Two concurrent life sentences for Williams
Posted Oct 21, 2010 11:50:42 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Col. Russell Williams is headed to Kingston Penitentiary to serve two concurrent life sentences for sadosexual crimes a judge says have no equal.
Williams says he will spend the rest of his life regretting his crimes including the two murders he has committed, and adds he is “indescribably ashamed.”
The decorated commander of Canada’s largest air base cried as he addressed a Belleville court today before sentencing on two counts of first-degree murder, two sex assaults and numerous fetish break and enters.
It was the first show of emotion from the colonel who has otherwise kept his head down in stoic silence despite a gruelling four days of vivid evidence of his gruesome sex crimes.
Jessica Lloyd’s family say they were surprised to see Williams speak out in court today, and even cry as he apologized to the family.
Roxanne Lloyd stood on the court steps after Williams was sentenced, still clutching the picture of her daughter Jessica, saying she’s glad Williams cried.
But Andy Lloyd, Jessica’s brother, says the crying “was deserved” and that Williams should be upset after all the crimes he committed.
Lloyd says he was angry as he glared at Williams all week, and says it doesn’t matter that Williams won’t receive dangerous offender status as long as he “dies in jail.”
Meantime, the federal government may use the civil courts to try to prevent Williams from keeping his military pension.
It would take a legislative change.
But a high-level source has told The Canadian Press that federal lawyers are looking at civil remedies that could divert his pension money to his wife or the families of his victims.
Here is the transcript of Williams’ statement in court on Thursday:
I stand before you, your honour, indescribably ashamed. I know that the crimes I’ve committed have traumatized many people. The families and friends of Marie-France Comeau and Jessica Lloyd, in particular, have suffered and continue to suffer profound desperate pain and sorrow as a result of what I’ve done. My assaults of (publication of name prohibited) and Ms. (Laurie) Massicotte have caused them to suffer terribly as well, I know.
Numerous victims of the break and enters I’ve committed have been very seriously distressed as a result of my so having invaded their most intimate privacy.
My family, your honour, has been irreparably harmed. The understandable hatred that was expressed yesterday, and has been palpable throughout the week, has me recognize this.
(There are) those who will find it impossible to accept, but the fact is, I very deeply regret what I have done and the harm that I know I have caused to many. I’ve committed despicable crimes, your honour. In the process, betraying my family, my friends and colleagues, and the Canadian Forces.
I shall spend the rest of my life regretting, above all, that I’ve ended two vibrant, innocent and cherished lives.
My very sincere hope is that my detailed confession on the night of Feb. 7, my full co-operation with investigators since, and ultimately my guilty pleas earlier this week have, in some way, served to temper the very serious harm I caused my victims, and their families and friends.
