Calgary murder suspect to undergo another psychiatric assessment
Posted July 22, 2014 12:08 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A man accused in Calgary’s worst mass murder is to undergo a psychiatric assessment to determine whether he can be found criminally responsible if convicted.
Matthew de Grood was charged in April with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of five young people at an end-of-school house party near the University of Calgary campus.
He appeared in court on Tuesday morning, in person, for the first time since his arrest.
De Grood, who was clad in a blue jumpsuit and had his hands and legs shackled, said nothing during the appearance.
He is to appear in court again Aug. 29.
The court set a preliminary hearing for next March.
A psychiatric review has already determined that de Grood is fit to stand trial because he understands the charges against him and is able to communicate with his lawyer.
The accused, the son of a senior Calgary police officer, has been in psychiatric care since his arrest.
Police have not said what they think motivated the attack, but say de Grood was invited to the party April 15 and mingled with guests before violence broke out.
Zackariah Rathwell, 21; Lawrence Hong, 27; Joshua Hunter, 23; Jordan Segura, 22; and Kaiti Perras, 23 were slain.
