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- calendar_today October 27, 2026
Calgary Jury Reaches Verdict in High-Profile Murder Case
A Calgary jury delivered guilty verdicts in a case involving the 2023 killing of Christopher Stevenson. The case, which centered on a scheme involving car theft and re-vinning, included harrowing details of beating, a lethal fentanyl overdose, and the destruction of evidence.
Shaun Folk and Ali El-Sayed Convicted
Shaun Alexander Folk was convicted of second-degree murder after a four-week trial. Folk was found responsible for the death of Stevenson, who was beaten and then given a fatal dose of fentanyl in a downtown Calgary condo. The conviction comes more than three years after the crime occurred, bringing some closure to Stevenson’s family.
Ali El-Sayed was found guilty of being an accessory after the fact to murder. El-Sayed’s role included helping destroy evidence by disposing of Stevenson’s body and assisting in efforts to conceal the crime.
Details of the Criminal Act Unfolded in Court
The court heard that on August 24, 2023, Shaun Folk arranged a meeting with Stevenson at his condominium. Stevenson reportedly owed Folk approximately $1,500 due to their involvement in a car theft and re-vinning scheme. During this meeting, Folk assaulted Stevenson before ordering that he be injected with a fatal amount of fentanyl—a so-called “hotshot.”
Several individuals in the condo assisted in wrapping the victim’s body in garbage bags and cleaning up blood from the floors and walls. Within hours, El-Sayed arrived in a rented minivan, and he and Folk transported the body to a rural area in Rockyview County, where they burned Stevenson’s body inside a large burn barrel.
During this process, Folk recorded a video on his cell phone in which he could be heard making incriminating statements. This video was later discovered by the Calgary Police Service and served as key evidence during the prosecution.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
The verdicts were reached after about five hours of jury deliberations. Folk’s conviction for second-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no possibility of parole for between 10 and 25 years. Sentencing submissions from the defence and prosecution will be presented at a later date before Court of King’s Bench Justice Shane Parker. Defence lawyers Pawel Milczarek and Rahul Nanda, along with prosecutors Katherine Love and Donna Spaner, will participate in this process.
Jurors Thanked for Their Service
Before releasing the jury, Justice Parker expressed gratitude for their service, stating, “You’ve made a significant contribution to the administration of justice in this province. The system works much better when we have people in the community as part of our justice system.”
About the Investigation
The Calgary Police Service played a crucial role in uncovering evidence, including the video that linked Folk to the crime and facilitated the case against both defendants.
Ongoing Justice Process
The final sentences for Folk and El-Sayed will be determined in forthcoming hearings. The case has drawn attention to issues surrounding fentanyl overdose, violent crime, and the lengths to which individuals will go to cover up such events.
Source: cbc.ca.
