[Kip Powick]

http://www.torontosu...8/12791976.html

Please note the Toronto Sun may move the page...

The base commander of CFB Trenton has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the murders of two area women, including a fellow soldier.

Col. Russ Williams, the wing commander at CFB Trenton, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Cpl. Marie-France Comeau and Jessica Lloyd and two other home invasions last September in the Tweed area.

Police said Williams has also been charged with two counts of forcible confinement and two counts of break and enter and sexual assault in connection with two sexual assaults of two Tweed women back in September.

Williams was arrested Sunday in Ottawa.

Police told reporters in Belleville today that a roadside canvas on Feb. 4, brought Williams to their attention.

Lloyd, 27, went missing Jan. 29. after she failed to show up for her job with Tri-Board Student Transportation Services in Napanee. The last time anyone heard from Lloyd was the night before when she sent a text message to a friend.

Her body was found early Monday morning off Cary Rd. near Tweed.

Last week, friends of Lloyd started distributing vehicle decals with photos of her, as well as her description and contact information for police.

Comeau, 38, was found murdered in Brighton, Ont., on Nov. 25, 2009. She was a member of 437 Squadron at CFB Trenton.

"This is a very sad case and our hearts go out to the two victims families," OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino said Monday.

The OPP got involved last week when Belleville Police called for their assistance, Fantino said.

"We threw all our resources at it just like we did for Tori Stafford and it was a joint investigation with the Belleville service," Fantino said. "It was a massive, co-operative investigation from both sides and we are pleased to have been able to solve it."

With more than 20 years in the Canadian Forces, Williams is a married man that according to a DND senior staff biography, is a keen photographer, fisherman and runner.

In the 1990s, Williams was stationed in Ottawa where he flew VIP Challenger jets for the 412 Transport Squadron.

When asked if they believe Williams may be allegedly tied to other crimes, OPP inspectors said they will be tracking back through his accomplished career and will be speaking with police services in the jurisdictions where he was stationed.

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This post has been edited by Kip Powick: 08 February 2010 - 11:51 AM

[dagger]

Another link


http://www.theglobea...article1459994/

[Moon The Loon]

Unbelievable and shocking. This is deeply disturbing. The CF does not need this kind of publicity. If guilty, shame on the man. He went before the courts today and was remanded in custody (no bail) until the middle of the month. Interesting that the accused would seem to be a flight risk or worse, a continued danger to society.

[malcolm]

Moon The Loon, on 08 February 2010 - 04:25 PM, said:

Unbelievable and shocking. This is deeply disturbing. The CF does not need this kind of publicity. If guilty, shame on the man. He went before the courts today and was remanded in custody (no bail) until the middle of the month. Interesting that the accused would seem to be a flight risk or worse, a continued danger to society.

He is a human being whose connection to the Military is coincidental and has no impact on public impression at all. This is just the press blowing up something before guilt is established.

Even if found quilty, I fail to see any downside for the Canadian Forces anymore than when a Lawyer, Doctor, Judge is charged and found quilty and the resulting impact on their profession.

[Moon The Loon]

malcolm, on 09 February 2010 - 12:34 AM, said:

He is a human being whose connection to the Military is coincidental and has no impact on public impression at all. This is just the press blowing up something before guilt is established.

Even if found quilty, I fail to see any downside for the Canadian Forces anymore than when a Lawyer, Doctor, Judge is charged and found quilty and the resulting impact on their profession.

Perhaps, and I hope you are completely right. How does the court martial process work in the CF? If he is found guilty, is he then subject to court martial? Am I confusing Canadian and American jurisprudence?

Hadji - ??

[malcolm]

Moon The Loon, on 08 February 2010 - 06:20 PM, said:

Perhaps, and I hope you are completely right. How does the court martial process work in the CF? If he is found guilty, is he then subject to court martial? Am I confusing Canadian and American jurisprudence?

Hadji - ??

My very limited understand of the process (jump in here Kip) is that he could be tried in both civil and military courts because one of the victims was a serving member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

[Kip Powick]

malcolm, on 08 February 2010 - 09:36 PM, said:

My very limited understand of the process (jump in here Kip) is that he could be tried in both civil and military courts because one of the victims was a serving member of the Canadian Armed Forces.

All that I know at this time is that as far as a member of the CF....he is finished (if found guilty and probably if he is found 'not guilty'), and yes, as I understand it, he will be tried in both Mil and Civil court. This is such an unusual case and one that will turn into a legal nightmare for all parties. A member of the CF allegedly kills a member of the CF and then allegedly kills a civilian and the question will be ,,,who gets first crack at their day in court?

I have no idea how this will run as I don't think this type of incident has ever happened before. I don't think the Somalia Commission of Inquiry even comes close to paralleling this case.

I am sure that you have all heard that Williams career path will be checked to see if he "could" be responsible for other cases. About 9 years ago we had a young lady disappear while walking from the YTR DQ to the Base Married Quarters. ((Kathleen MacVicar - June 13, 2001 - Age 19 - Murdered ))That case was never solved and the Press has indicated that that incident will be investigated to see if there is any link to Williams.

This post has been edited by Kip Powick: 08 February 2010 - 08:20 PM

[Rich Pulman]

From what I recall of the QR&Os, he would be tried in civilian court for the civil charges he is now facing. Double jeopardy would prevent him from being tried for the same crimes in a military court, but he would certainly face court marshal for "conduct unbecoming an officer". For those not familiar with the military justice & prison system, a military member can only be confined in a Canadian military prison for two years less a day. Any greater jail time would be served in a civilian penitentiary.

