In March following a trial at the London Courthouse, Jordan Colley, 35, was found guilty of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing bodily harm. This after the court heard that he unknowingly sold cocaine laced with fentanyl to a London couple in May of 2023. It led to the overdose death of Christina Bestward, a 41-year-old mother who was found dead in her central London home. The contaminated drugs also sent her partner Daniel Gale to hospital after he overdosed as well but survived the ordeal. While handing down his sentencing decision, Justice Marc Garson highlighted how the fentanyl epidemic is worsening, citing that the London area exceeds the provincial average causing 200 deaths annually. He told the court, “This case illustrates our new reality ... what appears to be a routine drug transaction can turn out to be fatal.” When speaking about the victim’s family he said, “They have suffered a profound and entirely unnecessary loss ... a young mother lost her life, and a child lost his mother those consequences will endure long after these proceedings have concluded.” During the sentencing hearing held earlier the Crown asked that Colley serve a six-year prison term while the defence requested a conditional sentence saying that Colley is remorseful and has turned his life around with employment and young children. In the end Justice Garson handed Colley a three-and-a-half-year sentence and with credit for time already served, he has about 35 months left in custody. The judge wrapped up his decision by saying, “This case began with a drug transaction, it ended with a death ... let it serve as a stark reminder that those who choose to traffic in illicit drugs participate in a dangerous enterprise with potential catastrophic consequences.” He added that the courts deal with drug trafficking matters far too often saying, “The trafficking of illicit drugs continues to inflict serious harm on individuals and families in the London community.” Before being led away by the court constables, Colley turned to his family in the courtroom for one last time.
