Publication ban ordered on mental-health report in Calgary stabbing case

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A judge has imposed a temporary publication ban on newly completed report into the mental state of a Calgary man at the time he is accused of killing five young people in a stabbing rampage at a house party.

Matthew de Grood, 23, facing five counts of first-degree murder, appeared in court via closed-circuit TV on Friday for what had been expected to be the presentation of‎ psychiatric assessments conducted at a secure hospital in Edmonton over a month this summer.

However, Neil Wiberg, the Crown prosecutor in the case, asked the judge for a discretionary publication ban, say‎ing the materials contain witness statements and other details that could prove prejudicial to the future trial.

Lawyers for the Crown and defence had received the report just hours before the hearing, so media had not expected the application to block publication of contents, in which two psychiatrists and a psychologist gave opinions on whether they believe Mr. de Grood could have been criminally responsible for the attacks last April that shocked the city.

The judge granted just a temporary order, saying the issue was not properly dealt with to make a ruling for a more permanent prohibition. A hearing is set for Oct. 7 so the parties, including media, can present their cases.

Mr. Wiberg said prosecutors are concerned that divulging details in the report could influence the jury pool.

"It's a witness statement. The witness statement happens to be provided by an expert witness. That witness may or may not be testifying before the jury at the end of the day. Also this report includes witness statements from witnesses that were interviewed by the police," he told reporters. "So for all those reasons, it's best that a judge examine this and determine if a publication ban should continue."

Mr. de Grood's parents, Doug and Susan de Grood, attended the court proceedings for the first time. Doug de Grood, a senior Calgary police officer, and his wife were in court in case results of the evaluation were discussed, said Allan Fay, Matthew de Grood's lawyer.

Several of the victims' family members and friends were also in court, and during breaks in the proceedings hugged and comforted one another.

The crime was one of the country's most gruesome mass attacks, allegedly carried out by a young man who by all accounts had previously shown no tendencies toward violence. He had been preparing to start law school this fall.

The victims – Jordan Segura, 22; Kaiti Perras, 23; Josh Hunter, 23; Zackariah Rathwell, 21; and Lawrence Hong, 27 – were at an end-of-school celebration at a rented house near the University of Calgary when, according to police, the suspect grabbed a knife and attacked party-goers before fleeing.

Mr. de Grood's preliminary hearing is set for March 2.