# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/81 "2010-11-20T08:07:13Z")
Or pissed on the embers. Yeah, maybe not, it’s still the uniform. I can’t think of any way more dismissive to shame a solider-is this a traditional way to demonstrate scorn in the military? ---
**Author:** ![Kilmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@Kilmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilmore)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/82 "2010-11-20T08:40:34Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > Or pissed on the embers. Yeah, maybe not, it’s still the uniform. I can’t think of any way more dismissive to shame a solider-is this a traditional way to demonstrate scorn in the military? No, I can’t think of any precedent. Apparently it was motivated by the modern e-bay culture and they didn’t want his kit getting out to the “collectors”. That said, it does seem to be a proper military thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/83 "2010-11-20T09:22:59Z")
> [@Kilmore](#): > > No, I can’t think of any precedent. Apparently it was motivated by the modern e-bay culture and they didn’t want his kit getting out to the “collectors”. That said, it does seem to be a proper military thing to do. It could relate to ripping off insignia and snapping the sword blade. But I do agree that it seems to be an anti-auction measure =) And I agree that it is a smart move. Though nothing prevents people from writing him letters and getting his autograph that way. I have to admit, I have no idea why people seem to revere killers and want to own little pieces of them. And as for the women that want to marry them :eek:😕 ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/84 "2010-11-20T16:02:58Z")
Per the article I read, his kit should have gone back into rotation after being cleaned. It was burned because he had written his name into them which could not be taken off. It also had to be extremely satisfying. ETA: [Here is the article I read.](http://www.canada.com/news/Military+burns+Russell+Williams+uniforms/3857246/story.html) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/85 "2010-11-20T16:28:33Z")
> [@Flutterby](#): > > Per the article I read, his kit should have gone back into rotation after being cleaned. It was burned because he had written his name into them which could not be taken off. > > It also had to be extremely satisfying. > > ETA: [Here is the article I read.](http://www.canada.com/news/Military+burns+Russell+Williams+uniforms/3857246/story.html) I think that this has set a precedent. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/86 "2010-11-20T16:41:50Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I think that this has set a precedent. Let’s hope that it doesn’t need to be done terribly often. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/87 "2010-11-20T20:27:43Z")
> [@Kilmore](#): > > No, I can’t think of any precedent. Apparently it was motivated by the modern e-bay culture and they didn’t want his kit getting out to the “collectors”. That said, it does seem to be a proper military thing to do. That was my first thought, too - “Ebay THIS, melonfarmers!” ---
**Author:** ![seanchai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@seanchai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seanchai)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/88 "2010-11-21T01:54:19Z")
Today’s paper also said his military awards / medals were being melted down. There has been absolutely NO mention of his wife in the media - how she’s doing, where she is, nothing. At least, nothing I’ve seen. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/89 "2010-11-21T03:25:20Z")
Last info I saw on his wife was in Maclean’s and basically said she was named in the suit of one if the victims and she was trying to stay out of the media spot light. That was awhile ago. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/90 "2010-11-21T18:07:57Z")
If I were his wife, I’d be waaay out of the spotlight - I’d probably still be in the shower trying to scrub myself clean until any memory of him having touched my skin was gone. Gah, I cannot imagine being in her position. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/91 "2010-11-21T18:33:11Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Latest in the Russell Williams story: the Canadian Forces burn his uniform. See the item in today’s [Globe and Mail](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/russell-williams/canadian-forces-burn-russell-williamss-uniform-gear/article1806079/). Was he wearing the uniform when they burned it? ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/92 "2010-11-21T21:05:57Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I have to admit, I have no idea why people seem to revere killers and want to own little pieces of them. Some of his victims might like to own little pieces of him, particularly if they can remove those little pieces from him themselves, slowly, maybe with a rusty razor blade. ---
