The Supreme Court of Canada has made a decision regarding the case of Matthew de Grood, a man from Alberta who was found not criminally responsible for the murder of five young people at a house party in 2014.
On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that de Grood should be granted an absolute discharge, meaning he will not be subject to any further restrictions or conditions. This decision overturns a previous ruling by the Alberta Court of Appeal, which had ordered de Grood to be detained in a secure psychiatric facility.
De Grood was 22 years old when he committed the murders in April 2014. He had been invited to a house party in Calgary and, while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, he stabbed five people to death. He was arrested and charged with five counts of first-degree murder.
During his trial, de Grood’s defense argued that he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the murders and was not criminally responsible for his actions. The court accepted this argument and de Grood was found not criminally responsible.
Under Canadian law, individuals who are found not criminally responsible for a crime are not convicted and do not receive a criminal record. Instead, they are subject to a review board, which determines whether they should be detained in a psychiatric facility or released with certain conditions.
In de Grood’s case, the review board initially ordered him to be detained in a secure psychiatric facility. However, in 2019, the board granted him a conditional discharge, meaning he could be released into the community with certain conditions, such as regular psychiatric treatment and supervision.
The Alberta Crown appealed this decision, arguing that de Grood should remain in a secure facility. The Alberta Court of Appeal agreed and ordered de Grood to be detained in a secure psychiatric facility for an indefinite period of time.
De Grood’s lawyers then appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada, arguing that the Alberta Court of Appeal had made an error in ordering de Grood to be detained indefinitely. They argued that de Grood should be granted an absolute discharge, as he had been deemed not criminally responsible for his actions.
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court agreed with de Grood’s lawyers and overturned the Alberta Court of Appeal’s ruling. The court stated that the review board had properly considered all the evidence and had made a reasonable decision in granting de Grood a conditional discharge.
The court also noted that de Grood had been living in the community for over two years without any issues and had been complying with all of his conditions. They stated that there was no evidence to suggest that he posed a risk to the public and that an absolute discharge was appropriate in this case.
This decision has sparked debate and controversy, with some arguing that de Grood should remain in a secure facility for the safety of the public. Others believe that he has served his time and should be allowed to live freely in the community.
Regardless of opinions, the Supreme Court’s decision is final and de Grood will now be released from any further restrictions or conditions. This case has raised important questions about the treatment of individuals with mental disorders within the criminal justice system and the balance between public safety and rehabilitation.
