficking charges.

She testified for most of the day Wednesday at Vader's first-degree murder trial, and told the court she had shared a bedroom with Vader at Donny Bulmer's house in 2010 for about three months.

Vader is accused of killing Lyle and Marie McCann on July 3, 2010.

Williams said she broke up with Vader about two weeks before that. She blamed crystal meth.

"We both were constantly doing it. And that's mainly the reason why we split up," she said. "We just couldn't get along. It was just too much."

During cross-examination, Williams agreed Vader was angry with her when they broke up and told her he didn't want to talk to her again. But she said that soon changed.

Williams said Vader repeatedly tried to contact her through text and Facebook messages along with phone calls and emails.

• Travis Vader fixated on love life the day McCanns disappeared, texts reveal

Williams tried to downplay Vader's relentless pursuit, which she said lasted for about two weeks.

"There was nothing major in them," she said as she tossed her hair back and laughed nervously on the witness stand. "Just that he loved me and wanted me back. Stuff like that."

She admitted, "I didn't respond too often. He did more texting than I did."

The prosecutor asked if she wanted to get back together with Vader.

"No," she said. "Obviously not."

RCMP obtained the phone records and focused on two specific text messages sent to Williams late in the afternoon on July 3, 2010, from the cellphone that belonged to the McCanns. Williams said she is positive Vader was the author of those texts.

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

Later that month, Williams returned to Bulmer's house to retrieve her belongings. She said no one was home at the time.

"I got all my stuff from the one bedroom where I'd been staying," she told court.

Williams said she took everything, including a cellphone she found on a shelf in the bedroom. It was the McCanns' cellphone.

Williams testified she was worried Vader might find her through the phone's GPS, so after using it a few times she pulled the battery out and threw the cellphone into a garbage can in downtown Whitecourt. Later she led police to the scene and they retrieved the phone.

During cross-examination, Williams admitted that Bulmer never locked his doors, and allowed friends to come and go all the time. She agreed that anyone could have put the phone on the shelf in the bedroom.

Vader's sister, Bobbi Jo, is expected to testify on Thursday afternoon.

janice.johnston@cbc.ca

@cbcjanjohnston