God Bless the RCAF for outdoing the USAF in Scandals.

[MKSheppard]

Link

Trenton wing commander charged with murder
Col. Russell Williams accused of killing 2 women, sexually assaulting 2 others
Last Updated: Monday, February 8, 2010

A Canadian military commander has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of two eastern Ontario women.

Col. Russell Williams, 46, of Tweed, 8 Wing Commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, was arrested Sunday in Ottawa, Ontario Provincial Police Det. Insp. Chris Nicholas said at a news conference Monday.

Williams has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jessica Lloyd, 27, whose body was found Monday off Cary Road in the Municipality of Tweed. Lloyd had been missing since Jan. 28 from her home outside Tweed, about 30 kilometres north of Belleville.

Williams has also been charged in the death of Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 38, of Brighton, Ont., who was slain in her home on Nov. 25, 2009. Comeau had been serving with the 437 Squadron at CFB Trenton.

Nicholas said police linked the two crimes to a single suspect due to similarities in the cases. They do not expect to make any other arrests.

In addition to the murder charges, Williams faces counts of forcible confinement, breaking and entering, and sexual assault in relation to two home invasions in the Tweed area in September 2009.

Nicholas said Williams was brought to the attention of police based on evidence gathered while questioning people along Highway 37 on the night of Feb. 4.

Police would not comment on any possible linkages among the cases other than that they took place within the same geographic area. They said they were looking at where Williams has been for the past several years and were continuing their investigation.

OPP at accused's Westboro home
As of 3 p.m. Monday, OPP officers were parked outside a home that Williams and his wife owned in Ottawa's Westboro neighbourhood, waiting for a search warrant that would allow them to enter.

On Monday morning, police searched their home in Tweed.

Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 38, left, was slain on Nov. 25, 2009. The body of Jessica Lloyd, 27, right, was found by police Monday morning. (Canadian Press)
Lt.-Gen. André Deschamps, chief of air staff for the Canadian Forces, issued a statement Monday that "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 Williams's position, an interim wing commander for 8 Wing Trenton will be appointed to replace him.

Williams joined the Canadian Forces in 1987 after earning a degree in economics and political science at the University of Toronto. He moved steadily up through the ranks, taking postings in Shearwater, N.S., and Ottawa and receiving his master's in defence studies at Royal Military College along the way. He became wing commander at CFB Trenton in 2009.

According to his biography on the Canadian air force website, Williams is married. Police said his wife was at home at the time of his arrest.

Lloyd was last heard from on the night of Jan. 28, when she sent a text message to a family friend. She did not report for work in Napanee the next morning.

Her disappearance prompted a massive air and ground search by police, the military and more than 100 volunteers. It was called off by police after two days.

[hunter5]

Dam all I got is a Navy captain arrested for soliciting a prostitute

CHARLESTON -- The commander of the Charleston Naval Weapons Station has been reassigned after he was arrested on a charge of soliciting a prostitute.

Multiple media outlets reported that 55-year-old Capt. Glen Melvin Little of Goose Creek was arrested Tuesday morning in an undercover prostitution sting by North Charleston police.

The public affairs officer at the weapons station, Scott Bassett, says Little has been temporarily reassigned to the office of the commander for the Navy's regional office in Jacksonville, Fla.

A police report says Little approached an undercover officer who was posing as a prostitute and offered her $20 for a sex act.

Bassett says Little will be assigned to Jacksonville until the case is reviewed.

It wasn't clear if Little has an attorney. There was no telephone listing for him in Goose Creek.

Funny thing is this is where I am currently stationed

[SCRawl]

I don't think that they call it the RCAF anymore, but yeah, it's a pretty horrific scandal. Indeed, the term "scandal" doesn't do it justice. It's a little scary that -- assuming the colonel committed the crimes of which he's been accused -- sociopaths can get to this level of authority within the military of a democracy.

[Count Chocula]

Um, are we forgetting Hasan? Sure he was a ground-pounder, but he was still a military man. 13 vs 2 = kinder, gentler Canadian murderers from Canadia. Besides, NASA (diaper-wearing helldrive chick) has had the most entertaining attempt at mayhem, and who could forget the Navy's Tailhook foofraw? Or that enlisted guy in Iraq (army again go figure) who fragged his own guys?

