Preliminary inquiry for accused in Calgary mass murder begins

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CALGARY (NEWS1130) – It was an emotional scene inside a Calgary courthouse Monday morning as the preliminary inquiry facing Matthew de Grood got underway.

Friends and family of both the accused and the victims packed the room, making it standing-room only.

De Grood sat stone-faced in the prisoner’s box, wearing a blue dress shirt and a black sports coat while his parents watched from the gallery.

Details surrounding the inquiry cannot be disclosed because of a publication ban that had been granted to the defense.

The inquiry is expected to take a week and it will see the Crown call 13 witnesses.

“This is an extremely serious matter, there’s a lot of evidence, that’s very important to explore,” said de Grood’s lawyer Allan Fay. “We know what it looks like on paper but these cases never look in court like they do on paper, so it’s important to go through this from the Crown’s perspective and from mine.”

“A lot of family members and friends for both the victims and my client, obviously everyone is going to be re-living some very tragic events,” he said.

Fay adds his client is being treated like any other individual who would be facing similar charges and says de Grood’s father’s status within the Calgary Police does not appear to be a factor.

De Grood has been undergoing treatment since his arrest and re-living the moment has been very difficult for him.

Crown Prosecutor Neil Wiberg told reporters he met with the victims’ loved ones before the testimony began to let them know what they can expect.

“They’re (the victims’ families) are very upset obviously, five outstanding young people were murdered and I’m sure this brings back horrible memories,” he said.

At this stage there is still no idea on when the trial dates will be set.

“The police did a tremendous job in investigating this case, it was a very thorough, complete investigation, very complicated obviously with five murders and they did an outstanding job, so a lot of work was put in this case.”

The murders of five young people in Brentwood, is considered Calgary’s worst-ever mass murder.

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