An Edmonton judge found notorious homicide suspect Travis Vader not guilty Wednesday of threatening to kill a guard at the former downtown remand centre.

Provincial Court Judge Ferne LeReverend acquitted Vader of the charge of uttering a death threat after ruling the Crown had not proven it beyond a reasonable doubt.

LeReverend said she could not say "the threat did not take place," but took issue with the evidence of the jail guard involved, saying she had "concerns" over his testimony, the report he filed about the incident and information he gave to an investigating police officer.

During the Aug. 20 trial, the Edmonton Remand Centre (ERC) correctional officer testified Vader, 42, said to him on July 22, 2012, that "when I get out of here, I am going to find you and I am going to f...ing kill you."

He also told court the heated incident, which happened at the old downtown remand centre, stemmed from Vader wanting to be allowed to go to the visiting area so he could review legal disclosure on a laptop computer.

The guard said Vader was yelling at him, but made the threat in a "quiet" voice. He added that he is now "more concerned" about the alleged threat since the murder charges Vader had been facing regarding the disappearance and presumed slaying of seniors Lyle and Marie McCann have been stayed.

Taking the witness stand in his own defence, Vader testified that he never made the alleged threat.

The Edson-area man, who remains in custody at the ERC and was shackled during his testimony, told court that guards were mad at him for filing a lawsuit alleging he was being mistreated and he was being punished.

Vader also testified that the guard constantly called him a "piece of shit" and told him he hopes he enjoys being in the Max as a result of him killing "those people."

First-degree murder charges relating to the McCanns were stayed against Vader on March 19.

The McCanns -- Lyle, 78, and Marie, 77 -- were last seen fuelling up their motorhome in St. Albert on July 3, 2010, while en route to Chilliwack, B.C., for a vacation. Two days later, their RV was found engulfed in flames near the Minnow Lake campground, 20 km east of Edson. The SUV they were towing was discovered six days later in a remote wooded area near Carrot Creek, 30 km east of Edson. Their bodies have yet to be recovered, although police declared them dead and presumed murdered.

Vader has also filed a $1-million lawsuit, alleging RCMP misconduct, malicious prosecution by the Crown and abusive mistreatment by correctional officers.

Vader is slated to be back in court on Monday to face a retrial relating to a June 2010 incident near Barrhead for which he is accused of stealing a truck and trafficking in methamphetamines.