Air Force boss on murder charge

OTTAWA - The commander of Canada's largest Air Force base, who once flew dignitaries around the country, has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of two women.

Ontario police said today that Col. Russell Williams, 46, was arrested yesterday in Ottawa. He was also charged in the sexual assaults of two other women.

Williams was appointed as the base commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Trenton, Ontario last July. Trenton is Canada's busiest Air Force base and is providing logistical support for Canada's missions in Haiti and Afghanistan.

Williams is charged with the first-degree murder of Belleville, Ontario, resident Jessica Lloyd, 27, whose body was found earlier yesterday, and Marie Comeau, a 38-year-old corporal found dead in her Brighton, Ontario, home in November.

Authorities said Williams came to the attention of police during a roadside canvas on Feb. 4, six days after Lloyd was deemed missing.

Williams is also charged with forcible confinement, breaking and entering and sexual assault after two women were sexually assaulted during two separate home invasions in the Tweed, Ontario area in September of 2009.

Dan Dugas, a spokesman for Defence Minister Peter MacKay, called the charges serious but said MacKay will not comment.

Lieutenant-General Andre Deschamps, Canada's Air Force chief, said in a statement that it will review what action to take against Williams and said that an interim Trenton commander will be named.

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

Deschamps said the Air Force is fully supporting civilian police. He called it a difficult period but said they would support the personnel at Trenton.

Between December 2005 and June 2006, Williams was the commanding officer for Camp Mirage, the secretive Canadian Forces forward logistics base that is not officially acknowledged by the government or military but has been widely reported to be near Dubai.

"We are certainly tracking the movements of where this man has been over the past several years and we're continuing with our investigation," Nicholas said.

Williams' Defence Department biography said he is married.

Williams walked into a courthouse in Belleville, Ontario in hand and leg shackles, wearing a blue prison-issue jumpsuit. The judge imposed a publication ban on other details.

He was held in custody and will appear in court by video on Feb. 18.

-AP