Col. Russell Williams appeared in court for less than 60 seconds via video link Thursday from the Quinte Detention Centre. (Alex Tavshunsky/CBC)

Col. Russell Williams, the former Canadian Forces base commander accused of murdering two eastern Ontario women, appeared via video link before a packed courtroom in Belleville, Ont., on Thursday.

"He appeared tired, he was looking intently, he was unshaven, but expressing otherwise no emotion," reported Dave Seglins of CBC News from the courthouse.

Williams appeared for less than 60 seconds on a TV screen via a video link from the Quinte Detention Centre in Napanee, Ont., as one in a sequence of prisoners paraded before the camera.

Like the others, he was dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit. A pale blue cement wall and a heavy metal door were visible in the background.

He provided his name with a sigh when asked for it. A legal representative for Williams requested that his next court appearance be March 25 by video, and lawyers in the courtroom discussed the issue.

Justice of the Peace Deanne Chappelle agreed to the date and spoke directly to Williams. He nodded, said "thank you," then turned and walked away.

The next hearing will not deal with the issue of bail, and a bail hearing has not yet been scheduled.

'He just looks tired'

Following the hearing, Lt.-Col. Tony O’Keeffe, a personal friend of Williams and a fellow commander in the air force, told reporters he was struck by Williams's appearance.

"He just looks tired and that's a novelty for a man I know that was able to hold multi-tasks of varying complexity," said O'Keeffe, who described Williams as an intellect, a professional and a friend.

O'Keeffe, who has been appointed as the military's contact with Williams, left the courtroom and went to visit Williams at the detention centre on Thursday afternoon to officially relieve him of his command of CFB Trenton.

Williams is expected to keep the rank of colonel and continue to be paid until a verdict is reached in the case. O'Keeffe will be monitoring the proceedings for the military as it progresses.

The Department of National Defence has previously confirmed that in keeping with Canadian law, a member of the military is presumed innocent until proven guilty at trial. However, if that member of the Canadian Forces is convicted, he or she must reimburse pay received since the date of the arrest.

Williams's brief court appearance Thursday drew about 60 people, leaving standing-room only in the courtroom. Two Ontario Provincial Police officers and two Canadian military police officers were present, in addition to the two Belleville police officers typically on duty. The spectators included about a dozen reporters and courtroom sketch artists.

Williams is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Jessica Lloyd, 27, and Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 38, as well as counts of breaking and entering, forcible confinement and the sexual assault of two other women in Tweed, Ont., a small community north of Belleville. Williams had been the commander of nearby CFB Trenton.

Williams has hired noted Ottawa criminal defence lawyer Michael Edelson, but Edelson was not in court Thursday.

Police finish search of Ottawa home

Ontario Provincial Police confirmed Thursday that they had finished searching the home of Williams and his wife in Ottawa's Westboro neighbourhood. They also have a cottage in Tweed.

Police officers escorted Williams' wife, Mary Elizabeth Harriman, into the house in Ottawa late Thursday afternoon after investigators completed their search.

Outside the courthouse, O'Keeffe said he'd had a brief discussion with Harriman. "I'm sure you can imagine she's grief-stricken beyond description," he said. "She’s just completely shocked."

Williams has been replaced as commander of CFB Trenton by Lt.-Col. Dave Cochrane, who was named to the position last Friday.

With files from Dave Seglins and Ron Charles