Disgraced Canadian Colonel Expected To Plead Guilty To Murder Charges

The timeline of events following Col. Williams' arrest makes interesting reading. With any luck his trial will result in the most severe sentence possible under Canadian law - he is just lucky that his alleged crimes were commited in Canada and not in the US.

Tight security is in place at a Belleville, Ont., courthouse where Col. Russell Williams, the former commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, is set to make his first in-person court appearance.

Before morning light, police officers clad in black and wearing body armour had secured the site. The back entrance, where Williams is expected to arrive, was heavily guarded, with an orange snow fence closing off a section of the parking lot and a fenced-in area built leading into a doorway to usher him in.

Williams, 47, has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of air force flight attendant Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 37, who worked at CFB Trenton, and Jessica Lloyd, 27, of Belleville.

He has also been charged with home-invasion sex attacks on two women in September 2009 in eastern Ontario and with 82 breaking and entering charges.

Williams has already waived his right to a pretrial hearing.

Two metal detectors have been set up inside the building for the court appearance and an overflow room has been set up with a video feed for the large crowds expected. Until now, Williams has appeared only via video link from his Napanee, Ont., jail.

It is not clear whether Williams will enter a plea during his court appearance on Thursday, but CBC News has learned that Williams is expected to plead guilty to the charges laid against him. Sources said negotiations are underway to determine the conditions of Williams's potential sentence. He is facing life in prison, and sources said he wants to work out the best deal for a life behind bars.

By: Shelldrake