[Super 80]

Almost sounds like pedophile and accused murderer Alexander Kalichuk who got up to no good in the vicinity of airforce bases all over Ontario - but nobody put the pieces together until after his death. He just kept getting reassigned from base to base as he got in trouble in one community without serious investigation. He was just written off as a drunk perv but otherwise harmless.

This post has been edited by Super 80: 09 February 2010 - 11:03 AM

[boestar]

Rich

I don't think double jeopardy exists in this case since there are 2 distinct cases (maybe more) I think the Military court would handle the military case and civil would handle the civilian case. Either way this guy will never see the light of day without stripes again.

[mo32a]

boestar, on 09 February 2010 - 06:36 PM, said:

Rich

Either way this guy will never see the light of day without stripes again.

You're forgetting about the vaunted Canadian "justice" system.

We can only hope he will be incarcereated for life(if guilty of course).

[Fido]

If he is not guilty what are the chances of him ever being able to live a normal life again?

Everyone has convicted him already.

[Moon The Loon]

Fido, on 10 February 2010 - 04:06 AM, said:

If he is not guilty what are the chances of him ever being able to live a normal life again?

Everyone has convicted him already.

Spot on. But if he is, and he survives to a guilty verdict, I would hope he would then do the honourable thing.

He must have his time in court. Unless he's married to whoever became Karla you-know-who.

In which case, I'd volunteer to measure the rope...

[Rich Pulman]

boestar, on 09 February 2010 - 08:36 PM, said:

Rich

I don't think double jeopardy exists in this case since there are 2 distinct cases (maybe more) I think the Military court would handle the military case and civil would handle the civilian case. Either way this guy will never see the light of day without stripes again.

True enough. But as it stands, only civil charges have been filed as the crimes happened in the "civilian" world. I doubt there are any jurisdiction issues similar to what we see on TV shows like JAG & NCIS or the civil charges would not have been filed in both cases. Besides, I doubt the military would want to handle this case in order to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest should the accused be found not guilty. Not to mention that prosecuting an officer of his rank would be challenging. My guess is that the military will follow the civil proceedings closely and follow up with the 'unbecoming' charges should he be found guilty in order to strip him of his rank, privileges, and pension and purge him from the CF.

[Fido]

In Canada the civilian criminal code over-rides the military code in cases like this.

[Innuendo]

This is extracted from a site dealing with Court Martial authority in Canada.

Quote

It should also be noted that section 70 excludes certain offences under the Criminal Code from being tried in a military tribunal if committed in Canada. These excluded offences are murder, manslaughter and abduction of a minor. However, service tribunals have jurisdiction to try these offences when they are committed outside Canada. Moreover, section 132 of the NDA provides that all laws of a foreign country where members are serving may be enforceable under Canadian military law. In short, then, military law encompasses a broad range of offences and punishments.

It is interesting to note that a Court Martial may try a murder charge outside Canada.
This in fact happened on my base overseas. Those involved were all Canadians so the National authorities left everything in the Military's hands.
Any outcome is automatically reviewed by a higher civilian court, at least in the case of conviction, not sure about a not guilty finding though.

[conehead]

Rich Pulman, on 10 February 2010 - 12:22 AM, said:

...in order to strip him of his rank, privileges, and pension and purge him from the CF.

Even if he is found guilty, he has still earned his pension, and he will recieve it. Why should his wife be punished for this man's crime? She is the one who will need the pension.

And looking at the time line of events, I think this freak confessed. About 3 hours after he was picked up, the OPP proceeded to a secluded spot on a country road where they found the body of one of the victims. It seems to me that someone told them where to look.

[Kip Powick]

conehead, on 10 February 2010 - 08:21 AM, said:

Even if he is found guilty, he has still earned his pension, and he will recieve it.

I have no reference for that ...I think he may be entitled to "return of contributions" but not a life-long pension.

Globe and Mail..................Today.......

Colonel Russell Williams has given police a lengthy and wide-ranging statement about four dozen so-called "lingerie break-ins," two home invasions that turned into bizarre sexual assaults last September, and the murders of two young women, one a military steward with whom he may have flown.

Several sources have also told The Globe and Mail that the 46-year-old commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton took detectives to the body of Jessica Lloyd, a 27-year-old who suddenly disappeared on Jan. 29 after texting a friend she had safely arrived home

Latest Update

This post has been edited by Kip Powick: 10 February 2010 - 06:19 AM

[Super 80]

Innuendo, on 09 February 2010 - 11:06 PM, said:

This is extracted from a site dealing with Court Martial authority in Canada.


It is interesting to note that a Court Martial may try a murder charge outside Canada.
This in fact happened on my base overseas. Those involved were all Canadians so the National authorities left everything in the Military's hands.
Any outcome is automatically reviewed by a higher civilian court, at least in the case of conviction, not sure about a not guilty finding though.

That is typical of most status of forces agreements,

[Southshore]

Somebody help me here.
This is a really senior guy, security clearances up the yinyang. The mil say they do a 'fairly rigorous" security and background check for a guy at this level. Then I read - they don't know if he has siblings or living parents? Am I dreaming this or what? Something is off the rails here or god forbid, there's bad reporting going on.
This is a mess.