Who is Dr. Jonathan Rootenberg??

“Psychiatric expert” from CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) in Toronto, Dr. Jonathan Rootenberg, who for all that we know is unable to tell the difference between compulsive behaviour and psychotic behaviour, determined that Vincent Li “Greyhound beheader” and a cannibal who killed and dismembered Timothy McLean of Winnipeg on a bus in Manitoba last July was psychotic when he killed his victim.

One does not have to be a psychiatrist, one just have to observe Dr. Rootenberg in person and listen to him speak for a while to quickly realise that “our psychiatric expert” is trying very hard to cope with some very serious mental handicaps.

First odd thing that one observes it the voice; Dr. Rootenberg’s False Ego voice that he uses to peddle his “psychiatric expertise” sounds like a voice of a man that it at least twice the size of Dr. Rootenberg. One could speculate that Dr. Rootenberg’s father was or still is twice the size of Dr. Jonathan Rootenberg and this False Ego voice is his father’s voice.

Once we manage to get over oddity of the voice and take a good look at Dr. Rootenberg’s performance we realise that Dr. Rootenberg’s mimics and gesticulation is very much overdone and it is produced consciously for public consumption. Not in spirit of good acting of a great actor imposing his persona on others in his presence, more in a way of a fake and an impostor who desperately keeps monitoring others to make sure that they keep on swallowing this mask that his False Ego keeps on generating.

Sadly, “Video” produced by Dr. Rootenberg’s False Ego keeps on lagging his “Audio” creating “Doppler Effect” commonly seen in badly dubbed Class B movies.

If that was not bad enough Dr. Rootenberg’s well rehearsed answers to prescript questions are delivered with this “Incredible Lightness of Being” tone of voice so characteristic for people suffering from Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Once we overcome all these visual and audio effects and try to concentrate on merit of things that we hear from him we have to sift thru this barrage of magic words; “major mental illness”, “delusional thinking”, “psychotic episode” and when we filter them out there is no independent thought left but a desperate plea to the listeners “But, these psychotropic drugs do help this patient to gain some insight into nature of his illness, do they not, but why?? They should.”

Since I saw Dr. Jonathan Rootenberg on March 17, 2009 delivering his performance to a very limited audience at CAMH during ORB (Ontario Review Board) Hearing I am willing to cut him some slack and I am willing to take this flight of imagination and presume that in the Courtroom he does significantly better. Does it in any way shape or form help Canadian justice system to somehow repair their tarnished image??

You be the judge:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2009/03/04/mb-li-trial.html
Bus beheading trial ends with both sides seeking same verdict
Judge promises decision Thursday morning
Last Updated: Wednesday, March 4, 2009 | 1:09 PM CT
CBC News
A two-day Winnipeg trial in a case of killing and beheading on a Greyhound bus ended Wednesday with both sides seeking the same verdict — not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder.

The judge said he will deliver his verdict at 10 a.m. CT on Thursday.

Psychiatrists for the Crown and the defence agreed during the short trial that Vince Li, 40, was suffering from schizophrenia and did not know what he was doing when he killed 22-year-old Timothy McLean of Winnipeg on a bus in Manitoba last July.

The psychiatrists said Li believed he was acting on orders from God when he attacked McLean, mutilating the young man before decapitating him and eating part of the body.

Li had pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder, but Crown and defence lawyers asked that he be found not criminally responsible.

That verdict would mean he could be sent to a provincial psychiatric facility rather than to prison. He would be placed under the authority of a provincial review board with power to keep him in custody or, if he is no longer considered a risk, discharge him.

‘He has a major mental illness that …rendered him unable to know what he was doing was wrong’—Dr. Jonathan Rootenberg
Toronto psychiatrist Jonathan Rootenberg, testifying for the defence, told court Wednesday that Li suffers from schizophrenia and was probably psychotic for weeks before the attack.

