A jailed Canadian Forces colonel faces dozens of new charges relating to purported break-and-enter incidents in eastern Ontario, months after he was accused of killing two women and sexually assaulting two others in the same region.
The OPP announced Thursday morning that Col. Russell Williams had been charged with 82 new offences, including 61 counts of break, enter and theft; 10 counts of break and enter with the intent to commit an indictable offence; and 11 counts of attempted break and enter.
By Thursday afternoon, the Globe and Mail was reporting that Williams may plead guilty to all charges -- both new and old -- under the terms of a potential agreement reached by his lawyer and the Crown.
The 46-year-old Williams has been jailed since February, when he was arrested and charged with the murders of 27-year-old Jessica Lloyd, of Belleville, Ont., and 37-year-old Marie-France Comeau of Brighton, Ont.
He is also accused of sexually assaulting two women in Tweed, Ont., a small town in eastern Ontario where Williams and his wife own a home.
Williams began living in Tweed after he took command of CFB Trenton, a military base that the accused colonel commanded until his arrest.
Later relieved of his duties at the base, Williams has since hired Ottawa lawyer Michael Edelson to defend him in court.
The OPP say the new break-and-enter charges concern alleged incidents in Belleville, Tweed, and Fallingbrook -- an east-end Ottawa suburb where Williams and his wife own a second residence.
The new charges are the result of "extensive reviews" of unsolved crimes in eastern Ontario, the OPP said.
OPP Sgt. Kristine Rae said the investigation continues, as "there are still reviews going on."
In a separate interview with 麻豆影视 Channel, Rae said that such reviews are expected to continue "for a long time."
None of the charges laid against Williams have been proven in court.
Williams is currently being held at the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee, Ont., about 60 kilometres east of CFB Trenton.
He appeared by video in a Belleville court on Thursday morning, when his case was put over to June 24.
Williams gave his name and said "thank you" at the end of the court proceedings.
Crown attorney Lee Burgess said the accused colonel's lawyer had received disclosure of evidence. But he said there was still much more to come.
When appearing by video, Williams appeared healthy and fit despite reports that suggested he has been engaged in a hunger strike inside his jail.
Lt.-Col. Tony O'Keefe, who has been acting as a liaison between Williams and the military, said it is difficult to comment on the colonel's state of mind.
"It's really hard to tell, from when he came in to where he is now -- I just can't tell," O'Keefe said outside court.
"He looks OK to me -- honestly, I can't tell -- he doesn't talk about the case with me."
With files from The Canadian Press
