CALGARY – The man accused in Calgary’s worst mass murder has been ordered to stand trial.
Matthew de Grood, 23, is charged with five counts of first-degree murder after a violent stabbing spree at a house party on Tuesday, April 15th, 2014.
Zackariah Rathwell, 21, Jordan Segura, 22, Josh Hunter, 23, Kaitlin Perras, 23, and Lawrence Hong, 27, were celebrating the end of the school year when they were killed.
On Friday, Provincial Court Judge J.D. Holmes determined there was enough evidence presented during de Grood’s preliminary hearing for him to stand trial on five counts of first-degree murder.
“It’s very tough,” said Crown prosecutor Neil Wiberg. “There is a publication ban on the evidence so I can’t go into it… but just hearing details about the crime is very difficult for the families.”
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De Grood is currently staying at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatric Centre.
“I know he’s stressed, but he’s doing his best to keep up a brave face,” said defence lawyer Allan Fay outside of the Calgary Courts Centre.
Fay says de Grood’s parents are doing “as well as can be expected.”
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“It’s tough for them listening to the evidence,” adds Fay. “I think it was tough on everybody listening to the evidence because what people heard were things nobody has ever heard before… so, very difficult.”
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De Grood has already been found fit to stand trial, and has also undergone a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he can be held criminally responsible for the murders. However, the details of the evaluation have not been released.
Both the Crown and the defence asked that details of De Grood’s assessment be kept from the public, fearing it could prejudice a jury before the trial.
A hearing to decide if there will be a publication ban will be held on March 10th.
A start date for de Grood’s trial will be set on May 29th.
– With files from Jill Croteau
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