The prosecutor has agreed that a young man accused of stabbing to death five youths at a house party was suffering a psychosis and did not realize he was doing wrong, reports Canadian Press This means 24-year-old Matthew de Grood will probably be found not criminally responsible of committing first degree murder.
The attack happened on April 15, 2014 in the western city of Calgary resulting in the deaths of Kaitlin Perras, 23; Lawrence Hong, 27; Josh Hunter, 23; Zackariah Rathwell, 21; and Jordan Segura, 22.
‘A killing machine’
Prosecutor Neil Wiberg accepted the testimony of two psychiatrists and a psychologist, but added the de Grood’s psychotic episode “did not reduce his effectiveness as a killing machine.”
During the trial the court heard evidence that prior to the murders de Grood sent ominous messages, among them that he thought the end of the world was imminent. He told others he was an alien and posted messages about killing vampires.
Crown would have had to prove intent
Under Section 16 (1) of Canada’s Criminal Code, a person cannot be found criminally responsible “for an act committed or an omission made while suffering from a mental disorder that rendered the person incapable of appreciating the nature and quality of the act or omission or of knowing it was wrong.”
The judge will render his verdict tomorrow. If he decides de Grood is not criminally responsible he will not go to prison, but rather will be sent to a psychiatric facility for treatment.
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