Williams appears in court facing 82 more charges

Williams appears in court facing 82 more charges
Posted By Jason Miller and W. Brice McVicar The Intelligencer
April 29th, 2010


Col. Russell Williams made a brief appearance in a Belleville provincial court Thursday morning, amid an additional 82 new charges being laid against him.

Williams, 46, the disgraced former colonel who served as base commander at CFB Trenton, was clean shaven with his trade mark buzz cut looking trimmed, compared to his last visit, when it was grown out.

One of the prison guards escorting Williams to the video conference room informed Justice of the peace Deanna Chapelle that "he's just on his way up here right now. He will be with you in a minute." A few seconds later Williams strolled into the room flanked by two prison guards, while another guard waited outside the door.

Williams seemed at ease as he stated his name "David Russell Williams", leaving out the colonel designation.

Williams looked nothing like a man who recently attempted a hunger strike after his suicide bid was foiled by guards the Napanee-based Quinte Detention Centre, where he has been since his arrest in February.

After a brief chat with duty counsel on the phone, Chapelle was informed that Williams was aware of the string of new charges levelled against him and he did not need for them to be read in court. Crown attorney Lee Burgess also informed Chapelle that "there has been disclosure provided" to William's legal team and more will be coming.

The 82 new charges all relate to break and enters and attempted break and enters in the areas of Belleville, Tweed and Ottawa with the bulk of charges stemming from the Tweed area.

The new charges by area are:

• Belleville: two counts of break, enter and theft

• Ottawa (all within the Fallingbrook area): 23 counts of break enter and theft, three counts of break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence and eight counts of attempted break and enter

• Tweed: 36 counts of break, enter and theft, seven counts of break and enter with intent to commit an indictable offence and three counts of attempted break and enter.

Police said these charges "represent the known offences that have been linked to Russell Williams to date."

Sgt. Kristine Rae of the OPP said she could not expand on the "intent to commit an indictable offence" charges noting there are a number of things under the Criminal Code that are considered an indictable offence. Due to the fact the investigation is ongoing, she said, she could not reveal what that offences are.

"To be specific on the break and enters and what he was doing? No, I can't say because it's an ongoing investigation. We've got these 82 charges but there's still other things. The case is still being looked at," Rae said.

Further charges could come in the future as Rae said "nothing's been ruled out at this point."

Williams was previously charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of a Belleville woman and a CFB Trenton flight attendant.

The body of Jessica Lloyd of Belleville, was found on Feb. 7. Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, of Brighton, was discovered dead in her home last November.

Williams also faces two counts each of sexual assault and break and enter with intent in connection with a pair of home invasions in the Tweed area.

Williams was arrested in his Ottawa home Feb. 6.

Ever since the bombshell story broke, it has been garnering national news headlines and Thursday was no different as journalists from national news organizations and television stations were in attendance to catch a glimpse of Williams in a packed courthouse.

Outside the Victoria Avenue courthouse, Lt.-Col. Tony O'Keeffe spoke with media about Williams' brief appearance and his regular meetings with him at the Quinte Regional Detention Centre. O'Keeffe, who has referred to Williams as a "friend" in the past, has been attending the former base commander's court appearances.

O'Keeffe fielded questions about William's supposed hunger strike and his publicized suicide attempt but regularly said he could not comment on those matters. He said in his meetings with Williams at the Napanee-area facility the pair do not discuss the charges.

"He doesn't talk about the case with me," he said. "We discussed his admin review and what the process is and the fact that we're in, I suppose, a holding pattern while the investigation unfolds.

"There hasn't been any developments since the thing started and the investigation is underway so people are being quite quiet about the whole thing. I'm not legal counsel and I'm not a spokesperson for him so nothing's been disclosed to me."
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