Col. Melvin murdered two women, I'm not minimizing that, but compared to our worst he's just a tryhard. At least he wasn't flight lead on the Snowbirds.

[SCRawl]

Um, are we forgetting Hasan? Sure he was a ground-pounder, but he was still a military man. 13 vs 2 = kinder, gentler Canadian murderers from Canadia. Besides, NASA (diaper-wearing helldrive chick) has had the most entertaining attempt at mayhem, and who could forget the Navy's Tailhook foofraw? Or that enlisted guy in Iraq (army again go figure) who fragged his own guys?

Col. Melvin murdered two women, I'm not minimizing that, but compared to our worst he's just a tryhard. At least he wasn't flight lead on the Snowbirds.

I'll give you the NASA case has everything else beat in terms of its sheer surreality, but there's something more sinister and horrifying about a murderer who (a) kills people, and (b) still goes about his daily routine afterward. In terms of body count, yes, he falls well short of his American counterparts, but they were all very blatant and open about their crimes.

Also -- and this may eventually turn out to be nothing, but I know that the police are investigating further -- so far it's only two murders that we know about, plus several sexual assaults.

[Solauren]

You know, I have no idea why people are surprised when someone in the military commits a crime.
(Note: I am discussing military, not 'private contractors', 'security consultants', or mercanaries).

Military servicemen and women, are, after all, only human. With the same strengths, weaknesses, frailties and problems we all do.

Except they are often under much higher and more stressful situtations. All for love of country. Quite frankly, I think it's admirable that their are not more miltiary servicepeople commiting crimes as a result of stress related problems.


Now, what I find sad about this case is that, apparently, the Canadian Military does not do psych evaluations, unless they are requested.

Quite frankly, I think military servicepeople should be given tests on a regular basis.
Whatever that would be is up to a competent psychologist. Off-hand, I'd said monthly for anyone that's involved in active combat, every 2 - 3 months for anyone stationed in or near combat zones, and 6 months for everyone else.

[[R_H]]

Profile: Col. Russ Williams

Here is the official air force biography of Col. Russ Williams. It appeared on the DND website until Tuesday, when it was removed:

Colonel Russ Williams enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1987 after having obtained a degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Toronto. He received his Wings in 1990 and was posted to 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School where he served for two years as an instructor on the CT134 Beech Musketeer, during which time he earned an A2 instructional category and had the opportunity to fly with the last iteration of the Musket Gold.

In 1992 Colonel Williams was posted to 434 (Combat Support) Squadron in Shearwater where he flew the CC144 Challenger in the electronic warfare / coastal patrol role. He was subsequently posted to 412 (Transport) Squadron in Ottawa where he continued to fly the Challenger, this time in the VIP transport role. Promoted Major in November 1999 he was posted to Director General Military Careers where he served as the multi-engine pilot career manager.

Colonel 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. Following promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel in June 2004 he was appointed Commanding Officer 437 (Transport) Squadron, a post he held for two years, during which time he served for six months as the Commanding Officer Theatre Support Element — Camp Mirage (December 2005 - June 2006).

Colonel Williams was posted to the Directorate of Air Requirements in July 2006 where he served as Project Director for the Airlift Capability Projects Strategic (CC177 Globemaster III) and Tactical (CC130J Hercules J), and Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue. In January 2009 he was posted to the Canadian Forces Language School in Gatineau for a 6-month period of French language training, during which he was promoted to his current rank.

A keen photographer, fisherman and runner, Colonel Williams and his wife Mary Elizabeth are also avid golfers.

[SCRawl]

You know, I have no idea why people are surprised when someone in the military commits a crime.

I think that for me it's less a matter of surprise than just horror, especially in this case. The accused man is not just a guy with a rifle, but a colonel -- a soldier with quite a lot of authority of the "life or death" variety. (I realize that he's the commander of an air base on the home front, and not the forward commander in Afghanistan, but I think that the point still applies.) If he's willing to actually kill another person in (presumably) cold blood, who's to say that he won't use the means at his professional disposal to do something even more heinous.

