Calgary man accused of killing five at a party to go to trial next May
CALGARY — A man accused in Calgary’s worst mass murder is to go to trial next May.
Matthew de Grood, 23, was charged with firstdegree murder after an attack at an end-of-school house party in April 2014 in which five young people were stabbed to death.
His two-week trial before a judge and jury is to begin next May 16.
De Grood is the son of a senior Calgary police officer.
As a result, the court agreed to have an out-oftown judge preside over the trial.
“It’s for the [same] reason we have an out-of-town Crown prosecutor. We want to make sure there’s no appearance of bias by hav- ing a local judge that might know his father,” said Allan Fay, de Grood’s lawyer.
De Grood, who appeared in court wearing glasses, a charcoal grey suit and a tie, sat quietly during the brief appearance. He remains under the care of the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre.
His parents, Douglas and Susan de Grood, as well as friends and family members of the five victims also attended court Friday.
“He’s doing as well as can be expected but obviously everybody in this — whether it’s Mr. de Grood or the family and friends of the people involved all want to see this thing move forward,” said Fay.
Crown prosecutor Neil Wiberg said his office has been in constant contact with the families of Lawrence Hong, Josh Hunter, Kaitlin Perras, Zackariah Rathwell, and Jordan Segura.
“They’re pleased to know that there’s a trial date. Of course it’s very upsetting for them to have lost their children in this way,” he said.
A judge ruled earlier this year after a preliminary hearing that there was enough evidence to send de Grood to trial.
De Grood is charged in the deaths of Hong, 27; Hunter, 23; Perras, 23; Rathwell, 21; and Segura, 22.
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.
Fay isn’t ruling out a defence of not criminally responsible.