Ian Bush charged in 2007 triple homicide

(CP) — Ottawa Police Staff Sgt. Bruce Pirt believed it was only a matter of time.

But police acknowledged Friday that, were it not for an attack on an elderly Second World War veteran in December, they might never have found a suspect in a triple homicide that perplexed them for more than seven years.

A 59-year-old man accused in the attack on the vet is facing murder charges in the unsolved killings of three people in 2007.

Police confirmed Friday that they have charged Ian Bush, a resident of the Ottawa suburb of Orleans, in the deaths of retired tax court judge Alban Garon, his wife Raymonde and their neighbour, Marie-Claire Beniskos, all in their 70s.

“The investigation into the December home invasion prompted investigators to consider Bush as a suspect for the 2007 homicides,” said acting police chief Jill Skinner.

“This is an important development in a case that has troubled the community, investigators and the family and friends for several years,” she added.

A court appearance has been scheduled for Saturday morning.

Earlier Friday, Bush was found fit to stand trial in the Dec. 18 attack on Ernest Cote, a 101-yearold D-Day veteran.

He was also charged with an additional 11 weapons offences after a hunting rifle and shotgun were found at his residence.

Bush was charged in the Cote attack in December and underwent two back-to-back psychiatric assessments to determine his mental well-being.

While he was in custody, police amassed the evidence that prompted them to charge Bush in connection with the June 30, 2007 slayings, which had shocked Ottawa residents and stumped detectives for years.