"It's a smart man being outsmarted by a smarter man.". He asked the colonel about an order that had allegedly been given at the base advising subordinates that they did not have to speak to the police and to seek legal counsel before they did so. . He had left home later that night, around 8 or 9 p.m., to sleep at the base before flying a crew to California the next morning. Marie-France has been deeply missed by all that knew her. Williams often spent time at a cottage he owned on Cosy Cove Lane in the village of Tweed, Ontario, 53 kilometers from Trenton. The OPP settled out-of-court with Massicotte in 2015, but as of 2016 her lawsuit against Williams and Harriman was still active. He then elaborated on the difference between and interview and an interrogation and the techniques used. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Thats fine, now lets go back to the issue. Beginning in May 2008, a rash of similar crimes occurred in the vicinity of Williamss home in Orleans. So that brings him down," said Mendelson. "Sgt. And Im pretty sure the answers dont matter., Smyth could have disagreed, but instead kept the momentum going. . Inside the thoughts of the PSAC strike, Joel Kotkin: The inhumanity of the green agenda, Christie Blatchford: The disturbing details of Tori Stafford's murder, Wife of serial killer Russell Williams drops fight to keep divorce proceedings private, Laurent Duvernay-Tardifsets sights on what's next, Top performing coffee grinders for the perfect morning cup, EXCLUSIVE: Vitamix introduces FoodCycler turning food waste into plant food, 5 high-performance blow dryers for all hair types, This Just In: Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Camo Drops, Carolina Herrara Good Girl Blush, and Caudalie Vinoperfect Dark Circle Brightening Eye Cream, tap here to see other videos from our team. Sgt. If theres anything that comes up in our interview today, Russell, that you feel you want to talk to a lawyer about, you just let me know.. His body language had slowly shifted from a cocky confidence to distress, defeat, and, ultimately, resignation. Media outlets praised Smyth for following his "hunch," though the detective shrugged it off, saying that the police had followed "hundreds of hunches" that hadn't yielded anything. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. I know she loved you very much because she told me she did, again and again. Is Jessica somewhere we can find her easily? he asked calmly. Jessicas body, meanwhile, had remained lying in the woods for close to a week, her bleeding head wrapped in towels, amongst scavenging coyotes, brush wolves, and foxes. I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you and I both know you were at Jessica Lloyds house, and I need to know why.. He suspects Williams would have weighed the judicial process that lay ahead when making his decision to confess. If this didnt come to the point its at right now. Leaning forward into Mr. Armishaws space, speaking calmly in a tone the judge described as quietly relentless, Det.-Sgt. With three simple, yet ominous, words, the distinguished base commander, respected colonel, and trusted pilot for the prime minister and Queen Elizabeth II had sealed his fate and was set to shock an entire nation. Suddenly the unshakable colonel looked very uncomfortable. This week, when Col. Williams stands in a Belleville, Ont., courtroom and pleads guilty more than 80 times, his many victims have said they hope to find an inkling of an explanation in the horrifying spectacle. Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Carolyn Kendrick and Alicia Lampert. . cause Ive met guys who actually kind of enjoyed the notoriety. Sgt. Theres a search warrant being executed at the residence in Tweed, and your vehicles have been seized, okay?. In Canada, once a person has been cautioned (advised of his/her right to remain silent), even if they choose to lawyer up, police can continue questioning the suspect before their lawyer is present. Its about thirty minutes from thereno, probably twentyfrom there to my home.. He concealed his true feelings by relaxing the pitch and tone of his voice while maintaining his calm and easygoing demeanor. Smyth periodically left the interrogation room to get updates from the search teams, which provided him with more damning facts. