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http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Law/2005/07/19/1138389-cp.html
By JOHN COTTER
Husband of missing wife charged
EDMONTON (CP) - Liana White and her unborn child were killed in a violent struggle and left to decompose in a ditch in a crime that has shattered the lives of her three-year-old daughter and other family members.
Her husband Michael White, 28, has been charged with second-degree murder in her death and with committing an indignity to a dead body. The 29-year-old hospital clerk's body was too decomposed to immediately determine how she died, Edmonton Police Det. Michael Campeau told reporters Tuesday. Her identity was determined by dental records.
Campeau said the families of both Michael and Liana are devastated.
"It's a tragic day. It's not a victory for the police service. It's just a tragic day for two families. We're not here to celebrate anything. Unfortunately it's a tragedy for both sets of families. Liana's mom is not doing well at all," he said.
Campeau said he felt especially sorry for the couple's daughter Ashley, who was believed to be in the custody of Liana's mother.
"I do. She's lost both her mom and dad."
Campeau wouldn't comment on whether White was stabbed or strangled, but did say "There are signs on the body she was involved in a struggle."
Further tests need to be done to determine cause of death, he said.
When asked about a motive, the veteran detective would only say "We are still working on that. There are still many leads to follow up on."
The police announcement came only hours after an exhausted-looking Michael White made his first court appearance, where he reserved plea on the charges against him.
White closed his eyes and winced as the charges were read out in court.
Outside court, his lawyer, Larry Anderson, was tight-lipped.
"We are anxious to answer these allegations," said Anderson, a former president of the Law Society of Alberta.
"The matter has simply been put over for a few weeks so they can find a prosecutor and then we can get enough information so we can begin formulating our defence."
White showed little emotion as he scanned the courtroom while the charges were read out. His next court appearance is July 26.
The White story has gripped the Alberta capital ever since her Ford Explorer was found abandoned just blocks from her home last Tuesday. Her purse, shoes and cellphone were scattered nearby.
Nothing appeared to have been taken, nor were there any signs of a struggle.
Campeau said she was seen just before midnight last Monday by someone other than White, about seven hours before the SUV was reported in the parking lot.
After days of fruitless searching by police, the body was discovered Sunday by a crew of volunteers, including White.
Earlier that day he said his nights since Liana's disappearance alternated between nightmares and sleeplessness.
"If they're thinking it was the husband, forget the husband. Let's find my wife," he told a reporter, adding that he feared the worst.
"I want people to know she was an outstanding person who contributed to the community," he said. "There's no reason why this should have happened."
Neighbours and co-workers of the Whites were in shock, describing the couple as normal people who held barbecues, worked on fixing up their house and helped out their friends.
The manager of the truck repair shop where White worked for almost three years said he just can't believe his friend and colleague had been charged with murder.
Some of the other employees at the shop helped White search for his wife.
"We're all in shock and awe. I wouldn't have seen it coming for a million years," said Rob Hansen, who added he had spent time socially with the couple.
"We all thought he was a very solid person, which makes us very distraught. She was always smiling and happy. This has hit everybody like a ton of bricks."
Another colleague, Aaron Coulter, said he still can't believe his friend is in jail charged with murder.
He remembered White occasionally bringing his wife around the truck repair shop.
"They always got along great as far as I could see. He was a good family man."
Michael and Liana White met at a nightclub in 1998, not long after she moved to Edmonton from Kelowna, B.C., and while he was still working in the Canadian military.
They had a small wedding in 2000, and a year later, welcomed a daughter. The couple sometimes spoke of returning to his hometown of Mar, Ont.
Published reports say the couple were heavily in debt, with liens on two vehicles and a $166,000 mortgage on a $170,000 house.
The fact that Liana was four months pregnant has prompted chilling comparisons to Scott Peterson, a California man convicted of killing his wife, Laci, and their unborn child.
Campeau said police could not charge White for that death.
"Unfortunately in Canada, you can't charge a person with the death of an unborn baby," he said.
The charge of committing an indignity to a dead body was laid because White's body was disposed of improperly.
Campeau said they believe Michael White acted alone.
While he doesn't have a criminal record, White did have a record during his time in the military, including being court martialled for theft.
