Vince Li has been found not criminally responsible for the gruesome murder and beheading of Tim McLean on a Greyhound bus last summer because he is mentally ill.

"These grotesque acts are appalling," Justice John Scurfield said in Thursday's ruling. "However, the acts themselves and the context in which they were committed are strongly suggestive of a mental disorder.

"He 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 a schizophrenic who was suffering a psychotic episode when he killed the 22-year-old McLean.

Li, 40, will now be remanded to a secure psychiatric facility where he will receive treatment. A review panel will decide in the next six weeks which facility he will be transferred to, depending on whether he is considered a risk to others or to himself.

His case must also be reviewed on an annual basis by a mental health review board.

"That doesn't sit well with McLean's family," reports CTV's Jill Macyshon, who says they want Li to spend his life in prison, demanding "a life for a life."

The review board will look at police reports from the crime scene and review transcripts of previous hearings, while also listening to evidence from psychiatrists who will treat Li about his current mental condition, treatment plan and prognosis.

"The public needs to know that when a person is found not criminally responsible, it does not automatically follow that a person will be released into the community," Scurfield said in his ruling "People who are found not criminally responsible but who continue to pose a danger to the community may be kept in a locked institution for the rest of their lives."

Li's trial took only two days and heard from only two witnesses. Both were psychiatrists who testified Li suffers from schizophrenia. They testified Li heard what he thought was the voice of God last July, telling him to kill McLean or risk being killed himself.

Dr. Jonathan Rootenberg said Li was psychotic and was in no state to tell the difference between right and wrong.

"The attack was sudden and came as Li caught a glimpse of the sunlight and heard God's voice telling him that McLean was a threat," Rootenberg testified. "The voice said, `Do it now ... If you don't, he's going to kill you.'"

Legal analyst and criminal lawyer Steven Skurka says the decision shows that the Canadian criminal justice system is humane and recognizes that those in psychotic states cannot distinguish right and wrong.

"We can't simply look at the actions we have to look at his mental state. We don't punish people who don't appreciate the nature and quality of their actions. I think that's a very positive feature of our system," Skurka told CTV Newsnet after the decision was handed down.

No criminal record

With the NCR declaration, Li will not have a criminal record. But on the agreement of both the Crown and the defence, his DNA will be put into a registry so that it will be on file in the event Li is one day released and is suspected of another crime.

"It's a responsible position for the defence to take because clearly, they're concerned about public safety," Slurka said.

While the McLean family knew to expect Thursday's ruling, McLean's mother Carol deDelley says she will push forward with what she calls "Tim's Law."

She wants those who are found to be not criminally responsible to have criminal records and to be treated in prison not in a mental facility.

DeDelley told reporters outside the courthouse Thursday that NCR should be changed to what she calls "NPA."

"That would be Not Psychologically Accountable but still criminally responsible. Because a crime was still committed her, a murder still occurred. And NCR seems to negate that fact. At least that's how it feels to us, "she said.

She also wondered why Li, who was born in China, was granted citizenship even after he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.

DeDelley added she doesn't hate Li; she thinks he's dangerous and should be "kept away from the public for the rest of his natural life."

Spotlight on mental illness

The Li case has brought mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, into the national headlines and some psychologists say the trial has reinforced the stigma attached to mental illness.

Annette Osted of the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba told CTV Winnipeg that its time to stop blaming Li and start searching for answers about what went wrong in the health system.

"His illness, left untreated, caused this horrific event. Now why was it left untreated?" she asked. "That's a factor . . . we have to look at as a society."

Dr. Richard Shore says that schizophrenics have more to fear from society than vice versa. He said the majority of people with the illness do not act violently.

"It's rare for schizophrenics to express outward aggression," he told CTV Winnipeg. "They are usually more isolated."

Mary Alberti, of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario said on CTV Newsnet Thursday that "With 'Tim's law', we understand why the family would take that viewpoint but we also know based on experience at the schizophrenia society . . . that the outcomes with treatment can be very good."

"With proper treatment, Mr. Li, will have greater insight into his disease, but having said that we have to remember schizophrenia and psychosis are characterized by having a lack of insight that they are ill," she said. "But with proper treatment and support, we believe people can recover from schizophrenia."