Soldier accused of killing wife appears in court
Next appearance scheduled Sept. 27
A 50-year-old career soldier accused of stabbing his young wife to death in July appeared briefly in court via video link from the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre on Tuesday to speak to his lawyer.
A bearded Howard Richmond said “thank you” when told to pick up the phone for a chat with lawyer Jason Gilbert, who stepped into a private booth in the courtroom.
“We’re still missing elements of disclosure that are critical,” his other lawyer, Joseph Addelman, told the court.
Neither lawyer would comment on the case, but said Richmond is expected to apply for bail.
He reported that his wife, 28-year-old Melissa Richmond, disappeared late on July 24 and recruited friends to help launch a search.
Her partially clothed body was found four days later in a ravine next to the South Keys Shopping Centre parking lot where her car was parked.
Her husband was arrested on Aug. 2 and charged with first-degree murder.
The Winchester couple had been married for eight years.
In the days before Melissa disappeared, the couple was facing financial pressure over a $140,000 bank loan, according to court documents obtained by the Citizen.
The Citizen previously reported that Howard had posted several messages on an online support group for soldiers with mental health issues before Melissa was killed.
Howard has completed six overseas tours during nearly 25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces.
He is scheduled to return to court via video link on Sept. 27.