Thomas Kormendy, 48, was credited for time already served, leaving him with just over four years remaining.
Coward, 28, was a prominent LGBTQ2S+ advocate and political staffer, working for Ontario NDP MPPs and serving as a director with Positive Living Niagara, where Kormendy was employed. The court found Kormendy supplied the crystal meth that led to Coward’s fatal overdose in December 2022.
According to The Hamilton Spectator, Justice Cameron Watson described the case as tragic, emphasizing that the sentence could not reflect the value of Coward’s life. Victim impact statements highlighted Coward’s advocacy work, leadership, and promising future. He died after suffering a brain injury caused by methamphetamine toxicity.
Kormendy, who had no prior criminal record, was convicted in 2025 following a multi-day trial on manslaughter and drug trafficking charges. The case also highlighted the lack of legal precedent for manslaughter convictions involving crystal meth overdoses.