Matthew de Grood’s psychological assessment to be released
Assessment will reveal whether de Grood can be held criminally responsible foractions
Dayla Brown
News Editor
The results of Matthew de Grood’s psychiatric evaluation will be released in late September. Initially, the court would hear whether de Grood could be held criminally responsible for his actions on Aug. 29, but after appearing briefly on Aug. 28, the court learned the report was not ready for release.
De Grood has been charged with first-degree murder of Zackariah Rathwell, 21, Joshua Hunter, 22, Jordan Segura, 23, Kaiti Perras, 23, and Lawrence Hong, 27.
Victims of the April 14, 2014 stabbings, from left to right: Zackariah Rathwell, 21, Joshua Hunter, 22, Jordan Segura, 23, Kaiti Perras, 23, and Lawrence Hong, 27.
Photos courtesy: Facebook
On April 14, 2014, de Grood appeared at a house party celebrating Bermuda Shorts Day, a 53-year-old tradition highlighting the last day of class before summer at the University of Calgary. It is presumed that at approximately 1:30 a.m., de Grood grabbed a kitchen knife from the household and targeted the victims.
According to an article published from the Globe and Mail, Perras and Hong were taken to Foothills hospital, where they passed away hours later.
On April 16, de Grood met Calgary defence lawyer, Allan Fay at a psychiatry centre where he underwent a psychological assessment. In May, results of the assessment confirmed de Grood was fit to stand trial.
Fay told the media, “Being fit to stand trial only means that he understands the process and he can instruct council. You can still be very profoundly mentally ill and be fit to stand trial.”
On July 22, Fay requested another psychiatric evaluation to see if de Grood was considered not criminally responsible for the murders, according to an article from Global News.
De Grood is expected to return back in court on Sept. 26, 2014.
The results will indicate whether de Grood can be held criminally responsible for the attacks.
The students’ deaths have shaken the city; it was the worst mass murder Calgary has ever experienced. Students gathered together at various memorials to mourn the losses of their peers.
When asked about the second psychiatric evaluation to determine if de Grood could be held criminally responsible, many students voiced that they wanted more information, being unable to understand what happened that night.
Marcus Smith, fourth-year student in criminal justice at Mount Royal University says, “I think the second evaluation is a good idea. It’s hard to think a kid with so much potential, and on the path that he was, could be capable of having a criminal mind and performing these acts.
“I think there’s probably a mental disorder that needs to be discovered and treated,” says Smith. “But also there has to be justice for the families.”
Hailey Boutin, fourth-year student in criminal justice at Mount Royal University says, “I just feel really horrible for him. I can’t imagine snapping out of whatever he was in and realizing what he did.”
David Reil, third-year student in policy studies at Mount Royal University says, “I think it’s important to gain as much objective and accurate information as possible in order for those who make the decision to make the best decision.”
Preliminary hearings are set to be held from March 2 – 13, 2015.
