Temporary publication ban issued in Matthew de Grood case, Report

The assessment to determine if quintuple murder suspect Matthew de Grood was too mentally ill to commit murder has now been complete.

Provincial court Judge Joanne Durant issued an interim publication ban on reports by two psychiatrists and a psychologist that were delivered to the court, Crown prosecutor Neil Wiberg and defence lawyer Allan Fay early Friday morning.

Wiberg said he was seeking the ban because the case will ultimately be heard by a jury and the expert opinions are, at this stage, only witness evidence, and there is concern if the opinion were released it could taint a jury pool.

De Grood, 22, who appeared by closed-circuit television from Calgary Remand Centre, rocked back and forth to his left and right during the four separate hearings delayed to seek case law on such an application. He only spoke each time court was called to order, saying “yes, I can,” when the judge asked him if he could see and hear her and the lawyers.

Agencies/Canadajournal