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Canwest News Service
The base commander at CFB Trenton in southeastern Ontario has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of two women.
Wing Commander Col. Russell Williams, 46, was arrested Sunday in connection with the deaths of Jessica Lloyd, 27, and a second Ontario woman, Cpl. Marie- France Comeau, 38.
Williams, who lives in Tweed, Ont., northeast of Brighton and Belleville, appeared in court Monday afternoon in Belleville, wearing a blue jumpsuit with his head shaved.
He mostly looked down, but when prompted, he glanced up at the judge and said his name. His face, according to witnesses in the courtroom, was expressionless.
A spokesman for Defence Minister Peter MacKay said: "These are serious charges and a minister of the Crown would never comment on a criminal matter."
Chief of the Air Staff Lt.-Gen. Andre Deschamps said in light of the seriousness of the charges and the high level of responsibilities attached to the position of wing commander, an interim commander for 8 Wing Trenton will be appointed.
"I am aware of the charges brought today against (Williams)," Deschamps said in a statement. "As chief of the air staff, I take very seriously all allegations of service or criminal offences against one of our members."
Deschamps said a review will be initiated by 1 Canadian Air Division, in Winnipeg, to determine the appropriate action to take regarding Williams pending the outcome of his civilian court proceedings.
"The Canadian Forces hold their members to a very high standard of conduct and performance, in Canada or abroad, on or off military duty. I confirm that the Air Force is fully supporting civilian authorities in the conduct of the current matter," he added.
Lloyd was reported missing Jan. 29, after she didn't show up for work. She last communicated with a family friend on Jan. 28 at 10:36 p.m. through text messaging.
Helicopter and ground searches near her Belleville, Ont., home, about 180 kilometres northeast of Toronto, turned up nothing. Her body was found Monday.
Comeau, 38, was found dead in her home, in nearby Brighton, Ont., on Wednesday, Nov. 25, around 1 p.m. She was a corporal in the Armed Forces and a flight attendant based at Trenton.
Deschamps said that he is confident that "that Air Force personnel at 8 Wing will carry on with their duties, displaying the usual level of professionalism and sense of duty that they have always shown in the past. We will ensure that the wing leadership and personnel are supported throughout this difficult period. This situation affects us all and I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those affected by these tragic events."
Williams joined the Canadian Forces in 1987 after obtaining a degree in economics and political science from the University of Toronto. He received his pilot's wings in 1990 and was posted to 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School, Portage la Prairie, Man., where he served for two years as an instructor on the CT-134 Beech Musketeer.
In 1992, Williams was posted to 434 (Combat Support) Squadron in Shearwater, N.S., where he flew the CC-144 Challenger in the electronic warfare/coastal patrol role, according to his official military biography.
He was subsequently posted to 412 (Transport) Squadron in Ottawa where he continued to fly the Challenger, this time in a VIP transport role. Promoted to major in November 1999, he was posted to director general military careers where he served as the multi-engine pilot career manager.
Williams attended the Canadian Forces command and staff course from August 2003 to June 2004, where he obtained a master of defence studies from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont. Following promotion to lieutenant-colonel in June 2004, he was appointed commanding officer 437 (Transport) Squadron.
In January 2009, he was posted to the Canadian Forces Language School in Gatineau, Que., for a six-month period of French language training, during which he was promoted to his current rank.
His bio states Williams is a keen photographer, golfer, fisherman and runner and is married to Mary Elizabeth.
Retired colonel Alain Pellerin, executive director of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute, who served in the army for 36 years, said he had never heard of such a "strange" case. He compared notes with fellow long- serving military friends Monday.
"We've never heard of a similar case in our careers before," he said in an interview.
"If you look at his (record) and his career, he had good prospects for the future. As the base commander at Trenton, which is one of our major bases in Canada, and the only air transport base that we have in Canada, one would think he would have a good future. So it's difficult to explain what happened."
Pellerin said he does not believe the arrest will taint the armed forces.
"I think it's a local affair that will affect the population in Trenton because they knew him personally and people served under him; he was the base commander, after all.
"But the rest of the people in the forces, it's not related to the work, really, so it's not something that will taint the armed forces negatively. There is a love affair between the population and the armed forces and I don't think that will change. It's really just one individual who's accused of a serious crime."
Williams was remanded into custody following the brief appearance and will be back in court in Belleville, Feb. 18 at 9 a.m.
He was brought to court in an an unmarked OPP cruiser, escorted by an OPP tactical unit.
EDS: Fact Box for CNS-MISSING-WOMAN.
Mon., Feb. 8.
* Police discover the body of missing Belleville, Ont., woman Jessica Lloyd off Carry Road, in the Municipality of Tweed, Ont.
Sun., Feb. 7.
* Ontario Provincial Police and the Belleville Police arrested Col. Russell Williams, 46, wing commander of CFB Trenton. Williams was charged with the first-degree murders of Jessica Lloyd and Cpl. Marie France Comeau. He also faces two counts of forcible confinement, and two each of break and enter and sexual assault.
Thurs, Feb. 4.
* Police say Williams came to their attention as a result of information gathered during a roadside canvass on Highway 37.
Thurs, Jan. 28.
* The last time Jessica Lloyd, 27, was seen alive.
Wed. Nov. 25, 2009
* Cpl. Marie France Comeau, 38, was found dead in her Brighton, Ont., residence.
September 2009
* There were two separate home invasions in the Tweed, Ont., area in which two women were the victims of sexual assault.
