Accused murderer Col. Russell Williams has hired a top Ottawa-based defence lawyer as police intensified their search of his Tweed, Ont. home.
Williams is to appear in a Belleville, Ont., court on Thursday via video link. He has been in police custody since his arrest and is currently being held without bail at the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee, Ont.
Lawyer Michael Edelson is to defend him, but will send an agent to represent him in court during his scheduled video appearance on Thursday.
Edelson has several well-known clients. They include Nova Scotia Bishop Raymond Lahey, who is accused of possessing and importing child pornography. Edelson also represented Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien, who was acquitted of influence-peddling charges in August.
Two unmarked Ontario Provincial Police trucks arrived late Wednesday morning at the former Canadian military commander's lakefront property, about 30 kilometres northeast of Belleville.
Another six cruisers and 20 OPP officers were also at the scene, up from about three cruisers earlier in the day.
Investigators equipped with saws, drills and other power tools were believed to be cutting out the flooring, wood-panelled walls and ceiling of the two-bedroom house as they search for evidence in the case against Williams.
On Tuesday, similar police activity could be seen at Williams' home in Ottawa's Westboro neighbourhood.
Among other things, police may be looking for so called "crime trophies," including women's garments, digital images or video of his alleged victims.
Investigators entered the home of an earlier suspect in the case, looking for lingerie, baby blankets and computer data storage devices, according to a search warrant issued before Williams' arrest.
Police announced on Feb. 8 that the 46-year-old former commanding officer of CFB Trenton -- Canada's largest Air Force base -- had been arrested. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of sexual assault in connection with a pair of home invasions that occurred in Tweed.
The Crown has accused Williams of killing Jessica Lloyd, 27, and Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, an air steward based at CFB Trenton, but who lived in the nearby community of Brighton. The cause of death hasn't been released for either victim.
Lloyd's body was located on Feb. 8 and her funeral was held on Saturday. She had gone missing two weeks earlier. Comeau's body had been found in her Brighton home in late November.
The two alleged sexual assaults took place earlier in the fall.
No allegations against Williams have been proven in a court of law.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Jim Junkin and files from The Canadian Press
