GUILTY Canada - Marie-France Comeau, 37, & Jessica Lloyd, 27, slain, Ont, 2009 & 2010 - #3

[nobodyzgirl]

(BBM)

Again, I don't know much about the law, but could another reason be that they are pretty confident that RW is going to be spending at least the next 25 years in prison? That MEH would probably never want to live in either that house or cottage again and would want to sell both and with sole ownership simplifying the sales? Could MEH be concerned that RW might attempt suicide again and succeed, further tying up the distribution of assets?

Just guessing here how their lawyer may defend this suit.

JMO

A lot of this depends on how the properties were owned. If it was joint ownership, and RW tries and succeeds at suicide, then ownership is automatically transferred to MEH, so it wouldn't be drawn out. They just need a copy of the death certificate and file documents changing title solely to her name. If it was sole ownership in his name only, then they may have wanted title transferred in her name, because if he does succeed in suicide, unless he has a will, it turns into a legal nightmare.

MOO is that they have added MEH as party to the civil action so that the assets that have been transferred over to her (from her husband) will be frozen and she is unable to sell them until judgement is reached. It's a standard legal procedure no doubt. I feel sorry for MEH, first she's had to deal with her husband's other life, now she's getting dragged into court because of him.

 

[Summersolstice]

General information:

There are legal strategies called asset protection planning, or creditor-proofing your assets. Certain lawyers and chartered accountancy firms specialize in this kind of work.

http://www.canadian-lawyers.ca/understand-your-legal-issue/wills-and-estates/1027674/
http://www.hg.org/articles/article_755.html

Assets include things like retirement savings, pension funds and CPP, insurance policies, in addition to real estate, etc. Strategies include setting up trust accounts, numbered accounts, offshore accounts, numbered companies, holding companies, etc. Trust accounts held offshore can be particularly useful.

Another thing to consider would be the laws of other countries, or even the difference in Canada between common law and civil law. Quebec follows a different legal system. Even if it is proven that a fraudulent transfer of property occurred, getting it back is quite another thing. Transferring property to a spouse after being charged with criminal acts appears on the surface to show intent to protect assets.

 

[dotr]

Maybe if the childless spouse of the mouse read statements like this one from CP24 she would not want to keep a penny to herself.

the woman was terrified Williams would kill her and/or her baby, she claims.

"The conduct of the defendant was harsh, vindictive, malicious, horrific and reprehensible," the statement of claim reads.

 

[Hazel]

First attempt at posting, have been reading a while.

I wonder what this monster's wife is thinking, now that she is being sued? Does anyone know what the legal ramifications are of the real estate transfer? Did that happen prior to the suicide attempt?

A bit of Timeline (to refresh our memories), and in answer to you question (in bold) yes, that seems to be the case:

Property transfered = on or about Friday, March 26, 2010

RW attempts suicide = Saturday, Apr. 03, 2010 - 5 am

Published on Sunday, Apr. 04, 2010 9:38PM EDT
Sources at the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee, Ont., tell the Kingston Whig-Standard that at roughly 5 a.m. Saturday the accused serial sex killer wrote a suicide note in mustard on the wall of his segregation cell
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/accused-sex-killer-col-russell-williams-attempts-jailhouse-suicide/article1522610/

Tuesday, Apr. 6, 2010
Sources at Quinte say Williams, who is still receiving regular visits from his wife each week,

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2010/04/05/13474756-qmi.html

 

[Summersolstice]

A bit of Timeline (to refresh our memories), and in answer to you question (in bold) yes, that seems to be the case:

Property transfered = on or about Friday, March 26, 2010

RW attempts suicide = Saturday, Apr. 03, 2010 - 5 am

I've posted this elsewhere, but it is relevant here:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/a...urt-appearance

"Williams’s wife, Mary Elizabeth Harriman, has been assigned a “full-time” military assisting officer to “help her through the myriad of administrative procedures,” said O’Keefe. "The Canadian Forces’ position is that she, too, is a victim in this and our hearts and sympathies are with her as well as with any other Canadian family that has been affected,” he said."

I do have a hard time imagining how the alleged trauma of the alleged victims in any way compares to the alleged trauma of RW's wife. What is the "myriad of administrative procedures" involved in being married to a military officer who is an alleged murderer and alleged perpetrator of sexual assaults? Surely any administrative procedures would be between the officer and the military only, if the spouse and said officer did not occupy a residence on the base?

