CALGARY — A forensic psychiatrist says mass murder suspect Matthew de Grood suffered a psychotic episode prior to killing five young people at a Calgary house party in 2014.
Dr. Alberto Choy testified on behalf of the defence, which is arguing de Grood, 24, is not criminally responsible for the stabbings.
Choy says it's his opinion that de Grood showed signs of becoming detached from reality in the weeks prior to the attack and was unable to determine the killings were morally wrong.
Choy says it's his belief that de Grood was suffering from either schizophrenia, a severe bipolar disorder or a combination of both.
He rejects suggestions that the accused is playing the mental illness card in an effort to escape punishment.
Killed in the attack were Kaitlin Perras, 23; Lawrence Hong, 27; Josh Hunter, 23; Zackariah Rathwell, 21; and Jordan Segura, 22.
