Manslaughter trial looking into overdose death underway

The trial for Jordan Colley is underway – the London man charged with manslaughter in connection to a fatal drug overdose. CTV’s Nick Paparella reports.

Jordan Colley of London appeared in a London courtroom on Tuesday and plead not guilty to one count of manslaughter and one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

The 33-year-old is accused of selling fentanyl laced drugs to a London mother who ended up dying.

In his opening address to the court, Crown Attorney John Lee outlined his case telling the court how Christina Bestward and Daniel Gale bought drugs from the accused in May of 2023 through e-transfers.

“Ms. Bestward and Mr. Gale occasionally used cocaine. Mr. Colley was their dealer,” Lee said.

Hours later the couple’s school-aged son found them at their Wyatt Street address.

“He came back home from school to find his parents unconscious and unresponsive,” Lee added.

Gale would recover after being rushed to University Hospital in London, however Bestward ended up dying.

“Her cause of death was determined to be multi-drug toxicity, resulting from a combination of drugs which included cocaine and fentanyl in her body,” said Lee.

When Gale took the stand on the opening day of the trial he was asked about the night in question.

“I remember taking two tokes, I don’t remember much after that,” Gale said.

Lee asked Justice Marc Garson to convict the accused based on evidence he will present during the proceedings.

“The Crown will submit in its closing that it does not matter whether Mr. Colley knew the drugs he sold were laced with fentanyl or not,” Lee said.

The Crown says it will call six witnesses to prove its case and the trial is expected to be wrapped up by the end of the week.