 

[antiquegirl]

I've posted this elsewhere, but it is relevant here:

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/a...urt-appearance

"Williams’s wife, Mary Elizabeth Harriman, has been assigned a “full-time” military assisting officer to “help her through the myriad of administrative procedures,” said O’Keefe. "The Canadian Forces’ position is that she, too, is a victim in this and our hearts and sympathies are with her as well as with any other Canadian family that has been affected,” he said."

I do have a hard time imagining how the alleged trauma of the alleged victims in any way compares to the alleged trauma of RW's wife. What is the "myriad of administrative procedures" involved in being married to a military officer who is an alleged murderer and alleged perpetrator of sexual assaults? Surely any administrative procedures would be between the officer and the military only, if the spouse and said officer did not occupy a residence on the base?

(Red by me)

The quotation merely states that MEH is also a victim of this man and his alleged crimes (with which I agree). I see no comparison in severity to the suffering of the other victims. I doubt that Col. O'Keeffe is implying that they are on equal footing.

JMO

 

[Belinda]

Are they so sure that she didn't know what was going on? I find it difficult to believe that she had no idea, with the level and sheer volume of offenses this man has committed.

 

[Summersolstice]

(Red by me)

The quotation merely states that MEH is also a victim of this man and his alleged crimes (with which I agree). I see no comparison in severity to the suffering of the other victims. I doubt that Col. O'Keeffe is implying that they are on equal footing.

JMO

And I can only go by what the words say.

 

[Wondergirl]

If RW signed divorce papers, and agreed to ALL marital assets being assigned to MEH, then could this not be construed as an attempt to divert assets that would not under "normal" divorce circumstances be hers (thus naming her as a defendant in the civil lawsuit)?

 

[Wondergirl]

I interpret the following sentence to mean that RW had taken care of his marital paperwork, since MEH had been visiting him in the jail.

"The note was a farewell message saying his affairs are now in order and his feelings are too much to bear."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/04/05/williams-apparent-suicide-reports.html#ixzz0nmamTgGU

 

[antiquegirl]

If RW signed divorce papers, and agreed to ALL marital assets being assigned to MEH, then could this not be construed as an attempt to divert assets that would not under "normal" divorce circumstances be hers (thus naming her as a defendant in the civil lawsuit)?

Quite possibly, in my opinion. Except that these are not "normal" divorce circumstances. If convicted, RW will be spending at least the next 25 years in prison, with no necessity or use for any financial assets. That is, if MEH is willing to pay for his legal defence, which may not amount to much if he pleads guilty and no trial ensues.

I still believe that if divorce papers had already been signed, the media would have gotten hold of them. Although, this news could break at any time.

JMO

 

[Wondergirl]

I do believe that our own Government has a vested interest in the outcome of any civil litigation also:

But no matter how long Williams continues to pull in thousands a month, the Canadian Forces said it will claw it all back if he's convicted of two counts of murder and sexual assault.

"If found guilty, a member must reimburse pay received while held in custody," spokeswoman Carole Brown said in an e-mail to QMI Agency.

Williams is getting paid because he's still a member of the Canadian Forces, she said.

http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2528153&auth=

 

[Wondergirl]

Quite possibly, in my opinion. Except that these are not "normal" divorce circumstances. If convicted, RW will be spending at least the next 25 years in prison, with no necessity or use for any financial assets. That is, if MEH is willing to pay for his legal defence, which may not amount to much if he pleads guilty and no trial ensues.

I still believe that if divorce papers had already been signed, the media would have gotten hold of them. Although, this news could break at any time.

JMO

What I mean by "normal" in my previous post, is that "normally" a spouse would NOT sign over ALL of their marital assets to the other spouse. It is atypical. Which is where the fraudulent allegation comes in, I guess.

I do agree with you here, Antiquegirl, that their divorce will not be normal in any way, given the circumstances.

 

[Wondergirl]

I don't think this article has been referenced here yet. It gives a few more details:

The statement claims the "secret" conveyance of the property by Williams to his wife's name was "an effort to defeat the ...plaintiff's claim" against Williams and one made in "unusual haste." Included in the claims are injunctions to freeze the assets of the defendants and for the couple to provide a sworn statement of their financial assets, along with a certificate of pending litigation for the premises.

