A provincial review board has ruled that Vince Li, the man who beheaded a fellow passenger aboard a Greyhound bus, must remain under heavy security at a Manitoba psychiatric facility.
Li is currently under supervision at a secure ward of the Health Sciences Centre. But he will now be transferred to the high-risk ward at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre when room is available.
The board's chairman, John Stefaniuk, said the decision was based on recommendations from Li's psychiatrist.
He told the Winnipeg Free Press that detailed reasons for the decision would be prepared in the next few months, but the information may not be made public.
"That's still something we're going to be discussing," he said.
Last March, a judge found Li not criminally responsible for killing Tim McLean as the bus travelled near Portage La Prairie, Man.
Li was remanded to a secure psychiatric facility.
The board had to decide whether Li should remain in an institution, be given a conditional release or an absolute discharge.
McLean's mother, Carol de Delley, had said she did not want to see Li released.
"I'm certain that they will hold him," de Delley told Canada AM on Monday. "I believe today all they're going to do is determine where they're going to hold him."
Twenty-two-year-old McLean had been asleep in the seat beside Li prior to the brutal attack, which sent passengers running from the bus.
Justice John Scurfield said in his ruling that while the murder was indeed "appalling," Li "did not appreciate the act he committed was morally wrong. He believed he was acting in self defence and that he had been commanded by God to do so."
Both the Crown and the defence agreed that Li is schizophrenic and was suffering from a psychotic episode when he killed the young man.
Because he was declared not criminally responsible for the murder, Li will not have a criminal record. However, he must submit his DNA into a registry in the event that he is one day released and suspected of another crime.
With files from The Canadian Press
