RCMP targeted teens in Ardrossan double-murder

The RCMP never consideredanyone else as suspects inthe brutal killings oftwo people east of Edmonton four years ago other than two 14-year-old boys, RCMPadmitted Tuesday.

Trudel, 50, and Boenke, 68, were found bludgeoned and shot to death , in what police described at the time as "random" murders, on an acreage near Ardrossan, east of Edmonton in June 2009.

Just hours later, police arrested two14-year-old boys who were wards of the province and had gone missing hours beforefromthe nearbyBosco Homes facility for troubled teens.

Despitea video entered as evidence Tuesday showing a ghastly and blood-splattered crime scene, no forensic evidence,such asDNA evidence, fingerprints,bloody clothing or murder weapons,was ever found to link the teens to the crime.

In the end, policewere forced to rely onevidencefrom apolice interviewwith one of the boys in order to lay charges, but the case fell apart in July 2011 when the videotaped interview was declared inadmissable by a judge.

Sgt. Jason Reeve,the lead investigator, told the trial Tuesdaythat one month afterthechargeswere suspended,RCMP decided at a high-level meeting to continue the investigation.

For nine months, Mounties used surveillance, wiretaps and an undercoverinvestigation often referred to as a "Mr. Big sting operation."

The sting involves an undercover officer who portrays a crime boss in an attempt to gain a confession recorded by a hidden camera.

In the end, police were able to lay murder charges againstonly one of the teens.

In cross examination,Reeve admitted they've never consideredanybody else as a suspect and allinvestigators efforts were aimed at the boys.

The boy, who was originally charged as a co-accused but released when the case initially fell apart, will also testify for the Crown later this month.

The trial is scheduled to last six weeks.