[Aaron]

I think that for me it's less a matter of surprise than just horror, especially in this case. The accused man is not just a guy with a rifle, but a colonel -- a soldier with quite a lot of authority of the "life or death" variety. (I realize that he's the commander of an air base on the home front, and not the forward commander in Afghanistan, but I think that the point still applies.) If he's willing to actually kill another person in (presumably) cold blood, who's to say that he won't use the means at his professional disposal to do something even more heinous.

Just to put things into perspective. Full Colonels in the CF do not command individual units, Lt. Colonel and down do. Add in that he is an AF officer and that he has never held a combat unit command, well his chances of ever getting to put any of that into practice are pretty slim. I note also that he has only ever been one one tour, as CO of the unit in Dubai an undisclosed location supporting Afghanistan.

While what this man may have done is pretty damn horrifying, his opportunity and ability to fuck people over overseas are pretty slim.

[Phantasee]

As a society we expect the people we give military authority to be held to a higher standard of behaviour than a pig farmer. I don't see what is so incomprehensible about that.

This is more applicable to officers than enlisted, anyway. If some corporal (no offence K) turned out to be a mass murdering weirdo, it wouldn't reflect nearly as poorly on the Forces or Canada itself. If it's an officer, particularly Captain or higher, it reflects much more poorly on the CF and Canada, because they are basically middle managers to top managers, and they are therefore the more public face of the CF. If you learn some pig farmer in BC killed a bunch of women, it's fucking weird, but if it was a Vice President at BMO, you'd be concerned about what kind of people are working in that business, and you know their share price would take a huge hit.

People in charge have influence over the rest of the organization and we like to think people in charge of an organization that kills people and breaks things aren't murderous bastards.

[Aaron]

You know, I have no idea why people are surprised when someone in the military commits a crime.
(Note: I am discussing military, not 'private contractors', 'security consultants', or mercanaries).

Military servicemen and women, are, after all, only human. With the same strengths, weaknesses, frailties and problems we all do.

Except they are often under much higher and more stressful situtations. All for love of country. Quite frankly, I think it's admirable that their are not more miltiary servicepeople commiting crimes as a result of stress related problems.


Now, what I find sad about this case is that, apparently, the Canadian Military does not do psych evaluations, unless they are requested.

Quite frankly, I think military servicepeople should be given tests on a regular basis.
Whatever that would be is up to a competent psychologist. Off-hand, I'd said monthly for anyone that's involved in active combat, every 2 - 3 months for anyone stationed in or near combat zones, and 6 months for everyone else.

Jesus fucking Christ, do you have any idea what this would cost? There are 60,000 personnel (on paper) in the Forces, at a 120-160$ dollars an hour and at least two days for a full test; thats over ten million (if I haven't fucked up the math). The military doesn't have the budget for that sort of thing, with everything else going on. To say nothing of the effect on the troops morale and the complete waste of time it would be.

Edit: None taken Phant.

[Solauren]

Jesus fucking Christ, do you have any idea what this would cost? There are 60,000 personnel (on paper) in the Forces, at a 120-160$ dollars an hour and at least two days for a full test; thats over ten million (if I haven't fucked up the math). The military doesn't have the budget for that sort of thing, with everything else going on. To say nothing of the effect on the troops morale and the complete waste of time it would be.

Edit: None taken Phant.

$120 - $160 a hour? For a military shrink? WTF. I didn't think military doctors of any kind got paid at civilian rates. (Then again, that does make sense). Also, I didn' tknow psych evals were 2 days or more. I thought 2 - 3 hours.

Yes, that would be rather, expensive and time-consuming.

What about prior to promotion and randomly after a combat-related tour of duty? Not nearly as extensive or expensive, but should catch anyone that gets into a position to do damage.

[Aaron]

$120 - $160 a hour? For a military shrink? WTF. I didn't think military doctors of any kind got paid at civilian rates. (Then again, that does make sense). Also, I didn' tknow psych evals were 2 days or more. I thought 2 - 3 hours.

