Matthew de Grood's main goal is to return to Calgary, board hears

A review board, which is to decide on further freedoms for Calgary mass killer Matthew de Grood, heard that since the young man's last assessment he hasn't accomplished enough rehabilitation.

A review board, which is to decide on further freedoms for Calgary mass killer Matthew de Grood, heard that since the young man's last assessment he hasn't accomplished enough rehabilitation.

The Criminal Code Review Board is meeting on Thursday for the annual review of de Grood, who was found not criminally responsible in 2016 for the deaths of Zackariah Rathwell, Jordan Segura, Kaiti Perras, Josh Hunter and Lawrence Hong at a house party two years earlier.

During the hearing, the board learned about de Grood's treatment, which involved both daily oral medication to control the symptoms of his schizophrenia as well as a long-term injectable drug.

The drug has been effective in allowing de Grood to manage his condition during two-week-long unsupervised visits from his group home in Edmonton to southern Alberta, although his doctors said he still maintained access to a daily oral medication.

Dr. Oghogho Manuwa, the head of de Grood's treatment team for the majority of the time since his last assessment, says the trips have proven to help build his independence, but more work is needed.

"It would be fair to say using transport to travel has demonstrated a degree of independence," Manuwa said.

"We do encourage him. He was involved in schooling for two months and decided to stop."