# Canadians: any updates on Col. Russell Williams? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 15, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795 "2010-09-15T01:53:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/1 "2010-09-15T01:53:05Z")
The air force officer who has been [charged with a number of murders](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=551357&highlight=russell+williams)? Is a trial imminent? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/2 "2010-09-15T02:18:07Z")
He’s waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and the next court date is October 7, when a trial date will be set. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/3 "2010-09-15T12:26:50Z")
there’s also a civil action pending against him and his wife, brought by one of his alleged victims. I don’t know what the allegations in the civil action are, or how his wife is said to be involved. She’s not facing criminal charges. The action is at the very earliest stages, so not much has been made public about it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/4 "2010-09-15T13:16:43Z")
The victim is seeking monetary compensation for emotional distress caused by the attack. Her home was invaded, she was bound, molested and photographed by Williams. Williams signed his houses over in to his wife to try to financially protect her. I’m not sure of the correct terminology, but you get the picture. He’s also being charged with something like 82 break and entries in the Ottawa area. What a nutjob. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/5 "2010-09-15T14:53:36Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Williams signed his houses over in to his wife to try to financially protect her. I’m not sure of the correct terminology, but you get the picture. The phrase you’re looking for is “fraudulent conveyance” (or sometimes, “fraudulent preference”). Williams signs over (“conveys”) his interest in these properties to his wife, in an effort to protect them from the plaintiff. In other words, the plaintiff cannot be awarded what Williams doesn’t own. But by naming Williams’ wife as a party to the suit, the plaintiff can continue to claim against the assets she now owns. How successful this claim against Williams’ wife will be, I don’t know. A quick Google search shows a number of news sources stating that a publication ban on events in the civil trial was granted last May, so until that is lifted (and it doesn’t seem to have been, so I’ll assume it is still in place), we won’t know much about it. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/6 "2010-09-15T17:03:55Z")
Also, in other news, the American government was investigating Williams for the murder of two women in North Carolina, but they’ve recently decided he’s not involved. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/7 "2010-09-15T17:11:13Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > A quick Google search shows a number of news sources stating that a publication ban on events in the civil trial was granted last May, so until that is lifted (and it doesn’t seem to have been, so I’ll assume it is still in place), we won’t know much about it. I think the only thing that was banned was revealing the identity of the plaintiff’s name, and that the press is free to report on the case otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/8 "2010-10-09T07:51:08Z")
His lawyer recently advised the court that [Williams will plead guilty on all charges](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/colonel-russell-williams-to-plead-guilty-to-all-charges/article1747202/); plea and sentencing is set for October 18. ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/9 "2010-10-09T14:05:56Z")
They said yesterday that after this was taken care of they would start looking at where he was during some of the other murders that he has not yet been charged with. I know the father of one of the victims that they think he may have been responsible for. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/10 "2010-10-09T16:24:09Z")
The new details about videos and spreadsheets keeping track of his crimes give me a serious case of the willies. Someone please tell me we won’t be letting this guy back out. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/11 "2010-10-10T03:30:45Z")
I imagine the Crown will push for the same type of sentence that Bernardo got - the automatic life sentence without parole for 25 years for the two murders, plus dangerous offender sentence for the other ones. It’s very rare for anyone serving as a d.o. to ever make parole. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/12 "2010-10-10T04:01:23Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > His lawyer recently advised the court that [Williams will plead guilty on all charges](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/colonel-russell-williams-to-plead-guilty-to-all-charges/article1747202/); plea and sentencing is set for October 18. One plus I suppose: everyone is saved the trouble and cost of a trial. ---
**Author:** ![Racer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@Racer1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer1)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/13 "2010-10-10T18:56:30Z")
Does Canada have the equivalent of jailing someone “At her majesty’s pleasure” ? (Which sounds a lot kinkier than it is). ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/14 "2010-10-10T21:03:10Z")
> [@Racer1](#): > > Does Canada have the equivalent of jailing someone “At her majesty’s pleasure” ? Yes: [dangerous offender](http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/cor/tls/dod-eng.aspx) status. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/15 "2010-10-10T21:27:16Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > > [@Racer1](#): > > > > Does Canada have the equivalent of jailing someone “At her majesty’s pleasure” ? > > Yes: [dangerous offender](http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/cor/tls/dod-eng.aspx) status. However, that’s not particularly meaningful in the case of someone convicted of first degree murder. Dangerous offender status means that you get to be confined for an indeterminate period of time but not necessarily for the rest of your life; you can still be paroled. See [dangerous offenders](http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0010727). In the case of first degree murder you can be (but are not necessarily) paroled after 25 years. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/16 "2010-10-11T04:59:55Z")
> [@Racer1](#): > > Does Canada have the equivalent of jailing someone “At her majesty’s pleasure” ? > > (Which sounds a lot kinkier than it is). we used to - that was the form of warrant of committal for someone found not guilty by reason of insanity; it was then up to the mental health authorities to advise Her Majesty (as represented by the Minister of Justice in the Province) whether to release the individual. It’s now been replaced by not criminally liable by reason of mental disorder, and there are regular review mechanisms set out in the relevant statute, so it’s no longer an “at pleasure” committal. “Dangerous offender” status is a different thing - purely statutory, again with regular reviews, but it’s not at Her Majesty’s pleasure. “Dangerous offender” status is not available for murder, because a person convicted of murder gets a life sentence - even if paroled, they’re under supervision, which is what the d.o. sentence provides for. I would say they’re functionally equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/17 "2010-10-11T05:05:17Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > The new details about videos and spreadsheets keeping track of his crimes give me a serious case of the willies. Someone please tell me we won’t be letting this guy back out. Wait, what? Videos and spreadsheets? I haven’t heard anything about that! Where did you hear about this? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/18 "2010-10-11T07:53:34Z")
[The Globe & Mail](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-case-against-colonel-williams-he-took-videos-of-the-crimes/article1748914/) ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/19 "2010-10-12T00:54:28Z")
Wow… that gives me the willies too. I hadn’t seen that info before. ---
**Author:** ![JFLuvly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac91a4/32.png) [@JFLuvly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFLuvly)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/20 "2010-10-12T20:34:58Z")
Some interesting articles from Macleans Magazine [http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=25868229](http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=25868229) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795.md?page=2)