Canadian soldier charged with first-degree murder, appears in court

OTTAWA — Police say a Canadian soldier has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife.

Fifty-year-old Howard Richmond appeared at the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa Saturday morning to face the charge.

Military sources say police detained and questioned the warrant officer on Friday.

The body of Richmond’s wife, Melissa Kelly Richmond, 28, was found near a suburban Ottawa shopping centre this week.

The cause of death has not been released but media reports indicate she was stabbed several times.

Her funeral will be held today in Petawawa.

Richmond did three tours with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.

Richmond reported his wife missing after she went for a late-night drive on July 24 and never returned.

Her vehicle, with the distinctive license plate RPGGIRL, was recovered two days later in the parking lot of the shopping centre.

Her body was found in a nearby ravine.