From the Calgary Herald: Suspect Matthew de Grood’s state of mind will come under greater scrutiny as the investigation progresses into the killing of five people at a Calgary house party.
De Grood, 22, is charged with five counts of first-degree murder in connection with Tuesday’s killing spree, the worst mass slaying in Calgary’s history.
Sheriffs transferred de Grood to the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre, where his lawyer met with him in person for the first time on Wednesday.
"He is, I think, overwhelmed by what is going on, very distraught, very apprehensive about what is coming in the future," criminal defence lawyer Allan Fay said.
A justice of the peace ordered de Grood held at the secure psychiatric facility for observation pending an appearance in provincial court next Tuesday.
"Any time you’ve got a case like this, you’ve got to be putting your mind to your client’s state of mind," Fay said.
Speaking to reporters in Edmonton on Wednesday, the head of the province’s prosecution service, Greg Lepp, said it’s likely de Grood will be subjected to a more thorough psychiatric assessment as the court case moves forward.
Lepp said the case has been assigned to Crown prosecutors from Edmonton because de Grood is the son of a senior Calgary police officer, Insp. Doug de Grood.
The measure is standard practice designed to address any perceived conflict of interest when a Calgary police officer is accused of a criminal offence.
Alberta Justice decided to do so as well in this case.
"We would do the same thing if it were the son or daughter or a relative of a prosecutor or judge or a well-known defence lawyer, things of that sort," said Lepp, the assistant deputy minister.
"Not that there would be a conflict, but just so the public has absolute confidence that there’s no personal stake in this whatsoever."
De Grood is accused of fatally stabbing Lawrence Hong, Josh Hunter, Kaitlin Perras, Zackariah Rathwell and Jordan Segura during a party celebrating the University of Calgary’s last day of classes.
There were about 20 people still inside the party at 11 Butler Cres. N.W. when the killings happened.
Police officers responding to a 911 call from the house arrested de Grood a short distance away.
While family members, friends and the public wonder how and why the crime happened, investigators remain consumed by the same questions.
Police Chief Rick Hanson said police are combing through de Grood’s belongings and retracing his online activity for clues about his state of mind.
"We are looking through all of his computers, all of his cellphones, his electronic devices, anything that is relevant. We will go anywhere we need to investigate and gather evidence," he said.
Police have learned de Grood arrived at the party sometime after his shift Monday at a northwest grocery store, still wearing his smock.
"He arrived and then just visited with people."
So far, investigators haven’t been able to uncover any outward sign of trouble before the stabbings happened sometime after 1 a.m. Tuesday. But Hanson said detectives are continuing to interview and re-interview the 20 or so people who were at the party. http://www.calgaryherald.com/index.html
This is truly a tragedy in a quiet, but large city in Canada.
But, on a different but related subject, people question why police officers shoot thugs with knives. These 5 people had no chance to escape, indicating that this thug acted so quickly there was nothing they could do to prevent them from being stabbed.
When cops shoot a thug with a knife, they know the thug can act very quickly and from a good distance away- 30 feet or so. So, they shoot to protect themselves and others.
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