Former Canadian air base commander pleads guilty to murder, sexual assault and burglary

Former Canadian air base commander pleads guilty to murder, sexual assault and burglaryAccording to sources close to the investigation, a former Canadian air base commander intends to plead guilty to murder, sexual assault and 82 burglary-related charges.

Sources have told the Globe and Mail Col. David Russell Williams, once among Canada's most successful military officers, has agreed in principle to plead guilty to all charges against him.

A source further told the newspaper, "He wants to get this over with, he's had enough."

Williams, 47, who police accuse of leading a double life as an air force commander and a serial sexual predator, made a brief court appearance Thursday by video link from Quinte Detention Center in Napanee, Ontario.

According to the reports, he was arrested in February in connection with two murders and two sexual assaults.

It was further reported that he is accused of murdering Jessica Lloyd, 27, of Belleville, Ontario, and Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 38, of Brighton, Ontario, a military flight attendant. Both women were asphyxiated.

Police Thursday added 82 additional burglary-related criminal charges dating from 2007, most of which involved obscene sexual details.

Williams agreed to waive a reading of the new charges. His case was remanded to June 24.

The Globe and Mail has reported that Williams, who used to be a pilot of government jets that carried Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other dignitaries overseas, can waive his right to a preliminary hearing and either ask to go straight to trial in Ontario's Superior Court of Justice or enter a guilty plea.

The newspaper further said that the automatic penalty for multiple first-degree murder convictions is life imprisonment with no chance of parole for at least 25 years. (With Inputs from Agencies)