Chinese Canadian man who beheaded and ate stranger walks free
Baker, a diagnosed schizophrenic, killed Tim McLean, a young carnival worker who was a complete stranger to Baker, in 2008
An ethnically Chinese Canadian man who was found not criminally responsible for beheading and cannibalising a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus has been granted his freedom.
Manitoba’s Criminal Code Review Board announced it had given Will Baker, formerly known as Vince Li, an absolute discharge, meaning he is longer subject to monitoring. Baker, a diagnosed schizophrenic, killed Tim McLean, a young carnival worker who was a complete stranger to Baker, in 2008. A year later he was found not criminally responsible due to mental illness.
McLean’s mother, Carol de Delley, has been outspoken against granting Baker freedom, saying there would be no way to ensure he continued to take his medication. On Facebook, she simply said: “I have no words.”
Baker was initially kept in a secure wing of a psychiatric hospital but was given more freedom every year. He has been living on his own in a Winnipeg apartment since November, but was still subject to monitoring.
Baker’s doctor, Jeffrey Waldman, told the board this week he was confident Baker would remain on his medication and would continue to work with his treatment team. Waldman testified Baker knew the medication keeps his illness at bay.
[Will Baker] absolutely understands that he has to [take his medication] and has a desire to live a responsible, moral life and never succumb to psychotic episodes and not to hurt anybody ever again
The review board said it was “of the opinion that the weight of evidence does not substantiate that Mr Baker poses a significant threat to the safety of the public.”