They don't, those are civvie rates which I mention because the military has very, very few actual psychiatrists and psychologists. Most of the mental health work is farmed out to civvies because military doctors rarely stay in for any length of time, they make more as civvies. What military docs there are (mental ones) have their hands full with the flood of PTSD cases coming back from Afghanistan.

Frankly I doubt that you could hire enough to even make up a team going from base to base.

Yes, that would be rather, expensive and time-consuming.

The two days is an estimate based on my PTSD evaluation. I might be totally out of the ball park but you are looking at taking troops out of the training/deployment rotation and it's going to have an adverse effect on things.

What about prior to promotion and randomly after a combat-related tour of duty? Not nearly as extensive or expensive, but should catch anyone that gets into a position to do damage.

You get a questionnaire before you go and after you come back that was designed by psychiatrists to see if "there is something wrong" based on the answers before you go and after you get back.

For promotion boards, I really have no objection, it would be more feasible then the whitewash effect you initially proposed, other then message it sends to the candidate.

[Solauren]

For promotion boards, I really have no objection, it would be more feasible then the whitewash effect you initially proposed, other then message it sends to the candidate.

Hey, they're used to following the orders and regulations. Just make it a regulation/legal requirement (especially in the wake of this), and most people should have no problem with it.

Hell, I had to go through a few checks (psychological and criminal) just to get a my civilian government job that would rankle some people, but you know what? It's part of the job, and part-in-parcel with the nature of the information I deal with.

If I can take it, damn right a military officer should be able to take it. I'd hate to think I'm the standard military officers should be held to. If I am, then the world is in deep *.

[Gil Hamilton]

Um, are we forgetting Hasan? Sure he was a ground-pounder, but he was still a military man. 13 vs 2 = kinder, gentler Canadian murderers from Canadia. Besides, NASA (diaper-wearing helldrive chick) has had the most entertaining attempt at mayhem, and who could forget the Navy's Tailhook foofraw? Or that enlisted guy in Iraq (army again go figure) who fragged his own guys?

I don't know why people keep bringing up the diaper thing with the NASA scandal you mention. Her wearing diapers was the least surreal thing she did, given that astronauts often DO wear diapers on the job in space, so naturally it would occur to her that it was a good idea if she didn't want to stop.

[Aaron]

Hey, they're used to following the orders and regulations. Just make it a regulation/legal requirement (especially in the wake of this), and most people should have no problem with it.

Hell, I had to go through a few checks (psychological and criminal) just to get a my civilian government job that would rankle some people, but you know what? It's part of the job, and part-in-parcel with the nature of the information I deal with.

If I can take it, damn right a military officer should be able to take it. I'd hate to think I'm the standard military officers should be held to. If I am, then the world is in deep *.

If you can make it legal then sure, go for it. It's required for some trades (MP's and such) already.

[FSTargetDrone]

Update (actually just heard about this on my local news radio station):

Court sees 'extremely disturbing' photos after Col. Williams pleads guilty

Greg McArthur and Timothy Appleby
Belleville, Ont.— Globe and Mail Update
Published Monday, Oct. 18, 2010 7:44AM EDT
Last updated Monday, Oct. 18, 2010 1:39PM EDT

Prosecutors began introducing "extremely disturbing" photographs of the crimes this morning, only hours after Colonel Russell Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two charges of sexual assault and about 80 fetish break-ins in Eastern Ontario.

The colonel, who commanded Canada's largest air force base until his arrest in February, expressed no emotion and stood still with his eyes angled toward the ground as he entered his pleas to the most serious charges.

The only words he uttered -- besides "guilty" and "your honour" -- was a faint "thank you" he offered to the police officer who led him into the courtroom and unlocked his handcuffs.

Immediately after the pleas were entered, prosecutors began presenting a "statement of facts" which has also been accepted by the defence. It included graphic photos of the colonel dressed in lingerie he stole from women and girls, or naked, and often masturbating.

Some of the most disturbing photos involved his break-ins where he targeted 13 girls under the age of 18, some of whom he knew or some of whom were the daughters of neighbours or acquaintances.

