Brentwood murder suspect to undergo psychiatric examination
Posted Apr 16, 2014 12:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The man charged in Calgary’s worst mass murder has been transferred to a psychiatric facility.
Matthew de Grood, the son of a senior police officer, faces charges of first-degree murder after five university and college students were stabbed at a house party.
Lawyer Allan Fay says a justice of the peace ordered his client to receive a psychiatric assessment at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre in N.W. Calgary.
De Grood is to remain in custody there and is to next appear in court April 22.
Fay says his client is doing as well as can be expected and seems to be lucid.
Alberta Justice plans on assigning a Crown Prosecutor from Edmonton to handle the case here in Calgary.
“It’s typical for an Edmonton Crown to prosecute cases where say for example Calgary Police are involved,” says spokeswoman Michelle Davio. “A specific individual hasn’t been assigned yet.”
Davio says they want to eliminate any perceived conflicts of interest given that de Grood’s father is a veteran Calgary Police officer.
“If the situation were reversed, a Calgary Crown would come and do anything involving Edmonton Police.”
Fay says it’s still very early in the investigation.
“That’s the best way to look at it, we know what the allegations are, I don’t know any of the facts, police are still conducting what I anticipate will be an extensive investigation,” says Fay. “Until that time when I see the results of that investigation and deal at length with my client, it’s impossible for me to say much.”
He says their hearts go out to all of the people affected.
“As you can imagine (de Grood’s parents) they’re devastated and extremely heartbroken, not only for their son but for the parents of all the people that suffered.”
The next court appearance will be April 22nd, 2014.
