OTTAWA — Facebook has become a forum for showing support for victims and unleashing outrage from Canadians calling for a return of the death penalty in the wake of murder and sex assault charges against Col. Russ Williams.

As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 1,800 people had joined the Facebook group Russell Williams Deserves the Death Penalty. While the air force colonel and former top commander at CFB Trenton is accused and has not been convicted of any crime, the online community is already comparing him to infamous American serial killers Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer.

Tweed resident Sylvain Bertrand told QMI Agency he created the group to ignite national debate about punishment for the most heinous of crimes.

"I believe anyone who preys on women or children and does so knowingly should be put to death," he said. "We have all been taught right from wrong, and he's in a position of great trust as well."

Many sites have also popped up to extend condolences for the victims and their families.

University of Ottawa social media expert Michael Geist said platforms like Facebook and Twitter have emerged as increasingly influential means for distributing and disseminating breaking information.

"The quick updating mechanisms lend themselves particularly well to social media and the sheer size of these platforms — Facebook alone has over 400 million users — frequently means that social media is the first place people hear about, and react to, breaking developments," he told QMI.

kathleen.harris@sunmedia.ca