Four years ago, Ron Cyr was convicted in the 2009 killing of his wife, Nadia Gehl. Prosecutors said Cyr had Gehl killed both to continue an extramarital affair with a co-worker and to pocket $500,000 from two life insurance policies, according to a report by the Toronto Sun. Cyr allegedly offered to pay his friends and alleged triggermen, Dennis Zvolensky and Nashat Qahwash, with proceeds from the policies.
According to prosecutors, Cyr worked as a paralegal for Gehl’s uncle, Stephen Gehl. Also working in the office was Michelle Brown, with whom Cyr was having an affair, according to the Sun. on Feb. 2, 2009 – while Cyr was in a courthouse paying a fine for his boss – Nadia Gehl was ambushed and killed as she walked to a bus stop.
A jury found that Cyr had sent a coded text message to Zvolensky and Qahwash ordering the hit at that time so he would have an ironclad alibi, according to the Sun. All three men were sentenced to life in prison with no parole possible for 25 years.
But now the three are appealing their convictions at the Ontario Court of Appeal, according to the Sun. they claim that Justice Linda Walters made errors during the original proceeding, including her refusal to give Zvolensky and Qahwash separate trials.
Gehl’s father, attorney Nicholas Gehl, told the Sun he hopes the appeals fail and put an end to the story. However, he said that as an attorney he knows it’s not likely an appeal will end in the Ontario court.
“I hope this will end it, but I know with the issues that arise with three on trial together, there’s a chance the Supreme Court will hear it,” he told the Sun. “I sure hope the convictions stand.”
Nadia Gehl’s $500,000 insurance payout – one of the alleged motives for her murder – remains uncollected, the Sun reported.
