The Supreme Court of Canada has declined to hear the appeal of a Calgary man who was convicted of killing five people.
The decision was made on Thursday, February 18, 2021, and it marks the end of a long legal battle for the man, who has been identified as Matthew de Grood.
De Grood was found not criminally responsible for the killings in 2014 due to a mental disorder. He had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was experiencing a psychotic episode at the time of the murders.
The incident occurred at a house party in Calgary on April 15, 2014. De Grood, who was 22 years old at the time, had been invited to the party by his friend, who was one of the victims.
During the party, de Grood suddenly attacked and stabbed five young people, all of whom were in their early 20s. The victims were Zackariah Rathwell, Jordan Segura, Kaitlin Perras, Lawrence Hong, and Joshua Hunter.
De Grood was arrested at the scene and charged with five counts of first-degree murder. However, during his trial, the court heard evidence that he was experiencing a severe mental illness at the time of the killings.
In 2016, a judge ruled that de Grood was not criminally responsible for the murders and he was sent to a secure psychiatric facility for treatment.
The Crown appealed the decision, arguing that de Grood should be held criminally responsible for his actions. The appeal was dismissed by the Alberta Court of Appeal in 2018, and the Crown then sought to take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.
However, the Supreme Court has now declined to hear the appeal, meaning that de Grood’s not criminally responsible verdict will stand.
The families of the victims have expressed disappointment with the decision, stating that they had hoped for a different outcome. They believe that de Grood should be held accountable for his actions and that the justice system has failed them.
On the other hand, de Grood’s family has released a statement expressing their relief at the Supreme Court’s decision. They believe that their son’s mental illness was the cause of the tragedy and that he is receiving the appropriate treatment in the psychiatric facility.
The case has sparked a debate about the treatment of individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system. Some argue that those with mental disorders should not be held criminally responsible for their actions, while others believe that they should be held accountable for their crimes.
The Supreme Court’s decision not to hear the appeal has brought an end to this particular legal battle. However, the families of the victims will continue to grieve and seek justice for their loved ones.