**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:** [November 27, 2010, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/93 "2010-11-27T11:41:03Z")
Latest story: [Cops knocked on Lloyd’s door as Williams hid in backyard](http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2010/11/24/16292021.html) > [@](#): > > A police officer who narrowly missed Russell Williams’ fatal attack on Jessica Lloyd was devastated to learn she missed the killer by minutes. > > The female Belleville police officer — wrongly identified in other reports as an OPP officer — was rocked by the realization she knocked on Lloyd’s door on a cold night last January when Williams was waiting some 30 metres behind the house in a field. > … > The officer, who has not been named, is haunted by thoughts that maybe if she had persisted at the door things could have gone differently, QMI Agency was told. > > The officer was on a routine patrol on Jan. 28 on Highway 37 when she noticed a suspicious vehicle, now identified as Williams’ Toyota Pathfinder, parked close to the a fence and bushes at the northern edge of Lloyd’s sprawling property. > … > After noticing the suspicious vehicle, the city police officer drove up to Lloyd’s house and knocked on the door. When no one answered she left. ---
**Author:** ![BDoors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BDoors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDoors)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/94 "2010-11-27T14:07:43Z")
The kit-burning thing seems unprofessional to me. Too emotional, not rational. It makes the owner of the uniform special. They should have recycled the uniform like any other. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/95 "2010-11-27T18:07:56Z")
> [@BDoors](#): > > The kit-burning thing seems unprofessional to me. Too emotional, not rational. It makes the owner of the uniform special. They should have recycled the uniform like any other. Two thoughts - I wouldn’t want any of his kit. I also don’t want to see any of his kit fir sale on eBay. ---
**Author:** ![BDoors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BDoors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BDoors)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/96 "2010-11-27T19:03:50Z")
> [@Poysyn](#): > > Two thoughts - I wouldn’t want any of his kit. I also don’t want to see any of his kit fir sale on eBay. OK, but by “recycle” I meant disposing of the fabric in the same way as they treat other unusable uniforms. Presumably they go off to landfill or a shredding plant or something. What they have done instead is treat this uniform in a special way. We unknowingly breath in the molecules of past evil-doers all the time, so there’s no rationale for not reusing the threads of this guy’s uniform. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/97 "2010-11-27T19:08:37Z")
I do see what you’re saying, **BDoors** , but I would say that the uniform burning was symbolic, and as a Canadian citizen, I agree with it. He _wasn’t_ just any other soldier; he was a bit of a star, from what I understand, and I would say this was done by the military to negate any ideas that the military condones him or his behaviour in any way. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/98 "2010-11-29T18:10:53Z")
> [@BDoors](#): > > OK, but by “recycle” I meant disposing of the fabric in the same way as they treat other unusable uniforms. Presumably they go off to landfill or a shredding plant or something. What they have done instead is treat this uniform in a special way. > We unknowingly breath in the molecules of past evil-doers all the time, so there’s no rationale for not reusing the threads of this guy’s uniform. Not sure how I feel about his uniform, but you do seem to have some supporters when ti comes to burning evidence for emotional reasons (as with the Bernardo tapes). [Victims should not rule our courtrooms](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/christie-blatchford/victims-should-not-rule-our-courtrooms/article1769783/page2/)(from Canada’s Globe & Mail) ---
**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:** [December 10, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/99 "2010-12-10T16:20:27Z")
Latest update: [Russell Williams officially released from military](http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20101210/williams-military-release-101210/) (CTV News, off the CP wire). From the link: > [@](#): > > The Department of National Defence says Williams’ two medals and his commission scroll were retrieved from his family, and this completes the process of removing him from the military. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795/100 "2010-12-10T17:41:30Z")
Just putting it out there, but does anyone feel that Col. (now Mr.) Williams should be under psychiatric care instead of in prison? The guy obviously has some serious mental issues. Would it even be worth it? It’s a damn shame. Such a brilliant military career. Too bad he was effing whacko. P.S. - Don’t construe this post to mean that have sympathy for Williams and not his victims. The man’s a monster and his victims in no way deserved what they got. I’m just questioning the punishment of psychologically impaired criminals. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadians-any-updates-on-col-russell-williams/553795.md?page=6)