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3h ago

Alberta Appeal Court Upholds Limits on Matthew de Grood’s Freedom

Judges deferred to the review board’s evidence-based finding that he still poses a significant risk.

The Alberta Court of Appeal has upheld a ruling from the Alberta Criminal Code Review Board that denied Matthew de Grood's request for more freedoms.
Courtroom sketch of Matthew de Grood, who was found not criminally responsible for slaying five people in Calgary's worst mass killing.
Killed in the Brentwood attack (from left to right) were Zackariah Rathwell, 21; Jordan Segura, 22; Kaitlin Perras, 23; Josh Hunter, 23; and Lawrence Hong, 27.

Overview

  • The Court of Appeal of Alberta on Friday upheld the review board’s ruling denying a conditional discharge and any relaxation of supervision for de Grood.
  • The panel wrote that the board made a supported finding of a risk of serious physical harm to the public and said courts should not micromanage conditions or privileges.
  • De Grood remains in a supervised Calgary residence and may spend up to two weeks at a time living with his parents under existing permissions.
  • He was found not criminally responsible in 2016 for the 2014 stabbing deaths of five young people after expert evidence that he was psychotic and suffering from schizophrenia.
  • The case returns to the Alberta Criminal Code Review Board on Nov. 12–13, with victims’ families reiterating opposition to any discharge and urging continued oversight.