Alberta court hears shocking similarities in 2 murders – 15 years apart

Prosecutors have been allowed to present evidence that a Calgary man had a history of hostility toward street sex workers, a hostility that is alleged to have played a role in the 2023 murder of a woman.

The evidence shows disturbing similarities between the murders of two Calgary street sex workers, Jodie Merz and Laura Forlan.

Christopher Ward Dunlop was arrested in 2023 on charges of first-degree murder of Jodie Merz, 58. Merz’s body was found naked and burned at Deerfoot Sports Park on February 16, 2023.

In 2009, Laura Forlan’s body was found near Fish Creek Provincial Park. Dunlop was arrested in 2012 in connection with Forlan’s murder and later convicted of manslaughter.

In a ruling issued on March 25 and released on April 9, the Alberta Supreme Court acknowledged similarities between the two murders, which occurred 15 years apart:

- Both victims were street sex workers;
- Both were killed at Deerfoot Sports Park;
- Both murders occurred around 3 a.m.;
- Both murders occurred during sexual intercourse;
- Dunlop's DNA was found at both scenes;
- Merz's body was burned, and Dunlop admitted that he intended to burn Forlan's body as well;
- Dunlop used orange pickup trucks (with minor differences) in both murders.

According to prosecutors, the main differences between the two cases are that Forlan was strangled, while Merz was stabbed 72 times during sexual intercourse. Forlan's body was also dumped in a different park.

Justice Colin C.J. In his ruling, Fesby wrote that the prosecution could present evidence that Merz was also a street sex worker and that Dunlop had previously killed another sex worker – Laura Forlan – at the same location.

“The prosecution’s theory is that Dunlop had a grudge against street sex workers and that he came out on the street that fateful night intending to kill one of them,” Fesby added.

The prosecution also believes that knowing that Merz was a street sex worker is important to understanding how he accompanied Dunlop and took her to a secluded location.

“Merz’s apparently consensual behavior leading up to the sexual encounter is also forensically relevant,” Fesby wrote.

He added that, according to the prosecution, Merz was stabbed 72 times during the sexual encounter.

“If the prosecutor’s assumption is correct, the issue of consent to sex is meaningless in this case, because under common law, consent is void if the other party intentionally causes harm during sex.”

Faceby also wrote, “Ms. Merz was worthy of respect and dignity, no more and no less because of her profession. The best way to preserve her dignity after death is not to hide her profession, but to deal respectfully with the reality of her life.”

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### Similar Fact Evidence

Faceby also agreed to the prosecutor’s request to present evidence related to Dunlop’s previous conviction in the Forlan murder.

“I am satisfied that the murders of Ms. Forlan and Ms. Merz are similar and that the similarities are unlikely to be coincidental,” he wrote.

“The evidence linking Dunlop to both murders helps to support the prosecutor’s theory that he harbored animosity toward street sex workers,” he added.

“There are two sources of evidence to support Dunlop’s animosity in this case: first, the similarities between the victims, the brutality of the murders and the treatment of their bodies; and second, Dunlop’s confessions to undercover agents that he was looking for someone who ‘wouldn’t miss anyone’ and ‘could really hurt him.’”

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### Expert evidence

The prosecution also sought to call former Calgary police detective Paul Rubner as an expert witness to explain the state of sex work in Calgary.

Dunlop’s lawyer, Alan Fee, objected, saying the information was understandable to laypeople.

Ultimately, Judge Rubner’s testimony was not helpful to the trial and was unnecessary.

Dunlop’s trial will begin June 2, without a jury, and will last four weeks.

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