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. That interrogation, in June 2007, lasted just over an hour and ended with a vague confession that the judge ruled was involuntary, obtained by threats of harsh, severe and unsympathetic treatment from the courts if Mr. Armishaw did not give up the right to remain silent and confess.. No doubt youll sleep a bit easier now that Ive been caught. Why do you think these things happened? he asked. Do you remember where in Ottawa you were?, Yeah. Jamie Gillespie was arrested and charged with attempting to intercept private communication, obstructing justice, breach of trust, counselling an offence that is not committed, and obstructing a peace officer. And its not issues that point away from you; its issues that point at you, okay? Smyth placed some photos onto the desktop. As he sat quietly with his head slumped forward, holding his face in his hand, his body language spoke clearly. Perry, who previously worked on cases with Smyth, said the OPP investigator used a "classic way of presenting evidence" during the interrogation. . Hidden behind the scenes, four officers were discreetly observing the video feed from an adjacent room. The detective broke the cold silence . Cause Ive sat across from a lot of people in your position over the years.. I might be wrong. . . sexual misconduct in the Canadian military, OPP officer whose mastery in interrogation, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. A recurring theme in Det.-Sgt. She learned of One Little Goat Theatre Company's plans a week before the seventh anniversary of Lloyd's death. The detective, as though trying to land a big fish, continued to pace his efforts by offering his adversary some slack before tactfully reeling him in just a little bit more. I know you wont be able to believe me, but it is true. The isolated stretch of road would soon be flooded with police. Instead, the colonel would find himself sleeping in a cold concrete bunker in the much-maligned segregation unit at Quinte Detention Centre, located in Napanee, Ontario. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Williams was stripped of rank and dismissed from the Canadian Forces. He then asks him general questions before getting him to agree to submit a DNA sample and an imprint of his boots. . "They begin circling in and in and in it was a fascinating thing to watch," said CBC reporter Dave Seglins. McClintic said at the time that Rafferty had killed Tori using a hammer, but at trial she testified it was her. Williams had thought that he could outsmart us all. I know she loved you very much. Sources close to the investigation scoff at the idea that the cat was a possible trigger - and not merely because it sounds so absurd, but more so because it can't be squared with the chronology of Col. William's dark descent; Curio's death took place more than a year after Col. Williams began his string of lingerie thefts. Smyth asked him if he was concerned about whether the Buccal (DNA) swab they had taken would match any samples taken from the four crime scenes. What do you need?, Well, do you want to supply things like fingerprints, blood samples. Super Bowl-winning athlete talks football, his medical career and the importance of skin care. The detective explained how his computers would be forensically analyzed and that no stone would be left unturned. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. OPP interrogator Jim Smyth has a reputation that demands a screenplay. 3 February, he dumped Lloyds body in the woods near Tweed. Marie France-Comeau as well ascommitting other sexual assaults. Smyths interrogation techniques sketches the limits of police interrogation under the Charter, and reveals the weak points in the central technique of minimizing-maximizing, in which an interrogator implies that a suspect is a nice guy who snapped rather than a cold-blooded killer.. As he had progressed through the stages, his restlessness and discomfort caused him to frequently shift position in his chair, squirming and shuffling around and rolling his shoulders. I dont know what else to do to make you understand the impact of whats happening here, Smyth said as he tried to coax some dialogue from his steely-eyed suspect. It would remain an active crime scene for the next twenty-four hours, as forensics officers descended on the cold and frigid brush that had been Jessicas resting place for almost a week. Smyth was recently promoted to the OPP's major criminal investigations branch as a major case manager. His success as a profiler and polygraph operator for the OPPs Behavioral Sciences and Analysis Services unit had been well documented. How do you feel about what youve done?. Really fast," Smyth tells Williams, shortly before he confesses. Everything about the interrogation is crafted down to specific details about how the officer acts and requires a lot of preparation in advance, Downs said. . "It was like you had walked into somebody's museum. The detective told him that further efforts had been taken to identify the vehicle responsible for making the tracks, including collecting witness reports. In 2006, he completed the Canadian Police College polygraph examiner's course, resulting in his certification as a forensic polygraph examiner and forensic interviewer. and probably a lot of other peoples DNA., Smyth continued, As we talk, you know a