A check of municipal land registry documents for Tweed show the cottage on Cosy Cove Lane where Williams lived is still registered in the colonel's name.

http://www.intelligencer.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2572431

 

[Macright]

The SOB has a smirk on his face in most of his pictures. He must be still smirking thinking by the act of signing off all his assets that he has once again beat the system. IMO this makes MEH as guilty as he is in this instance. Greed on her part comes to mind.

 

[Pink Panther]

I don't have any information about laws in Canada regarding this issue but I find it hard to believe that he (RW) can carry out any transfer of property while in prison for a crime that he has possibly committed without it being re-considered once a verdict is reached as to his guilt or innocence. If he's innocent, his transaction will go through...If he's guilty, I highly doubt that it will be allowed. The outcome of this particular situation will without question, await his trial/sentencing and cannot reasonably be resolved until that has transpired. The victim's lawyer is without question laying reasonable claim on a consideration that will have to wait.

MOO

ETA - MEH will soon need to get herself a lawyer with PR experience. If she doesn't, one can already see the fallout she will have to put up with. Again - just my opinion.

 

[flipflop]

The SOB has a smirk on his face in most of his pictures. He must be still smirking thinking by the act of signing off all his assets that he has once again beat the system. IMO this makes MEH as guilty as he is in this instance. Greed on her part comes to mind.

MEH is not guilty IMO, she did nothing.
What would you do if you were in her shoes. She had nothing to do with his alleged crimes, she is innocent (IMO), if I were her I would be getting my things in order, in my name and cutting all ties that I had to that monster and trying my hardest to keep my head held high and to move forward. I do not put any blame on MEH at all, I feel she needs to look after herself! I can't imagine how horrible she feels for the victims of RW.

 

[flipflop]

Are they so sure that she didn't know what was going on? I find it difficult to believe that she had no idea, with the level and sheer volume of offenses this man has committed.

He had this life hidden from everyone for years. His co-workers in the military could not believe it, those first reports in the media had everyone in disbelief, no one suspected a thing. RW and MEH did not live together full time from what we read in the media. Who knows what kind of relationship they had...IMO he had a split personality to pull all of this off for so long with no one suspecting him. Go back and read the dates and times of his rapes/murders, he carried on in life as if nothing happened. He played "his game" well, Remember back to the break ins on Cozy Cove, everyone was interviewed, but not RW, his career role held him on a pedestal and no on suspected him. Therefore, I believe his wife knew nothing and saw nothing. I feel he had some type of military office that he kept under lock and key and this is where he hid his panty collection. If your husband of a high rank in the military told you that the office holds military top secret stuff, you would not think twice about it and stay away from that office. I truly feel that he had EVERYONE fooled and knew how to cover his tracks....except for the ones in the snow!

 

[Pink Panther]

These "people" (psychopaths, sociopaths, anti-social personality disordered - whatever one wants to call them) live outside the boundaries of rules that "normal" people can comprehend. MEH may well have had doubts about him, hints that things were askew but what normal person in their right mind could possibly imagine that the "odd" behaviour meant that their husband/friend/companion/partner (whatever he may have been to her) was out stealing panties and molesting women when he said he was going for a jog!??? I do think that this woman had signs and probably noticed odd things but I also believe that she most probably couldn't have come to the conclusion that he was what he has seemingly turned out to be.

MOO

ETA - I still think that she needs to get herself a good lawyer who is well versed in cases that require PR experience. She has been able to hide for now but it won't last long and she needs solid representation with good media skills if she expects to come out without scrutiny/minimal media exposure.

 

[flipflop]

I think the H and S organization( where MEH was an executive)need to get someone for damage control and to handle the media blitz which surely will ensue when the trial begins.
I wonder if MEH was aware that something was "off" and maybe if she discovered lingerie,she thought R.W. was actually a crossdresser.

A crossdresser would certainly be alot easier to deal with, instead of a crossdresser she got a psychotic murdering-rapist who stoled womans panties, she has been living with and trusting this man for the past few years...the thought of that just makes me ill, I really feel for MEH and RW's victims/families, no ones deserves this.