Court heard today that Col. Williams stole so much lingerie and clothing from the homes of unsuspecting women that he twice ran out storage and had to burn his collection at a field in Ottawa to make more room.

The photographs were part of a massive cache that Col. Williams kept on his computer in a "complex file folder system," Mr. Morrison said.

The colonel followed a pattern with the photos he took during the break-ins, according to the evidence presented to court this morning.

First, he took photos of the drawers that the underwear was stolen from, then a shot of the entire booty carefully laid out, and then a photo of himself wearing the lingerie.

What is striking in the photographs is not merely their obscene content. There are some that in any other context would appear normal, such as pictures of neatly organized children's bedrooms and other interior shots _ as if the perpetrator wanted mementos of the homes he had invaded.

In one Ottawa break-in, he stole 87 pieces of lingerie, as well as a sex toy, from a single, suburban home. He also took photos of the girl's family and her graduation photo. In one of the photos, he digitally altered it, adding the caption "Merci Beaucoup."

The admitted killer continued to stare at the floor as his horrific collection of photos flashed on the court's giant video screen.

The Crown says the pornographic images and other “extremely disturbing” evidence trace the escalation of Williams's crimes, starting from break and enters in 2007 to the sexual assaults of two women last fall and, ultimately, the murder of two more.

Victims and their family members filled one half of the Belleville, Ont. courtroom, six rows deep. The mother of Jessica Lloyd, who was murdered by Col. Williams in January, clutched a framed photograph of her dead daughter. She sat about 10 steps from her daughter's murderer, separated from him only by a sheet of plexiglass.

As soon as the guilty pleas were entered, the sentencing hearing begain with the reading of the agreed statement of facts. That will be followed by what is expected to be numerous victim-impact statements.

Hastings County Crown Attorney Lee Burgess warned Mr. Justice Robert Scott that the evidence he was about to hear would be "extremely disturbing."

He said much of the facts will be diffiult for his victims to hear, but said it was "important to have a full account of the crimes."

He pointed out that first-degree murder is the most serious crime in the Criminal Code and that the state would never have accepted a lesser plea.

Col. Williams, wearing a dark suit and blue shirt, entered the court about 10 a.m. ET. He talked briefly with his lawyer prior to the start of the hearing.

Every spot in the 153-seat courtroom was taken, with the media crush occupying close to half. Seated in the jury box were several of the detectives who took a role in the investigation, including Det. Inspector Chris Nicholas, who headed it.

Everyone entering the building had to go through metal detectors and the kind of security process similar to what is seen at airports.

Until his arrest in February, the 47-year-old career pilot commanded 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, the busiest air base in Canada, just west of Belleville. He had held the post since July, 2009.

Pulled over at a police roadblock near the rural home of his second alleged murder victim, Jessica Lloyd, he was placed under surveillance, then summoned to the main Ontario Provincial Police detachment in Ottawa and interrogated for nine hours two days later.

What undid the colonel, in large part, was an unusual tire track discovered in snow behind Ms. Lloyd's home.

The same evening, Feb. 7, he was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of sexual assault and forcible confinement.

Disbelief and horror rocked the armed forces and the rest of the country. Almost without exception, anyone who had had dealings with the colonel during his 23 years in the Air Force described him as a first-rate soldier and leader, and a pleasant, if somewhat aloof, human being.

Conviction on the twin murder charges brings an automatic penalty of life imprisonment with no chance of parole for at least 25 years. A killer convicted on a single count of first-degree murder can seek a parole hearing at the 15-year mark, under the so-called “faint hope” clause. But that clause does not apply if more than one person has been murdered.

In April, he was charged with a total of 82 residential break-ins, all involving the theft or attempted theft of women's lingerie and other personal items.

Almost all the burglaries occurred within walking distance of the two homes he shared with his long-time wife, Mary-Elizabeth Harriman, in the Ottawa suburb of Orleans and in the small village of Tweed, north of Trenton.

Police who scoured the couple's newly constructed house in the trendy Ottawa neighbourhood of Westboro hauled away hundreds of pieces of women's underclothing, catalogued and concealed in the rafters of the garage.

