Ottawa police charge man in connection with decades-old unsolved murder

A photo of Christopher Smith, of Ottawa. Police charged a 73-year-old man on Monday in connection with his unsolved death. (Ottawa Police Service)

The Ottawa Police Service has charged a 73-year-old man in connection with an unsolved homicide in Ottawa nearly three decades ago.

On April 12, 1996, Christopher Smith, 22, and his cousin were walking on the Portage Bridge between Ottawa and Gatineau when they were approached by an armed assailant in the early hours of the morning.

Following an altercation, Smith was fatally stabbed.

The case has remained unsolved since, despite multiple renewals for information from police.

Earlier this month, Lawrence Diehl, 73, was arrested by Vancouver police on behalf of Ottawa police. He is being charged with second-degree murder in connection with Smith's death.

He appeared in court in Ottawa on Dec. 14.

It is the oldest cold case solved by the Ottawa Police Service, officials told reporters during a news conference on Monday.

Police said advancements in DNA testing led to the arrest, using Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) to trace potential family lineages. It’s the first time Ottawa police have used the technology.

Ottawa Police investigators renewed an investigation into the case in 2020, collaborating with the RCMP and Toronto Police Service.

Ottawa police say Diehl was in Ottawa for work-related reasons at the time of the murder.

Police are asking anyone with information about him to contact police at 613-236-1222 ext. 5493.

There remain 63 unsolved homicides in the City of Ottawa. Police say they review the cases regularly.