By JOHN COTTER
Husband of missing wife charged
EDMONTON (CP) - Liana White and her unborn child were killed in a violent struggle and left to decompose in a ditch in a crime that has shattered the lives of her three-year-old daughter and other family members.
Her husband Michael White, 28, has been charged with second-degree murder in her death and with committing an indignity to a dead body. The 29-year-old hospital clerk's body was too decomposed to immediately determine how she died, Edmonton Police Det. Michael Campeau told reporters Tuesday. Her identity was determined by dental records.
Campeau said the families of both Michael and Liana are devastated.
"It's a tragic day. It's not a victory for the police service. It's just a tragic day for two families. We're not here to celebrate anything. Unfortunately it's a tragedy for both sets of families. Liana's mom is not doing well at all," he said.
Campeau said he felt especially sorry for the couple's daughter Ashley, who was believed to be in the custody of Liana's mother.
"I do. She's lost both her mom and dad."
Campeau wouldn't comment on whether White was stabbed or strangled, but did say "There are signs on the body she was involved in a struggle."
Further tests need to be done to determine cause of death, he said.
When asked about a motive, the veteran detective would only say "We are still working on that. There are still many leads to follow up on."
The police announcement came only hours after an exhausted-looking Michael White made his first court appearance, where he reserved plea on the charges against him.
White closed his eyes and winced as the charges were read out in court.
Outside court, his lawyer, Larry Anderson, was tight-lipped.
"We are anxious to answer these allegations," said Anderson, a former president of the Law Society of Alberta.
"The matter has simply been put over for a few weeks so they can find a prosecutor and then we can get enough information so we can begin formulating our defence."
White showed little emotion as he scanned the courtroom while the charges were read out. His next court appearance is July 26.
The White story has gripped the Alberta capital ever since her Ford Explorer was found abandoned just blocks from her home last Tuesday. Her purse, shoes and cellphone were scattered nearby.
Nothing appeared to have been taken, nor were there any signs of a struggle.
Campeau said she was seen just before midnight last Monday by someone other than White, about seven hours before the SUV was reported in the parking lot.
After days of fruitless searching by police, the body was discovered Sunday by a crew of volunteers, including White.
Earlier that day he said his nights since Liana's disappearance alternated between nightmares and sleeplessness.
"If they're thinking it was the husband, forget the husband. Let's find my wife," he told a reporter, adding that he feared the worst.
"I want people to know she was an outstanding person who contributed to the community," he said. "There's no reason why this should have happened."
Neighbours and co-workers of the Whites were in shock, describing the couple as normal people who held barbecues, worked on fixing up their house and helped out their friends.
The manager of the truck repair shop where White worked for almost three years said he just can't believe his friend and colleague had been charged with murder.
Some of the other employees at the shop helped White search for his wife.
"We're all in shock and awe. I wouldn't have seen it coming for a million years," said Rob Hansen, who added he had spent time socially with the couple.
"We all thought he was a very solid person, which makes us very distraught. She was always smiling and happy. This has hit everybody like a ton of bricks."
Another colleague, Aaron Coulter, said he still can't believe his friend is in jail charged with murder.
He remembered White occasionally bringing his wife around the truck repair shop.
"They always got along great as far as I could see. He was a good family man."
Michael and Liana White met at a nightclub in 1998, not long after she moved to Edmonton from Kelowna, B.C., and while he was still working in the Canadian military.
They had a small wedding in 2000, and a year later, welcomed a daughter. The couple sometimes spoke of returning to his hometown of Mar, Ont.
Published reports say the couple were heavily in debt, with liens on two vehicles and a $166,000 mortgage on a $170,000 house.
The fact that Liana was four months pregnant has prompted chilling comparisons to Scott Peterson, a California man convicted of killing his wife, Laci, and their unborn child.
Campeau said police could not charge White for that death.
"Unfortunately in Canada, you can't charge a person with the death of an unborn baby," he said.
The charge of committing an indignity to a dead body was laid because White's body was disposed of improperly.
Campeau said they believe Michael White acted alone.
While he doesn't have a criminal record, White did have a record during his time in the military, including being court martialled for theft.