little bit of saliva comes out of our mouths. Had he been there at any time? Jim Smyth, a veteran investigator, is the other man seen in the video. The statement is a reminder that her good friend was "kidnapped, raped, tortured and murdered" by Williams and that the "disclosure of these details was a traumatic nightmare.". He felt cornered, and his fight-or-flight responses were in obvious conflict with each other. Because Williams pleaded guilty to all charges, he was not put on trial. Like, is it something where I can make a call and tell somebody to go to a location. . Hidden in the basement ceiling of the Ottawa house were two computer hard-drives containing expertly concealed records of Williamss activities as a sexual predator over a two-year period. In 2003, Smyth completed the International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship Understudy Program, resulting in certification as a criminal profiler. Republication or distribution of this content is Perhaps the most infamous interrogation in Canadian history was OPP Det. I dont see that in you. In 2012, Smyth was recently promoted to the OPP's major Criminal Investigations Branch as a major case manager.Russell Williams is a Canadian convicted of homicide and former colonel in the Canadian Forces.In late January 2010, the Ontario Provincial Police discovered evidence that led them to suspect Williams' involvement in Jessica Lloyd's disappearance and suspected links to two other crimes that had been committed in close proximity to other locations near Williams previous home. But the problem is, Russell, every time I walk out of this room, theres another issue that comes up, okay? Williams hunches his shoulders. Canada ends evacuation flights from Sudan over 'deteriorating security situation', Royal Family unveils sneak peek of King Charles III and Queen Camillas coronation robes, Widening manhunt for Texas gunman slowed by 'zero leads', Tom Mulcair: Should Trudeau lead the Liberals against Poilievre? But I do want to talk to you, Jim, the colonel said wistfully as the officer turned to leave the room. In July 2009, on instinct, he searched arural roadnear Mount Forest, Ont., and found the remains of eight-year-old Victoria, who disappeared more than three months earlier. When prison officials told Simpson, "Don't come back," the former Buffalo Bills star responded, "I don't have any intent," according to Keast.. That evidence is all there. Williams cast his eyes downward. Jim Szarka; 43; goes to school when he isn't pursuing major fraud investigations. Theyd find a mother lode of explicit images on the devices, featuring all four of his victims, he assured Smyth. Brent Snook, a forensic psychologist and professor at Memorial University, said Smyth's interview was highly professional and non-confrontational in nature. ), Monterey Park, CA Police Department FBINA 214th Session Member - International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Investigative Operations Committee Email: Jim.Smith@ecoatm.com "Its a combination of the two. Absent any other solid evidence against him, Mr. Armishaw was acquitted and the prosecution abandoned as having no reasonable prospect of success. You seem like a bright woman, who could do much better for herself. . It wouldn't be until July 17, 2009, that police got the break they needed to find Tori's remains. Polygraph operator Det. This page is not available in other languages. The bizarre case shocked the military and the country and became an international media sensation. Smyth had not only managed to establish a rapport with the commander of the countrys largest military base, but in a very short time had also earned his respect and admiration. The colonel raised his head, rubbed his neck, and looked his interrogator straight in the eyes. Thats why its important that we make sure the people understand what they have to do, and what they dont have to do, when theyre talking to us, said Smyth. Its hard to believe this is happening, the colonel said, exhaling deeply as he sat up and folded his arms. As he swaggered into the room, chewing confidently on a wad of gum, Williams was directed to take a seat across from the small tabletop workstation. As a top Canadian practitioner of the modern art of police interrogation, it is his job to bring forensic psychology to life, using conviviality and guile to convince murderers to skip trial and go straight to jail. