A week ago we were all horrified to learn of a young 22 year old man who was stabbed to death while he slept on a greyhoud bus that was traveling through Canada. This young man did nothing wrong and yet, he was vicously stabbed over and over again; and then, sorry for having to say this…was beheaded by his attacker. The attacker, Vince Weiguang Li, then ate parts of the body. That is a violation of mind, body and spirit and is hard to understand how someone could act so normal and be so unbalanced.
As all of this was happening, the other bus occupants left the bus for their safety. An officer reported seeing some of the horrifying actions of Vince Li. He was arrested and has gone before a judge who asked him if he wanted a lawyer. He supposedly shook his head and said, “Please Kill Me”.
Killing him would be all too easy. Yes, I am sure there are many who wish that to be his punnishment. Even if that is the end result, it is not going to be that easy. There will be a process for Li that takes time. You don’t request death and it is done instantly through legal proceedings. It is not going to be that easy for Li. He will have a long time to relive the horror that he perpetrated. Over and over again, he will be tortured by memories of what he did.
So far, not much is known about the Chinese immigrant; except that he worked as a janitor for a church when he arrived in 2004. He evidently didn’t display any aggressive or violent behavior previously, even on the bus earlier on the trip. Others who rode the bus said he appeared normal until the attack on the victim, Tim McLean. Why and how did he choose his victim? An early report said the attack happened after an earlier stop that allowed Vince Li and others to have a smoke break; a young woman was also taking a smoke break. Why not her or someone else? There were 37 people on board, he had many to choose from. How does a person protect themselves from becoming a victim of a perfect stranger? There are so many questions that linger.
From all accounts, Tim McLean was merely sleeping with his head against a window. Vince Li actually changed seats to sit by Tim McLean. What was going through his mind? It is horrible to contemplate the whys and what fors.
The riders and the bus driver were able to somehow close the bus doors, keeping him on the bus. However, when he was arrested, Li apparently kept saying that he must remain on the bus forever. I am sure in his heart and mind…he will forever be trapped on that bus, wishing that he had left that bus the same as he entered it…as a non- killer.
What possesses a person to kill and canabalize another human being??? I am sure there is some psychological diagnosis; and, even some who would have a spiritual label to attach to such a person…lay people just call it sick. Regardless, he caused a young man’s death, he scarred people’s minds with the memories of his actions and he left Tim McLean’s family and friends traumatized. Should Vince Li be granted death as a punishment for the horror that he committed?
Write where you are 
Send him back to China and let the Chinese government torture the hell out of him, regardless of his mental condition. Cannibals don’t belong in our society, plain and simple.
For me it is completely unfathomable that someone could, with no emotion, stab, behead and eat another human being. For someone with no criminal record or no previous history of violence, how is it possible for someone to do that, unless they were not mentally stable? I have read that he had taken many bus trips accross Canada for no apparent reason what so ever. I am wondering if he had been planning to do this for some time, and that this trip he finally had the courage to do what he had been planning for months. It is just so mind boggling, it is like a scene out of a horror movie! I am obssessed with reading anything and everything on this topic, and I can’t figure out why. I have, myself been on a grey hound bus, and I always have to sit with a stranger, and I always fall asleep with my head phones on. I don’t think I will ever ride another bus again, as long as I live. Unless they do something to make sure this will never happen again.
I can’t imagine how the family must be feeling losing a son, and sitting there watching and reading everything about the accident. Knowing that the killer may get off because he will probably not be mentally stable enough to with stand trial. That saddens me.
Spenser,
I agree…my thoughts and prayers go out for the family and friends of Tim McLean…it is horrible enough to loose their son, brother, grandson, and friend…but, to do it in such a horrible way…I think it would tear at their hearts and minds continuously.
Just knowing that they must continually hear about this on the news and in their community can only compound their pain. If and when it ever comes to trial or institutionalization for Vince Li…it will keep pouring salt in their healing wounds. Tim can never come back…and their memories of him are forever going to be tainted with the way that he died. Pray for peace for them!