Air force pilot admits killing two women

A Canadian commander who once served as pilot for the Queen has pleaded guilty to the murders of two women, the sexual assaults of two others and dozens of breaking and entering charges.

Colonel Russell Williams was the commander of Canada's largest air force base until he was charged earlier this year. He pleaded guilty to the charges at a court in Belleville, Ontario, and faces an automatic sentence of life in prison with no possibility for parole for at least 25 years.

Williams, 47, who was born in England and raised in Canada, was pictured with the Queen and Prince Philip on the front page of the newspaper of Canadian Forces Base Trenton while he served as their pilot during a 2005 visit. He was photographed in January with the Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Canada's top general during an inspection of a Canadian aircraft on its way to support relief efforts in Haiti. He is alleged to have killed his second victim just over a week later.

He waived his right to a preliminary hearing in August and was ordered to stand trial. He was charged with the murder of Jessica Lloyd, 27, whose body was found in February, and Marie Comeau, a 38-year-old corporal under his command who was found dead in her home last November. Both women were asphyxiated.