What are some fundamental differences between the Canadian and American justice systems in regards to Vince Li?

Question

I am a Canadian who was absolutely repulsed by the beheading on a Greyhound bus in July of 2008.

Vince Li beheaded and mutilated the body of Tim McLean on a Greyhound bus. He was found to be not criminally responsible for the murder because of his mental illness.

In my opinion this isn't justice.

My question is ...
How do you think the case may have been different under American law? And are there any personal opinions you'd like to share on this disturbing case? What is your definition of justice?

To read more on the trial that happened today check out:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090304/bus_verdict_090305/20090305/

Answer 1

In the USA we don't hand out the Insanity Defense that often. There is definitely something wrong with this guy though. In any case, I hope the guy never sees the light of day again. No telling when this guy could snap again.

Answer 2

Justice will never truly be served, as I don't think we are capable of doling it out properly. However, I think this case is a far cry from any kind of near-justice attainable here. The fact that there is a possibility that this man will walk free one day with no criminal record haunting him is very disturbing.



Surely, in the US, there would be an uproar from the public. I also could not see the state handling the case the crown here is handling this. So since he admitted to the killing, the crown says there will be no need to hear testimony from the passengers? What if the passengers had testimonies which may have supported the fact that Li wasn't mentally ill or didn't match up with the mental illness theory? What a shame.

I think that all the 'professionals' in this case are scared to admit that a sane person would be capable of such horrific acts, so in their minds he "MUST" have a mental illness to render him insane.

I love America's harsh approach to offenders, and would have loved to see him tried in the United States.



I highly doubt he thought to continue to dismember to ensure the young man wouldn't come back to life. He was eating the man. Not only that, but he was displaying his kill and was threatening toward the other passengers once everyone was off the bus. This was an outright offensive move, not defensive at all. When you take away someone's rights, yours should be revoked as well. Mental illness should not be a factor in this case, except in the area of needed and recommended treatment. Time should still be served and the public should be protected.



If someone is messed up enough to harm someone in such a way, mentally ill or not, he or she is a danger, period. As a citizen of Canada, I sure as hell don't want him walking down the same street as me, riding the same plane as me, or eating in the same restaurant as me.

Answer 3

The main problem is those bleeding heart judges. They always seem so anxious to prove the criminal is the real victim, as ridiculous as it sounds. It just bugs me that we tax payers, including the victim's family, are the ones who are going to have to pay for this guy's care. Our legal system is so messed up. How can anyone side with this criminal, no matter how mentally ill he is? I mean, anyone who can defend this Li guy obviously has never experienced the murder of a loved one by a person who was mentally ill or not.



If he was schizophrenic like they say, why was he so prepared to murder someone? Apparently he knew he was going to have a psychotic attack, so he brought along a knife and plastic bags. Usually people who are mentally ill don't predict their psychotic episodes, and are not prepared for them. Then he cut off the head and paraded around the bus with it. It sounds like something a complete psycho would do, but I question schizophrenia being the case. Another thing, if he is schizophrenic, then he should be held accountable for going off his meds, or, if he wasn't diagnosed with schizophrenia until after the murder, he still should be at fault for not getting help before it came to this. Because of this idiot not taking care of his mental disorder, someone had to die, and a family has to grieve.



It's actually scary to think that Li has a chance of getting out in a couple of years, maybe sooner. If he is deemed to be sane, he can walk the streets again, then have another psychotic attack and mutilate someone else. And he doesn't even get a criminal record for this! He could get a job at a daycare center when he gets out! Insane!



This teaches any murderer that all they have to do is claim they have a mental illness, and it won't even be disputed. They will all get away with murder...



The American law system is far superior to the Canadian one. Usually the criminals are actually punished, not sympathized with.

Answer 4

To me he was competent enough to work take the bus on his own if he was real mental he could not work regular or take the bus on his own.

If he was competent to live on his own and do day to day things on his own he is not mental.



In my opinion they should of gave him the DEATH PENALTY ,appeal within one year after that hook him up to a needle or strap him to a chair and turn on the switch.

The Canadian judicial system is a joke more rights for a killer than a victim.

We in North America have become to PC.

Answer 5

sadly, this kind of thing happens in america too. you are right, it is not justice and honestly anyone who could do such a horrible thing is crazy. crazy, but still deserves to be punished.