Calgary mass killer Matthew de Grood seeks 'absolute discharge'
The man who was found not criminally responsible in the stabbing deaths of five people at a house party in Brentwood more than nine years ago is seeking more freedoms.
Matthew de Grood has applied to the Alberta Court of Appeal for an absolute discharge.
According to the Government of Canada, that means the court would find him discharged of the offences with no conviction registered.
"Conditional or absolute discharges may only be ordered for less serious offences," the justice department said.
De Grood was arrested on April 15, 2014, in connection with the fatal stabbings of Joshua Hunter, Kaiti Perras, Jordan Segura, Lawrence Hong and Zackariah Rathwell.
He was found not criminally responsible on May 25, 2016, after it was determined he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the killings.
Since then, he's been held under supervision and his case has been reviewed on an annual basis by the Alberta Review Board (ARB).
This most recent appeal comes from a request from de Grood's lawyer last year, who requested the ARB's most recent decision that stated he must remain detained at either Edmonton's Alberta Hospital or the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre in Calgary.
De Grood's lawyer, Jacqueline Petrie, contended the decision was unreasonable because of "procedural unfairness" and a "reasonable apprehension of bias."
Matthew de Grood, appearing in Calgary court on April 22, 2014, is shown in this artist's sketch. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Janice Fletcher)
Speaking outside of the court in Edmonton, some family members say this latest appeal in addition to the ARB review has left them feeling re-traumatized and overlooked.
"He's not happy where he is, but that's too bad. He killed five people," said Barclay Hunter.
"We're not happy where our kids are either," said Kelly Hunter.
"We have no healing. Because we do this every year."
"Nobody ever thinks about the families. Like, I've been stressed about this for days," said Patty Segura.
Segura says the nine years since April 2014 have felt focused on de Grood.
"Nobody ever asks us in the courtroom about our stress level. Nobody ever asks us about that."
If granted, the discharge would have no conditions.
Some criminal justice experts say developments toward freedoms and privileges can be a reminder of the tension between victims and offenders, also noting de Grood's matter is being dealt with outside the criminal justice system, because of his status as not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder.
"The question then becomes about victims' rights versus offender rights, versus public rights, versus the rights in the criminal justice system," said Doug King, justice studies professor at Mount Royal University.
He says Canada's corrections system has been designed to serve as a rehabilitation tool.
King says there is research to demonstrate that a staged reintegration into society, via methods like day parole, has provided evidence of more successful outcomes and increased public safety.
"Punishment does not necessarily deter. More severe punishment actually creates a greater risk of reoffending," said King.
Of de Grood, King says more transparency from officials about processes within review board hearings, parole and corrections can help improve public understanding of how these systems are intended to benefit society.
(With files from the Canadian Press)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
What new auto insurance reforms will mean for Ontarians, if they get introduced
Ontario has among the highest rates for auto insurance premiums in Canada -- just below Alberta and Nova Scotia -- however, the introduction of an insurance reform in the provincial budget could soon lower prices.