Matthew de Grood, the man accused of stabbing five young people to death in Brentwood earlier this year, appeared in court briefly, where it was learned an assessment would be delayed.

The court is expected to hear whether or not he can be held criminally responsible for his actions if convicted on Thursday, but learned that the report was not ready for release.

In May, de Grood was found fit to stand trial for the crimes, but his lawyer Allan Fay insisted that that doesn’t say anything about his mental health, only that he understands the criminal process.

On April 15, police were called to a home in Brentwood where they found five people had been stabbed to death.

De Grood was arrested shortly afterward and charged with the deaths of Lawrence Hong, Jordan Segura, Kaitlin Perras, Josh Hunter, and Zackariah Rathwell.

De Grood had been invited to a house party that was attended by the five victims. Police say he mingled with them before the stabbings occurred.

They have not disclosed what they think motivated the attack.

A preliminary hearing in the case has been set for March 2.

De Grood is expected back in court on September 26.

(With files from the Canadian Press)