Lone wolf - Couldn't people appeal the courts decision? I think we should get laws in place. Its not right, and society shouldn't have to worry that there is a possibility,(however remote it may be) that he could be set free every year for the rest of his life. What he did was beyond extreem, and it is not ok that he even has a chance so soon. In mean, even if they said 10 years institutionalized, and then review his case. He should not have the chance to get out as soon as he does, whether it happens or not.
Help enstate Tims Law (greyhound bus murder)
- Thread starter shrimpsey
- Start date
What it boils down to is that what Li did was sensational, and gruesome, but lacked the mental depravity of most murderers in our country, who know full well what they are doing, who they are doing it to, and have no remorse or sympathy after the fact.
Tim's law proposes that a mentally ill man be given a harsher sentence than the husband who rapes then strangles his wife to death, the father who leaves his children outside in their diapers to die in the cold, or the woman who shakes her baby to death. Why exactly?
Tim's law proposes that a mentally ill man be given a harsher sentence than the husband who rapes then strangles his wife to death, the father who leaves his children outside in their diapers to die in the cold, or the woman who shakes her baby to death. Why exactly?
I suppose this will seem hard and unfeeling, but I can't really see any reason
for him to be released at all, I think he should be confined for his life, he
killed a person, but of course others who kill people are also released after
their time has been served, and there is no guarantee that they will be pure
forever either, so I guess 'life' is a risk for all of us.
The decision can be appealed - and I think it's within the family's right to do so. The Courts still cannot supercede laws that were in effect on that day. If he had a prior history of violence, that can be used against him.
I guess the real question should be, what is the purpose of our justice system.
If it is to protect society, then there is no reason Li shouldn't be released if he is no longer a threat.
If it is to punish, then the question is why should we punish people that lacked intent. Punishing Li would serve no purpose because it would make no difference to him.
If it is to rehabilitate people then it would seem they are on the right track.
If it is to make people feel content because they are enacting vengeance on people that have done heinous things then the system fails miserably.
Is there some other purpose I'm missing?
Canada's murder rate isn't significantly different from countries with higher penalties, up to and including the death penalty. And when discussing crime prevention, stiffer penalties don't help stop mentally ill people from murdering. They're just revenge for the families and communities after the fact.
NationMaster - Murders (per capita) (most recent) by country
On that point I do agree with you. Murder with multi-multi prolific
prior convictions by criminals utilizing violence, who are mentally in
command of their own facilities, need to be looked at in a light with
focus less towards rehabilitation, and more towards public safety.
Mr. Li doesn't happen to have 30 or 50 or 80 prior convictions, and
in fact (if I recall correctly) he has no previous criminal record what
so ever.
You know, even if that petition is worded wrong, something does need to change. New laws should be put in place.
LI committed that murder. I agree with rehabilitation, but it was still him that did it, rehabilitate him, and then let him finish out his sentance in jail and then be released. I am sure there are many people in jail who don't recall, or were not of sane mind when doing what they did.
If someone commits a murder, not manslaughter, but actull murder, and its proven to be them without resonable doiubt, then I feel they should get a life sentance, or if deemed medically ill, like Li, then the equivalent 25 years, whether all be spent in a mental hospital, or some in a jail. He should not be free with no criminal record, living in society. He should have to serve at least what the minimum sentance is for murder with NO possibility of release, before he is re-assessed.
LI committed that murder. I agree with rehabilitation, but it was still him that did it, rehabilitate him, and then let him finish out his sentance in jail and then be released. I am sure there are many people in jail who don't recall, or were not of sane mind when doing what they did.
If someone commits a murder, not manslaughter, but actull murder, and its proven to be them without resonable doiubt, then I feel they should get a life sentance, or if deemed medically ill, like Li, then the equivalent 25 years, whether all be spent in a mental hospital, or some in a jail. He should not be free with no criminal record, living in society. He should have to serve at least what the minimum sentance is for murder with NO possibility of release, before he is re-assessed.
Why? This guy is merely insane and treatable for all I know- pedophiles get a second chance (and often a third, fourth and fifth) and they can't be treated. Maybe it's alright for pedophiles as they don't often eat their victims.
I agree, there are many people walking around having a regular life, after serving lenient sentences, while their
dead victims are in their graves forever, and their families lives have been
changed forever, definitely something wrong with this picture, and I don't
exclude mentally ill murdurers, murder is murder, victims should have much
more thought given them, than their murdurers.
Yep, you when "you hanged by the neck until dead" we didn't have that problem, albeit a few innocent men probably died, but really was that any worse than the thousands of innocent victims who are dying now? Maybe it's time to reinstate the noose- I'd bet on average fewer innocent people would die.
We are doing things backwards. We first decide that Mr. Li is not responsible for his crime and now any chance for a modicum of closure for Tim McClean's family has flown away. There should have been a hearing or an inquest into the death of the young man with all the witnesses and evidence to name the killer as the one who did the crime. As it is, the judge simply said that Li was not criminally responsible and the family is left in a vacuum with a horribly murdered son.
Every murder is horrible juan. Tim McLean wasn't murdered any more than anyone else in Canada gets murdered. We don't prosecute by the victim, we prosecute by the mindset of the murderer... manslaughter, second degree, first degree, etc.
You are right on there Karrie. I can understand why some would want the law changed, BUT when you change a law it has to work under MOST circumstances and be based on facts not highly charged emotions. Of course I feel for the devastated family of this victim, but there's a higher concern in my estimation - we simply can not start "throwing away" mentally ill people BEFORE we can determine that there is no hope for their rehabillitation. Warehousing this man will not undo the damage he's done, rehabillitating him may allow him to atone to the point of replacing a tiny amount of the damage he's done.
You missed my point. There is not even a trial where the McClean family can get a bit of closure. If you don't think having a psychopath stab, behead, and mutilate a young son in public, not even mentioning the cannibalism, is worse from the family's point of view than your average run of the mill shooting, you are writing in a vacuum. McClean's family will be having nightmares over this for as long as they live.
A trial to determine what. No one was ever contesting his guilt, and do you really believe the man is mentally fit to stand trial? In a case like this is closure possible? I think there is every likelihood they will have to undergo some sort of treatment just to be able to carry on with their lives. Not everything that happens in life can be fixed. Things can be done however to make the pain more bearable.
He's in the loonie bin for life and won't be out on parole in 15 years like if he were in a penitentiary.. What more can they possibly want for justice? Cash money?