The Globe reported earlier this year that Col. Williams also videoed part of the two murders and the bizarre sexual assaults.

Few of the break-ins in Ottawa had been reported, and none in Tweed.

Since shortly after his arrest the disgraced ex-commander has been held at the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee, living in a segregation cell under close watch, following an abortive suicide bid. He also staged a brief hunger strike.

During the past eight months, he has appeared in court half a dozen times via videolink.

The murder charges stem from the November killing of Corporal Marie-France Comeau, 38, a Trenton air attendant under his command, and the January slaying of Ms. Lloyd, 27, who worked for a Napanee school-bus company and lived on Highway 37, which links Belleville and Tweed.

Corp. Comeau's badly beaten body was discovered at her home in Brighton, close to Trenton, while that of Ms. Lloyd was found in thick woods outside Tweed.

Both victims had been raped and asphyxiated.

The sexual-assault charges derive from two home invasions, both in September, 2009, and both close to Col. Williams's lakeside cottage in Tweed.

In each case, the sleeping women were attacked by an intruder who struck them, blindfolded them and tied them to chairs. Their clothing was then cut from them and they were photographed in the nude, ordeals that lasted hours.

As with the two murder victims, both women were home alone at the time, aside from a weeks-old baby who slept through the first attack. Both were able to struggle free later and call police.

Police issued no warning after the first home invasion, but the second one 13 days later prompted a public alert and triggered widespread alarm in Tweed.

Col. Williams was never questioned about either attack. Instead, police suspicion fell upon his next-door neighbour, Larry Jones, who became a local pariah until the colonel was arrested four months later.

What makes Col. Williams strikingly different from most serial killers and sex predators is the lateness in life at which his rampage began. By far the most common scenario involves a young man in his 20s.

All the offences of which he is accused occurred within a period of 2½ years, beginning in September, 2007, when the first break-in took place, and Jan. 28, when Ms. Lloyd vanished overnight from her home.

After Col. Williams was first charged in February, OPP investigators were inundated with “cold case” inquiries from police elsewhere in the country, mainly from jurisdictions where he had served during his various postings with the military.

But from almost the start, the detectives who took the colonel's detailed confession believed it was complete.

Still on hold, meanwhile, pending resolution of the criminal proceedings, is a $2.4-million civil action launched by the first woman that Col. Williams is accused of sexually assaulting.

A few weeks after his arrest, he and his wife, Ms. Harriman, divided up their chief assets in an arrangement whereby he became sole owner of the cottage in Tweed, while she gained control of the much more valuable home in Ottawa.

The lawsuit alleges the swap was a ruse designed to put the Westboro home, worth around $800,000, beyond the reach of any civil claim for compensation.

In her statement of defence in that lawsuit, Ms. Harriman, an executive with the Ottawa-based Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, denied the accusation and said she has been “devastated” by the criminal charges against her husband. They have no children.

With files from The Canadian Press

Wow.

[Solauren]

I am literally shocked by the, extent of this, creatures, offences.

I mean, literally, WHAT THE HELL.

If I was the police, and I hope they are doing this, I'd be checking into this guys life going back to he was in high school, just to see if it's a case of 'does this in waves/surges'.

I also have to wonder, what, if anything, set him off? And what can we, as a society, do to prevent it?

[FSTargetDrone]

Two concurrent life sentences handed down:

October 21, 2010

Two life sentences for sex killer Williams's 'despicable crimes'

By Timothy Appleby and Jill Mahoney

Globe and Mail Update

Colonel Russell Williams told a courtroom he deeply regrets his "despicable crimes" but realizes that few will accept his apology.

The convicted sex killer was given the opportunity to speak before he was sentenced by Mr. Justice Robert Scott in Belleville, Ont., on Thursday.

"I stand before you indescribably ashamed. ... I know that the crimes I have committed have damaged many people," Col. Williams said, speaking slowly.

"I have committed despicable crimes ... betraying my family, my friends and colleagues and the Canadian Forces. ... I shall spend the rest of my life regretting that I have ended two vibrant, innocent and cherished lives."

