Officer accused of murder on track for senior echelon

By David Pugliese, Canwest News ServiceFebruary 8, 2010

Col. Russell Williams was an up-and-coming air force officer who seemed to be on the right track for promotion to the senior ranks of the Canadian Forces.

He was a graduate of the military's command and staff course and had recently completed French training in Gatineau before being given command of 8 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ont.

In January, Williams proudly showed Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of the Defence Staff General Walter Natynczyk around Trenton as military crews readied aircraft for the Haiti relief mission.

But on Sunday, Williams, 46, was arrested in Ottawa and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of forcible confinement and two counts of break and enter and sexual assault.

Ontario Provincial Police and Belleville Police officers said Monday that the charges are related to the murder of Marie-France Comeau, found dead in her Brighton, Ont. residence on November 25, 2009. Comeau was a corporal with 437 Squadron at CFB Trenton.

The second charge is related to the death of Jessica Lloyd, 27. Her body was located Monday in Tweed, Ont.

In addition, police said in September of 2009 there were two separate home invasions, in the Tweed area in which two women were the victims of sexual assault.

Those in Ottawa's defence community who dealt with Williams reacted with shock about the charges. The retired officers, who asked not to be named, say Williams was being groomed by the military leadership for a move into the senior ranks.

The French training, the selection for the Canadian Forces command and staff course in 2003 and 2004 and key appointments at National Defence headquarters meant that Williams was potentially going places, with brigadier-general the next rank he might obtain.

One individual who meet Williams when he was in the air force procurement section at NDHQ described him as a "straight forward, hard-working individual."

Williams joined the Canadian Forces in 1987 and later flew VIP flights on the federal government's Challenger aircraft during the 1990s. These are the planes that are used by federal politicians including the prime minister.

Williams also served for six months as the commanding officer of the theatre support element at Camp Mirage, Canada's secret base in the Middle East. The base is used to support the Afghan mission in Kandahar.

After that command, Williams, then a lieutenant colonel, found himself posted to NDHQ in the Directorate of Air Requirements. In that position he served as the project director on several multi-billion dollar aircraft purchases. Those included the acquisition of the C-17 transport plane, a key election promise of the Harper government, as well as the acquisition of the C-130J aircraft. Williams was also project director for the fixed-wing search and rescue program that was supposed to purchase new planes for that role.

In January 2009 he was posted to the Canadian Forces Language School in Gatineau for six-months of French language training, during which he was promoted to colonel. From there he was sent to CFB Trenton in July to take command of 8 Wing.

"These are exciting times for the air force," Williams said at the change-of-command ceremony that month. "I am confident that the team here is up to the task and I look forward to getting right into that work."

Williams' Canadian Forces biography noted that he is a keen photographer, fisherman and runner and that he and his wife Mary Elizabeth Harriman are also avid golfers. His biography does not list children.

On Monday, the head of the air force Lieutenant-General Andre Deschamps, issued a statement that he would be appointing an interim commander for 8 Wing in Trenton.

"Although one is considered innocent until proven guilty, in light of the seriousness of the charges, and in consideration of the high level of responsibilities attached to the position of Wing Commander, an interim Wing Commander for 8 Wing Trenton will soon be appointed," Deschamps said in his statement. "Also, in the coming days, a review will be initiated by 1 Canadian Air Division, in Winnipeg, to determine the most appropriate action to take regarding Colonel Williams pending the outcome of the trial."

Deschamps noted that the situation "affects us all and I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those affected by these tragic events."

As 8 Wing commander, Williams often found himself the public spotlight. He welcomed the Olympic Torch when it arrived in Trenton and was on hand last fall when the Belleville Bulls' hockey team dedicated its 2009-10 season to the men, women and families of 8 Wing Trenton.

"It is a touching tribute to the work and dedication of our people, military and civilian, whose efforts contribute to the success of Canadian efforts around the world," Williams said at the time.

In December he was front and centre at a ceremony praising an honourary air force colonel for 429 Squadron, which is now operating the C-17 transport.

He pointed out that the giant C-17 aircraft was capturing the interest of the Canadian public. "This unit has the world's attention and the country's attention," Williams said at the time.

More recently Williams was at the heart of Canada's aid mission to Haiti, the huge base generally humming as it also serves to co-ordinate resupply for Canada's mission in Afghanistan and air support for the Vancouver Olympics. It is also a hub of search-and-rescue operations.

Despite the heavy requirements on the military and his base, Williams was quoted by the Winnipeg Free Press last month as saying his personnel thrived on the urgency of the mission despite the element of fatigue.

"This is what keeps everyone going," Williams told the newspaper. "It's what carries us through the fatigue."

Williams had been living in the Tweed area 30 minutes north of Trenton for about five years, neighbours Larry and Bonnie Jones said Monday.

Larry Jones said the Williams couple have a place in Trenton and a new house in Ottawa where his wife works.

He said Williams kept to himself and he did not seem to have many friends, adding in all the time they were neighbours, they had probably had a conversation only about 20 times.

Neighbour Monique Murdoch still can't comprehend what has happened and describes Williams as an upstanding man.

"We still can't believe it," she told Global News. "I feel for his wife."

Harriman meanwhile is taking an extended leave from her position in Ottawa as associate executive director at the Heart and Stroke Foundation to deal with the situation.

— With files from Phil Couvrette, Jorge Barrera
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