About 600 people turned out to say farewell to Tim McLean, the 22-year-old Winnipeg man murdered in a bizarre attack aboard a Greyhound bus.

The funeral  took place Saturday afternoon at a Winnipeg church.

The 22-year-old had been returning to Winnipeg following a stint on the road. He had sent text messages to family saying how much he was looking forward to seeing them.

As he dozed on the bus, a man took a seat beside him. Without warning or apparent provocation, the man attacked McLean with a large knife as the bus neared Portage La Prairie, Man. on its way towards Winnipeg.

Terrified people streamed off the bus. The assailant then severed McLean's head and taunted police.

Vincent Weiguang Li, 40,  has been charged with second-degree murder. A judge has ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Li. He will return to court on Sept. 8. Li has yet to enter a plea.

The horrific nature of the attack has led to an outpouring of sympathy for McLean's family, who describes their deceased loved one as a light-hearted charmer.

Some members of a controversial U.S. church group plan had announced plans to demonstrate at McLean's funeral.

Although no member of the group ever met McLean, they claim he lived an immoral and godless life, just like all other Canadians.

The group is notorious for protesting at military funerals across the United States.

No members of the U.S. church group showed up; but instead hundreds of strangers arrived at the church ready to block their planned protest. Winnipeg Police also showed up, in case of trouble.

McLean's family and friends stopped and thanked some of those who showed up outside the church.