One person’s madman is another’s son

Yesterday, Li who is charged with second-degree murder pleaded not guilty in a Winnipeg court during his trial, which is expected to end tomorrow. His lawyers will present the defence of not criminally responsible because of mental illness.

According to the testimony of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Stanley Yaren, Li has been diagnosed as schizophrenic and suffered a major psychotic episode at the time of the killing. People at the Edmonton church Li attended tried several times to get him to seek psychiatric help. He did not, and Tim McLean died.

Under the present NCR law, Li may be sent to a psychiatric institution, but his case will be reviewed every year to see if he is mentally fit to be allowed back into society. And if so, he will not have a criminal record. In other words, if he moves to another province, police may or may not be informed. It is understandable that deDelley finds such a prospect unacceptable.

“A life for a life,” she says, as she promotes “Tim’s Law.” She wants Li and all others who may be ruled not criminally responsible put away for life, in jail or in a psychiatric institution. No parole.

And of the thousands who have commented online about this case, many want Canada to bring back the death penalty so Li can be executed. End of problem.

Then there’s my friend Sandra. For years, she has not allowed her son inside her house – ever since he came at her with a large, sharp knife. He is suffering from schizophrenia and goes off and on his medication. Mostly, off. Sure, that was the only time that she knows of in which he threatened violence, but she can’t take any chances.

She used to look for him on the downtown streets. Sometimes she’d find him (“His socks were growing into his feet from all the aimless walking,” she’d say). She’d take him to a restaurant and feed him and try to convince him to go back on his meds. On occasion, she’d get him into the hospital where, because he’s an adult, he could check himself out the minute he felt better. And he did.

She doesn’t sleep well because she expects a 2 a.m. phone call from police that he’s dead. The last time we talked, she told me she can no longer find him.

I met him once and found him to be a sadly charming young man.

And so, what do we do with the mentally ill who commit violent acts? Do we treat them as normal people, so we can incarcerate them for long periods? Do we let them walk free though they may be violent?

Perhaps we need to force them to take medication. Maybe we have to make them wear an ankle bracelet.

Or should we just execute them so there’s no possibility of repetition? Then there’s no need for us to struggle with the dilemma of what to do with people who are mentally ill.