Vince LI Will Be Allowed To Have Unsupervised Outings

Vince Li is shown in a Portage La Prairie, Man., court on August 5, 2008. A man found not criminally responsible for beheading a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus in Manitoba should have more freedoms, a psychiatrist is arguing.
Photograph by: John Woods , THE CANADIAN PRESS

Man Guilty of Beheading given More Freedom

Winnipeg, Manitoba – Dr. Steven Kremer truly believes in the remarkable turnaround he orchestrated for his high profile client Vince Li. Some may recall that Li was declared to be criminally insane in the beheading and partial cannibalizing of a fellow passenger aboard a Greyhound bus ride roughly six years ago. Since that time, Li has overcome his schizophrenic episodes and has not displayed a single episode of violence. As per Dr. Kremer, he’s ready for the next phase of this rehabilitation: unsupervised field trips.

The testimony was given before the Criminal Code Review Board during Li’s annual review of his conditions. Dr. Kremer affirmed that Li has made excellent progress and is working towards ultimately reintegrating into society. Li’s crime was committed in July of 2008, when he decapitated a carnival worker by the name of Tim McLean. During his trial, Li was found not guilty by reason of insanity and remanded to a mental health hospital. It was McLean’s misfortune to sit next to Li on the ride from Edmonton to Winnipeg. As per witnesses, there was no provocation. Li simply attacked McLean to the utter horror of passengers. In the ensuing pandemonium, the bus pulled over and everyone aboard fled for their lives while Li continued mutilating his victim’s body and eating portions of the victim’s flesh.

Dr. Kremer would like to see his patient granted three new privileges:

1. Unescorted day trips to nearby Selkirk, population 10,000
2. Relocation to the hospital’s unlocked ward – Li is currently in the locked ward
3. Relaxed supervision during trips into Winnipeg and Lockport. In this context, relaxed supervision means he would be part of a three patient group supervised by a single hospital worker.

Needless to say, the recommendations did not sit well with the victim’s mother who would like to see Li remain confined in locked quarters for the duration of his life.

On Thrusday The Criminal Code Review Board allowed Vince LI unsupervised outings from the Selkirk Mental Health Centre into the nearby city of Selkirk. The outings are to start at 30 minutes and increase to full-day trips.

Carol DeDelley, the mother of Tim McLean, says she is disgusted by the review board’s decision. ‘A killer is a killer is a killer, even if they’re mentally ill,’ she told CBC News on Thursday. (Karen Pauls/CBC)

Minister of Justice issues statement

Minister Peter Mackay issued a statement late Thursday on the developments in Li’s case. You can read his full statement below:

We offer our sincerest condolences to the family of Tim McLean during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother Carole de Delley and his loved ones. I was fortunate enough to meet with Mrs. de Delley in Winnipeg when I was consulting Canadians about victims’ rights, over this past summer.

Our Government has legislation before the Senate that will ensure public safety is the foremost consideration in considering cases involving persons found Not Criminally Responsible. Canadians expect to be protected by our justice system and our Government has been clear – we are committed to protecting our communities and putting victims first.

Through the Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act, our Government has proposed to create a new high-risk designation for NCR accused. This designation would only apply in the limited number of cases where the accused person has been found NCR of a serious personal injury offence and where there is a high likelihood of further violence that would endanger the public.

This legislation will protect Canadians from the most high-risk individuals while enhancing the rights of the victims.

We encourage those Senators who remain opposed to these entirely reasonable reforms to help us get this bill passed as quickly as possible, so we can better protect Canadians and keep all our communities safe.

On The Web:
Attacker in beheading to get unescorted day trips
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/02/25/man_who_beheaded_greyhound_bus_passenger_deserves_more_freedom_psychiatrist_says.html