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. During this exchange, the colonels words became more assertive, his mind clearly focused, and his body language much more confident. I really hope that the discussion we had has helped you turn your life around a bit. Smyth then began focusing his questions on Marie-France Comeau, and asked Williams how they had met. Thanks for contributing to The Canadian Encyclopedia. I was hoping not, said the man who was once called a shining bright star of the Canadian military. The confessionof Williams was by all accounts expertly coaxed the work of a whip-smart detective who was unyielding in an interrogation that ran 10 hours. One can hardly hear those words without being put in mind of The Borg portrayed in Star Trek, The Next Generation, the judge wrote. . I want to minimize the impact on my wife, he said, as though it were part of a boardroom negotiation. It included personnel and a search-and-rescue aircraft from CFB Trenton, authorized by Colonel Williams. But now his sly charm and relentless. "It wasn't hard, so it wasn't a rock. . Det.-Sgt. Sgt. In court in Belleville on 8 February, Williams was charged with murder, sexual assault and forcible confinement. And he was right. Williamss next victim was Jessica Lloyd. ", While Seelig said he and the theatre company have responded to concerns like this, Dafoe said it's a "stockreply. Williams smiled and shook his head. Do you have any recollection of being off that road?. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. In 2012, Smyth was promoted as detective inspector to the OPP's major criminal investigations branch as a major case manager.[6]. On the evening of 4 February, Williams was stopped at an OPP checkpoint on Highway 37. Is there anything you can think of that anybody may have misinterpreted or anything in your history that somebody might say, Russell Williams did this?, Absolutely not. consistent with a Pathfinder. On 22 October 2010, Williams was sentenced to two terms of life imprisonment, with no possibility of parole for 25 years. . Less than five hours after he had driven to police headquarters in the same SUV he had used to abduct Jessica Lloyd and strode into the interview room wearing the same boots that he had used the night of her attack, the truth had finally surfaced. He asked the colonel what they would find should they conduct an investigation into his background. His uniform was burned, and his decorations were destroyed. Williams sniffed and held his open hand against the side of his bowed face, resting his chin on the heel of his palm. Simpson. At the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus residence, he was known for demanding cleanliness, and he was repeatedly bugged about his obsessive compulsive-type behaviour. There were a couple more fairly simple and straightforward things that Smyth said he had to discuss to make sure everybody was clear. The couple, who were childless, lived for 13 years in a house on Wilkie Drive in the. ", Eventually, Williams reveals that he is concerned about the fact the OPP will soon be "tearing apart my wife's brand new house. He pleaded guiltyto two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Lloyd and Cpl. Tori's disappearance touched off a massive investigation in the spring of 2009, with nearly 1,000 officers involved at various points. Let me ask you this, Smyth continued. Frustrated by their inability to find Jessicas body, they recruited the help of Williams himself. [5], I know youre an intelligent person, and you probably dont need to hear this explanation, the detective said, stroking the colonels ego to win his favor. And with that, Smyth had delivered what is known within policing circles as a soft rights caution. [He then stopped writing and scribbled out the lines he had written.]. . After 10 years of front line policing. But he was wrong. Rafferty has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and kidnapping. So on that July day more than 14 weeks after Tori disappeared outside her elementary school in Woodstock, when Smyth drove down the Concession 6 sideroad southeast of Mount Forest, a house that he saw stopped him in his tracks, he testified Friday at Rafferty's trial. Ontario Provincial Police ~ Peterborough Detachment. When they returned to their seats following the break, Williams was no longer chewing on the wad of gum. Marie-France was a professional, caring and compassionate woman who earned the respect of all with whom she came into contact. . The looming DNA test that will inevitably identify him as being a killer. In 2003, Smyth completed the International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship Understudy Program, resulting in . He told Williams that whoever was responsible for the crimes would be facing a number of serious charges. Police had just received information that directed them farther north than they had been searching, and on July 19, 2009, OPP Detective Staff Sergeant Jim Smyth decided to drive around the area of Mount Forest just to get an idea of the landscape. Tonight, performers at theToronto venue known for provocative, alternative work will deliver, verbatim, part of the transcript of the police interrogation of murderer and rapist Russell Williams, which those close