Ronald Cyr, still serving time for his wife’s murder, seeks early parole release

An Ontario man who was sent to prison for killing his wife wants to get out early. CTV’s Krista Simpson explains.

A Kitchener, Ont. man, found guilty of first-degree murder in his wife’s 2009 shooting death, has cleared one hurdle in his bid to get early parole.

Ronald Cyr was one of three men convicted of Nadia Gehl’s murder.

A justice at the Superior Court of Ontario now says a jury should be empaneled to consider his “faint hope” application.

On Feb. 2, 2009, Gehl was shot while walking to a bus stop in the Ottawa Street and Fischer-Hallman Road area. The 28-year-old had been on her way to work.

Her husband, Ronald Cyr, was arrested about six months later and charged in her death. Hours later, two of Cyr’s friends, Zdenek “Dennis” Zvolensky and Nashat Qahwash, were also arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

The three were tried together in a Hamilton court. According to the Crown, Cyr enlisted Zvolensky to kill his wife and Zvolensky got Qahwash to help him.

Court also heard Cyr was having an affair with his co-worker at the time of Gehl’s death.

All three of the accused testified in their own defense at their trial and blamed the others for Gehl’s death.

The jury found all three guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced them to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years.

In a 2017 decision, the court of appeal upheld those convictions and described Gehl’s murder as “an execution-style killing.”

‘Faint hope’

Cyr has now asked for a reduction in his parole eligibility, citing the “faint hope” clause.

The statutory provision gave offenders, who were serving more than 15 years behind bars, the opportunity to seek early parole. Even though it was repealed in 2011, the option was still open to Cyr since Gehl was killed before that date.

Justice Robert Reid said a jury should be empaneled to consider Cyr’s application as there was a “reasonable prospect” it could succeed.

A jury, ultimately, would have to unanimously decide to shorten his period of parole eligibility.

The judge’s written decision stated: “Those closest to him consider that he has worked hard during the period of incarceration to change his life in order to become a better person. He has shown remorse and is described as kind and thoughtful.”

It also noted Cyr had converted to Judaism and had the support of his father and uncle, as well as other family members.

The Crown has opposed Cyr’s application, noting the facts of the offense and how deeply it affected the community.

Cyr, now 46, is currently incarcerated at Beaver Creek Institution in Gravenhurst, Ont.

He has been behind bars since August 2009 and is not currently eligible to apply for parole until August 2034.

More to come.