Murder case against ex-commander who flew Queen Elizabeth II put over to April

Officer says accused is not the man he once knew

BELLEVILLE, Ontario — A military officer assigned to observe the hearings in a double-murder case involving a former senior commander who once flew Queen Elizabeth II around Canada says he’s no longer the man he once knew.

Col. Russell Williams was the commander of Canada’s largest Air Force base until he was charged last month with the murder of two women and the sexual assault of two others.

Lt. Col. Tony O’Keeffe, who has visited Williams in jail several times, says the former pilot who appeared briefly before court Thursday via video link from jail, is not the guy he once knew — a man he used to consider a friend.

His case has been put off until April 29.