Give Li more freedom: experts

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This article was published 24/02/2015 (3892 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Vince Li, the mentally ill man found not criminally responsible for a random killing on board a Greyhound bus, could soon be living in Winnipeg and walking the streets without supervision.

Li’s medical team made two major recommendations Monday as he appeared before the provincial review board for his annual hearing. They are the boldest proposed steps yet in his seven-year case and came on the heels of what they described as a “fairly good year” for Li.

Under their proposal, Li would be allowed to leave his current home at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre and move to Winnipeg, where he would temporarily live at Health Sciences Centre in its locked PX3 ward.

Doctors are suggesting Li then be granted unsupervised passes in Winnipeg within the next 12 months, eventually transitioning to a placement in a high-security group-home facility in the city.

“There’s no reason not to endorse these recommendations,” defence lawyer Alan Libman said.

The review board will make their decision within a week.

The Crown is not opposed to what is being suggested, but cautioned perhaps things were moving too quickly. Prosecutor Colleen McDuff suggested Li should only be given supervised passes in Winnipeg after he moves to the city.

Two doctors, who have worked extensively with Li, told the board multiple tests show he is an extremely low risk to re-offend, knows the importance of taking his medication and has not suffered any hallucinations for more than a year.

He would continue to be supervised while taking his medications for schizophrenia and may benefit by moving to the bigger city and escaping the “stigma” of what he did.

“His level of anonymity would be increased living in (Winnipeg),” said Dr. Ken Mackenzie, manager of the forensic mental-health program at the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. “We want to give Mr. Li the highest level of independence we possibly can.”

The proposed group home facility is staffed 24/7 and would involve a nightly curfew of 11 p.m. Li would also be given courses in relapse prevention and independent living while also being assigned a “proctor” in the community to help him with things such as banking, fitness and job searches.

Last year, Li was granted several freedoms and doctors say things have gone smoothly. They include being given unescorted passes into the city of Selkirk. Li always carries a cellphone with him and checks in with hospital staff every 30 minutes. There have been no reported incidents.

As well, Li has done several supervised trips into Winnipeg, Lockport and area beaches.

Dr. Steven Kremer said Li ultimately wishes to attend community college in Winnipeg to build on a computer-sciences degree he has from China.

‘His level of anonymity would be increased living in (Winnipeg). We want to give Mr. Li the highest level of independence we possibly can’

— WRHA’s Ken Mackenzie

“He has tolerated the increases in his liberty pretty well,” Kremer said Monday.

Kremer said Li is always polite with staff and other patients, has shown “no evidence of any manipulative behaviour” and has demonstrated insight into his actions.

“He has expressed feelings of regret and remorse,” he said.

Li has been described as a “model patient” who no longer suffers from the type of mental illness that triggered the July 2008 attack near Portage la Prairie.

Li was found not criminally responsible for the beheading of Tim McLean on a Greyhound bus near Portage. A judge found Li suffered hallucinations from untreated schizophrenia at the time of the unprovoked attack and ordered him held at the Selkirk centre.

McLean’s family has been a vocal critic of Li’s relaxed freedoms and has pushed for tougher federal legislation. McLean’s mom, Carol de Delley, previously said she believes mentally ill killers such as Li must be held indefinitely in a hospital. She did not attend Monday’s hearing, although other family members did. They left court, saying only they are frustrated by what they feel is their lack of a voice at these proceedings.

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