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Canadian pilot accused of murder to appear in court
An air force commander who flew the Queen on official state business is to appear in court in person for the first time charged with the murder of two women.
Published: 9:35AM BST 07 Oct 2010
Col. Russell Williams Photo: REUTERS
Col. Russell Williams – an elite pilot who once flew the Queen and other dignitaries around the country – was the commander of Canada's largest Air Force base until he was charged earlier this year with the murder of two women, the sexual assault of two others and 82 break-ins, during which he allegedly stole women's underwear. He has previously taken part in court hearings by video link from a detention centre.
The case has shocked the country and prompted fears that the commander of Canada's most high-profile military base and the man who once flew Canadian prime ministers could have been a serial killer. Williams waived his right to a preliminary hearing in August and was ordered to stand trial and return to court on Thursday.
The 47-year-old is charged with the first-degree murder of Jessica Lloyd, 27, whose body was found in February, and Marie Comeau, a 38-year-old corporal under his command who was found dead in her home last November. Both women were asphyxiated.
He is also charged with forcible confinement, breaking and entering and sexual assault after two other women were attacked during separate home invasions in the Tweed, Ontario area in September 2009. "It's just bizarre. I've never seen anything like it," said retired Lieutenant-General Angus Watt, who once promoted Williams. "It was a shock to everybody because he was a high-ranking officer in a leadership position, but the more we learned about it the more you realise this is the act of a single depraved individual."
Williams worked under Watt as a staff officer in charge of transport aircraft when Watt was commander of the Air Force. Williams said he was hard working and capable. "He impressed everybody with his leadership and staff skills. He was a high performing individual," Watt said. "Everybody is baffled." Williams is now charged with breaking into 47 homes 82 times, beginning in 2007, including one home nine times. Most homes were burgled repeatedly on the same street.
Court documents allege Williams broke into Comeau's home days before he is accused of killing her. Another alleges that Williams twice returned to the home of one of his victims to steal items after he sexually assaulted her. Most of the homes were in Ottawa, where Williams has a house with his wife, and in the Tweed, Ontario, area, where Williams lived while he worked at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Trenton, Ontario.
