Vince Li, Greyhound Bus Killer, Remains Risk for Violent Behavior

by Jarrett Martineau | June 1, 2009 at 10:12 am

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UPDATE | June 1, 2009 — The treating physician for Vincent Li, the man who attacked and subsequently decapitated a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus in Manitoba last year, recommended before a criminal review board hearing on Monday that Li "should be kept indefinitely at the Selkirk Mental Health Center".

Mr. Li's hearing was held on Monday, June 1st.

The review board considered three possible options in Mr. Li's case: "immediately release Li into the community with no conditions, grant him a conditional discharge, or keep him in a secured mental-health facility."

Dr. Stanley Yaren testified before the board and indicated that Mr. Li "should remain under the 'highest level of security possible' because he remains a risk for violent behavior".

Dr. Yaren said on Monday that Li has not had any "active psychotic symptoms" for the past 12 weeks. He is also willingly taking his medication and has even shown some remorse for his crime.

However, Dr. Yaren warned that Li hasn't been studied yet "outside of an extremely controlled and regimented environment." [...]

Dr. Yaren said the chance of a relapse will never disappear, regardless of treatment.

PREVIOUSLY | May 29, 2009 — Details about the future of Vince Li will be released to the public.

Citing a possible violation of Li's privacy rights, the Manitoba Criminal Code review board had initially considered withholding information from the public about whether he would be remanded in an institution or given a conditional release, however, they have now elected to make the decision public.

Li had previously been found not criminally responsible for the killing Tim McLean, after a judge ruled that he had "suffered from untreated schizophrenia and did not realize that killing Maclean, a 22-year-old carnival worker, was wrong."

Vince Li was found not criminally responsible for killing Tim McLean in front of horrified passengers near Portage la Prairie, Man., last July. He is to appear before Manitoba's Criminal Code review board Monday.

The board initially said it couldn't release its decision on Li's future because it could violate his privacy rights. But the board's chairman now says members have opted to take a more "nuanced approach."

John Stefaniuk said the board will make public its decision several days after the hearing, which must determine whether Li will remain in a mental hospital, be released with conditions or be given an absolute discharge.

But reasons for the ruling, which could refer to Li's history and treatment, may not be released, he said.