CALGARY — A Calgary man admits in an agreed statement of facts read at the start of his trial that he stabbed five young people to death at a house party.
But Matthew de Grood's lawyer has pleaded not guilty on his client's behalf to five counts of first-degree murder.
The stabbings, in what police have called Calgary's worst mass killing, happened at a party being held to mark the end of the school year in April 2014.
Police have not said what they believe may have motivated the attack, but have revealed de Grood was invited to the party and mingled with guests.
The families of the victims made a statement on the courthouse steps in which they urged people to remember their loved ones.
The statement said the last two years have been extremely difficult, incredibly long and anxiety-ridden.
Killed in the attack were Kaitlin Perras, 23; Lawrence Hong, 27; Josh Hunter, 23; Zackariah Rathwell, 21; and Jordan Segura, 22.
Hunter, Hong and Segura all attended the University of Calgary. Perras studied at Mount Royal University and Rathwell was a student at the Alberta College of Art and Design.
Greg Perras, Kaitlin's father, said the grieving will never end.
"There's no such thing as a new normal that some people talk about. There is only existing, surviving and a series of bitter-sweet events, going forward in our families lives such as graduations, weddings and grandchildren.
"These milestones will be happy and they will be sad."
The trial is being heard by an out-of-town judge at the request of both the prosecution and defence, because de Grood's father is a high-ranking city police officer and could be called to testify.
A psychiatric review determined de Grood was fit to stand trial, because he understands the charges against him and is able to communicate with his lawyer.
He has been undergoing treatment at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre since his arrest.
Allan Fay, who represents de Grood, hasn't ruled out a defence of not criminally responsible by reason of a mental disorder.
