Day 1 of the Vincent Weiguang Li trial wrapped up today at 3:36 PM. He is on trial for the brutal murder of Tim McLean while on a Greyhound Bus last July.
The trial continues tomorrow at 10am as is expected to last 3-days.
Hit the jump to read the chilling events that transpired from Winnipeg Free Press reporter Bruce Owen via twitter.
** Contains graphic material that may offend some readers **
10:28 AM: Li now in court. Lost a lot of weight. Legs and hands cuffed.
10:29 AM: Li pleaded not guilty. Crown now going thru his bckgrd.
10:31 AM: On day of McLean’s killing Li left note for wife.
10:33 AM: Note said: “I’m gone. Don’t look for me. I wish you were happy.”
10:35 AM: On bus Li distraught, talking to himself. McLean on iPod and texting friends.
10:36 AM: Outside Portage Li stabs McLean w/ blackhandled knife for no apprt reason.
10:37 AM: McLean tries to fight back, escape. Li grabs him, conts attack.
10:39 AM: Li tries to get off bus. He’s stopped. Returns to McLean to “defile” body. Beheads McLean.
10:41 AM: Witnesses see Li holding McLean’s head in one hand, knife in other. Still wants off bus.
10:43 AM: Li Mutilates McLean again with buck knife and scissors. Witness says Li says he has to stay on bus “forever”.
10:45 AM: Crown says Li also ate McLean’s body parts, lseen licking hands of blood.
10:46 AM: Li Tasered by RCMP as he tries to get off bus. Tries to take body parts w/ him.
10:48 AM: Li tells RCMP that he’s sorry. “I’m guilty. Please kill me.”
10:49 AM: RCMP find body parts and organs all over bus, some in white plastic bags.
10:51 AM: Crown says tip of knife found embedded in McLean’s severed head.
10:52 AM: McLean’s eyes never found, Crown tells court.
10:54 AM: Parts of McLean’s heart missing. Presumed Li ate 1/3 of it and eyes.
10:55 AM: Crowns says Li denies eating body parts. No other explanation.
10:56 AM: Judge Scurfield tells silent courtroom it’s time for a recess.
10:58 AM: What follows when court resumes is whether Li is insane: did not know right from wrong.
11:28 AM: court back in session
11:30 AM: Dr. Stanley Yaren on stand. Yaren one of top psychiatrists in Manitoba. He is called by Crown.
11:35 AM: Yaren to testify whether Li fit to stand trial for McLean’s murder on GH bus last July.
11:37 AM: Term isn’t “insane” anymore – it’s “not criminally responsibe” or NCR.
11:39 AM: So test for NCR is if accused knew right from wrong due to mental disorder.
11:45 AM: Yaren says when 1st met w/ Li, Li agitated and would not talk other than yes + no.
11:49 AM: Yaren tells court he saw Li 19 times for about total of 12 hours. He also spoke to Li’s wife.
11:52 AM: Yaren says Li suffering severe psychotic disorder, hearing “God’s” voice to protect himself.
11:53 AM: Li on GH bus sat next to McLean because McLean gave him friendly nod.
11:55 AM: Li told Yaren he heard “God” say McLean was “force of evil” out to kill him.
11:57 AM: Li then “commanded” by voice to behead McLean so McLean not come to life.
11:59 PM: Yaren tells WPG court Li schizophrenic.
12:04 PM: Big question now is: Can Li be treated for eventual release from secure hospital/facility?
12:12 PM: Yaren tells court Li gentle, polite, humble respecful of authority and hard worker.
12:14 PM: Crown: Why kill McLean?
12:15 PM: Yaren: “He genuinely believed he was about to be executed.”
12:17 PM: Crown: Why Greyhound bus? Yaren: Didn’t matter. Could be anywhere.
12:24 PM: Crown: Why did Li’s illness get worse? Yaren: Stigma of mentall illness. Denial of it.
12:30 PM: Crown: Was McLean’s killing predictable? Yaren: No. Li had no history of violence. Court breaks for noon hour. Back @ 2.
1:56 PM: Back in court. Li just came in. He’s wearing dark suit jacket. Walks with shuffle cause of leg irons, head down. looks at no one.
1:59 PM: Dr Stanley Yaren still on stand. Says Li mutilated in delusional frenzy so McLean not come back to life.
2:01 PM: Crown: If Li allowed off GH bus would mutilation happen? Yaren: We’ll never know.
2:03 PM: Yaren says Li denies eating body parts of McLean. Appears to have out of mind.
2:06 PM: Crown: What’s chance of recovery for Li? Yaren: Li has potential for significant recovery.
2:08 PM: Crown: Is Li faking? Yaren: Not logical to become monster and then fake it so quickly.
2:14 PM: Going thru Li’s prior mental health run-ins in ONT. few years before McLean’s slaying.
2:16 PM: Court told Li diagnosed w/ schizophrenia in ONT. Heard “God’s” voice then.
2:17 PM: Yaren tells court Li disputed finding and did not need treatment.
2:22 PM: Court hears while beheading McLean on bus, Li told driver to “Call emergency.”
2:24 PM: Yaren tells court Li expressed reget, that maybe he made mistake by listening to “evil god”.
2:25 PM: Yaren also says just recently Li expressed reget for McLean’s family.
2:28 PM: Yaren says Li believes he will be punished by God for his deed. Also on anti-psychotics.
2:30 PM: Yaren: most recent delusion for Li, God tells Li to starve himself to death.
2:36 PM: Crown: When can Li be released? Yaren: We don’t know.
2:38 PM: Crown: If Li fd NCR where should he be held? Yaren: Secure hospital ward. Li still danger to us and himself.
2:41 PM: Yaren: Li a decent person. Li a victim just like Mclean and McLean’s family..
2:43 PM: Dr. Yaren says McLean’s grieving family should not hate Li.
2:45 PM: “Don’t hate the person, hate the disease,” Yaren tells court. Blame the stigma for people not getting help.
3:01 PM: In a break at Law Courts. The day will end when Dr. Yaren finishes his testimony.
3:04 PM: At this point doesn’t appear any doubt Li is not mentally fit to stand trial as Yaren is a Crown witness, not defence.
3:10 PM: Final word if Li not fit to stand trial is up to QB Judge John Scurfield altho it appears to be already decided based on testimony.
3:31 PM: Li’s lawyers now in x-exam of Yaren, hammering home Li was deeply delusional on day McLean killed + mutilated.
3:34 PM: Yaren finishes testimony. Yaren ends saying Li thought sun was source of voice in his head.
3:36 PM: Court adjourned. Li cuffed and led out by five sheriffs. Starts @ 10 Wed.
Image Greyhound bus in toronto station Originally uploaded by germeister