Col. Williams, who appeared to be sniffling, spoke in a slow measured tone with long pauses between each sentence, as if he was summoning up the energy to speak. He expressed particular regret for killing Corporal Marie-France Comeau, who was under his command at CFB Trenton.

Judge Scott sentenced Col. Williams to two concurrent life sentences for the first-degree murders of Cpl. Comeau and Jessica Lloyd. In addition, he received two 10-year terms for his two sexual assaults and one year apiece for the 82 break-ins, all to be served concurrently.

The colonel's two life sentences mean he must serve a minimum of 25 years behind bars before he has any chance of parole, as required by law.

Col. Williams, who stood straight in the prisoner's box as the sentences were read out, is to be sent to Kingston Penitentiary to begin serving his term. He is certain to be placed in segregation, most likely on the same isolation cell block as convicted serial killer Paul Bernardo.

"Justice was served," Roxanne Lloyd said as she held a framed photograph of her daughter.

The military said it will now begin the process of removing Col. Williams from its ranks. Lieutenant-General Andre Deschamps, chief of the air staff, said he will be stripped of his rank, medals and drummed out of the Canadian Forces. By law, the military cannot revoke his pension. However, it will claw back the reported $12,000-a-month salary he collected during the months he spent in jail.

Before delivering the sentence, Judge Scott told Col. Williams that his brutal, senseless crimes mean he will be forever notorious.

"He may best be described as Canada's bright shining lie," he said.

The judge said there are few mitigating circumstances except for Col. Williams's guilty pleas, which spared the families the grief of a trial. He said he believes the colonel's apology to be sincere but that he remains "an emotionless serial killer."

In addition to the sentence, Judge Scott granted several requests by the prosecution. Crown attorney Lee Burgess asked that Col. Williams be given a lifetime weapons ban, be listed on the sex offender registry and provide a DNA sample. He also asked that the colonel to pay compensation to his victims and for his SUV to be crushed.

The former base commander and rising military star was formally convicted earlier this week of two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of sexual assault and forcible confinement and 82 fetish burglaries in which he stole women's underwear and other intimate items.

Mr. Burgess spoke Thursday of the enormous trauma inflicted on Belleville and the surrounding area by "this despicable man," calling him "one of the worst offenders in Canadian history."

"We are a community transformed by his crimes," Mr. Burgess says. "What makes this more despicable is that this was a man considered above reproach.

"He betrayed this community and he betrayed the military. No doubt he laughed at us as he [pursued his double life]."

Mr. Burgess said he would not make an application to designate Col. Williams as a dangerous offender, saying the required hearing would prolong the process and make no difference to the outcome - life in jail with scant chance of parole.

Michael Edelson, Col. Williams's defence lawyer, also addressed the court, calling his client 's crimes "abhorrent and unthinkable." He said Col. Williams has accepted his guilt and responsibility.

"He cannot stand before this court and expect forgiveness. ... It is unlikely anybody affected will ever fully recover. ... He has also ruined his own life and [damaged] those close to him."

Mr. Edelson said pleading guilty to first-degree murder is rare, noting Col. Williams's plea expedited the outcome. He also noted that his client also fully co-operated with police.

On Wednesday, the court heard portions of the colonel's videotaped interview with police, which lasted more than 10 hours and took place on Feb. 7, 2010, several days after Ms. Lloyd disappeared. He confessed to his crimes and later led police to the location of the 27-year-old's body.

Ms. Lloyd's family and friends also delivered emotional victim impact statements. Her mother, Roxanne Lloyd, said she feels like her "heart has been ripped out of my chest."

Cpl. Comeau's family chose not to deliver victim-impact statements. However, their loss was addressed by Mr. Burgess, who called it "a monstrous betrayal".

"Can there be any greater contrast of courage and cowardice?" he said Thursday. "Can there be any greater contrast between evil and good?"

With a report from The Canadian Press

[Sephirius]

The Governor General has stripped Russ Williams of his rank.
Henceforth he should no longer be addressed as having any connection with the military.