to the killings say disrespects the victims. Smyth gave him another chance to complete the voluntary exercise and left him alone again. Rafferty has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, sexual assault causing bodily harm and abduction. Thetrialinto the death of Victoria Stafford has revealed disturbing details about the final hours of the Woodstock, Ont., girl, but it has also shed light on a highly skilled police interrogator. However, 15 of the 25 Orleans families whose homes were broken into reported the crimes to the Ottawa Police Department. .. This time when the officer returned, Williams had written a total of five apology letters (and three discarded drafts). I know she has been deeply missed by all that knew her. He was also registered as a sex offender. At some point he had gone back and scratched out The moment and written, Immediately before over top of it.]. Jim Smyth, the star Ontario Provincial Police interrogator who famously pried a confession from sex killer Russell Williams, has a reputation that demands a screenplay. . ., Tire tracks are a major source of evidence for us.. She was enraged about the staged reading of the murderer's confession to OPP officer Jim Smyth and started a petition to stop the play, which about 2,000 people signed. When Detective-Sergeant Smyth returned to the interrogation room, Williams was sitting with his arms folded and his legs leisurely stretched out and crossed at the ankles. Both officers were shot and killed . Williams hid the body in his garage. Robin McKay Current Workplace. While the interview was in progress, officers with search warrants were going through the cottage in Tweed, and through Williamss Ottawa home in the presence of his shocked wife. "The non-verbals are ringing loud and clear on this one. In fact, much like TVs Columbo, he probably owed much of his success to peoples innate tendencies to underestimate his talents and resolve. Cpl. He admitted to the detective that he had originally planned to drive back to Tweed that day, and had earlier gathered a bunch of the womens panties and bras to burn in a field upon his return. no, Williams responded, shaking his head vehemently. The colonel nodded and continued to chew his gum. Do you remember what you wouldve done that evening to go to Ottawa for that meeting? You and I both know that the unknown offender male DNA on Marie-Frances body is going to be matched to you, quite possibly before the evenings over. Williams was married to Mary Elizabeth Harriman. In fact, it wasnt even halfway over. "I look at this as like taking off a Band-Aid: you can do it quickly, and get it done, right? Was she excited about leaving with you?. Would it surprise you to know that when the CSI officers were looking around her property that they identified a set of tires. Then he was asked about Comeau and the circumstances of his first murder. 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. Police responded quickly. . . As McClintic described it, the laneway crossed a small creek, went up on an incline, and then at the peak a large rock pile sat to the left. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. But he said some suspects need to see hard evidence before they will open up. And finally, to Ernie Comeau, the father of thirty-eight-year-old murder victim Marie-France Comeau: I am sorry for having taken your daughter, Marie-France, from you. LONDON, ONT. Col. Williams also revealed to police in the interrogation that he suffered from chronic pain, a condition that his co-workers and old friends have returned to time and time again when they've been asked by reporters about any changes they observed. Perry said that's when Smyth takes control and repeatedly suggests that the evidence points to Williams as the killer. Russ, maybe this would help. I think it was a one-day trip. . In December 2011, it was announced that Smyth was assigned to the criminal behavioural analysis section of the Ontario Provincial Police and is the unit coordinator for the four-member polygraph unit. The off-duty colonel removed his bright yellow jacket, draped it over the back of the chair, and placed his black leather gloves on the desktop before sitting down. Detective-Sergeant Jim Smyth began his career with the York Regional Police (in Ontario, Canada) in 1988 before joining the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in 1997. Smyth is biting, even to the point of doubting the honesty of his testimony under oath. He then explained to the officer that he had killed her on Friday night before flying some troops to California early the next morning. But karma and society would soon punish Williams for his crude and horrifying actions.
Toddler Ate Zicam,
Starbucks Tumbler Replacement Lids,
Duncan Pittaway Net Worth,
Oxted Tool Company Rodney Starmer,
Haringey Parking Contact,
Articles D