Li’s legal treatment after Greyhound killing

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/05/2012 (4890 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

July 30, 2008 — Vince Li boards a westbound Greyhound Canada bus and takes a seat next to Tim McLean, 22, one row in front of the bathroom. While McLean dozes, Li stabs him to death. At this point, the bus is just west of Portage la Prairie. Li beheads and cannibalizes McLean and parades up and down the bus brandishing McLean’s head.

July 31, 2008 — Li attempts to escape from the bus by breaking through a window. He is Tasered twice, placed in the back of a police cruiser and arrested.

March 5, 2009 — Li, 40, is found not criminally responsible for McLean’s murder. A psychiatrist who testifies at the trial diagnoses Li as having schizophrenia. Li is remanded to a high-security mental-health facility in Selkirk.

June 3, 2010 — Li is granted supervised outdoor walks within his mental-health facility after approval by the provincial review board.

June, 4, 2010 — Provincial Justice Minister Andrew Swan overrules the review board’s decision until security improvements are made at the centre. They include training 11 security officers at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre as special constables. Two of them and a health worker are required to accompany Li on walks on the grounds.

June 2010 — Swan phones and writes to federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson about the concerns for public safety regarding the review board’s decision, saying the “demonstrably unfit” order “seriously undermines public confidence in the Canadian system of justice.”

May 29, 2011 — A doctor testifies Li deserves expanded privileges at Selkirk, including a reduced level of supervision while on escorted passes within the facility. He describes Li as a “model patient.”

July 2011 — Li is allowed passes out of his locked forensic unit to walk on hospital grounds, provided he is directly supervised by a peace officer.

May 14, 2012 — Li appears in court for his annual review board hearing. His treatment team makes two major recommendations. The first involves giving him general supervision just like any other patient at the hospital. The second proposes he be allowed to take 30-minute excursions away from the hospital to Selkirk while accompanied by a peace officer and a nurse. Doctors say those passes could be extended by up to 15 minutes per week if there are no incidents and he continues to make progress.