Rootenberg said Li meets the criteria for an accused person who would be not criminally responsible. “He has a major mental illness that …rendered him unable to know what he was doing was wrong,” the psychiatrist said, suggesting Li knew he was stabbing someone but thought it was a demon and didn’t understand the nature of his actions.

Earlier, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Stanley Yaren, testifying for the Crown, also gave evidence that Li was diagnosed as schizophrenic and suffered from a major psychotic episode — tormented by auditory hallucinations — at the time of the killing.

Yaren testified that according to Li, God told him that McLean was a “force of evil” who was about to stab Li unless he protected himself.

Killer could one day be rehabilitated, psychiatrists say
Even after the killing, Li believed McLean had supernatural powers and would come back to life unless he dismembered the body and spread the body parts around the bus, Yaren said. Li was not capable of understanding his actions were wrong, he testified.

Both psychiatrists said that Li, although he is very ill, could one day be rehabilitated and returned to society.

The CBC’s Marisa Dragani, reporting from Winnipeg, said the trial was unusual for its brevity and lack of conflicting versions of events.

“In a murder trial, you usually hear from witnesses; you usually hear testimony about what happened, when and how,” she said. “We didn’t hear that.

“There was an agreed statement of facts, filed right off the bat, that the Crown and the defence agreed to, and that was read out in court. It was quite lengthy, and that was done to spare any of the witnesses and the family as well from reliving this horror….

Sign the Petition

PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

WHEREAS: Vincent Li brutally murdered Tim McLean in July 2008;

WHEREAS: Vincent Li was found Not Criminally Responsible on Account of a Mental Disorder for the murder of Tim McLean;

WHEREAS: offenders who are found Not Criminally Responsible on Account of a Mental Disorder may be detained in treatment facilities and not prisons;

WHEREAS: offenders found guilty of first degree murder are sentenced to life in prison without parole for twenty-five years and those found guilty of second degree murder are sentenced to life without parole for a minimum of ten years;

WHEREAS: there is no minimum period of detention for offenders found Not Criminally Responsible on Account of a Mental Disorder and their cases may be reviewed every year by a Review Board Committee.

We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada call upon the House of Commons

To amend the Criminal Code of Canada to ensure those who commit murder but are found Not Criminally Responsible on Account of a Mental Disorder are detained for a minimum period of time.

Include you name, province, and postal code where you reside as a comment.

Please feel free to leave additional thoughts offering your support. Your email will be registered by the system and will only be visible for administration purposes. No email addresses will be used for any purpose other than confirming your support. Thank you for supporting Tim’s Law

An alternate petition can be found at

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/timslaw/

Many paper petitions are being circulated in various locations and shopping malls around Canada

Thank you for showing your support for Tim’s Law

Another “Failure of the System” Designed to Protect Us?

A catalogue of failures in the care of a mental health patient who stabbed a pregnant mother-of-five to death have been highlighted in a new report.

Benjamin Holiday, 25, a paranoid schizophrenic, killed Tina Stevenson in Hull after missing his medication. An independent investigation found his mental health problem was “under-treated” and his condition should have been “more assertively managed”.

Humber Mental Health Trust has apologised to Miss Stevenson’s family.

Miss Stevenson, 31, and her unborn twins died after she was stabbed in the back by Holiday on Wellsted Street. Holiday, who said he had no recollection of the attack, pleaded guilty to her manslaughter at Hull Crown Court in May 2006 and was detained in a secure hospital.

‘Lessons learned’

After the case, his mother Christine blamed the incident on the Humber Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust, saying he had not received the correct care and medication. The sentencing judge said Benjamin Holiday was “clearly very disturbed”

Two months before Miss Stevenson was killed, Holiday was taken into a secure psychiatric unit for assessment. The report said that was a “missed opportunity” to keep him in care because he needed treatment. It also said that at times Holiday was able to dictate his own levels of treatment.

Trust chief executive David Snowdon, speaking after the report was published, said: “We apologised to the family and friends of Tina Stevenson for their loss and for the distress caused to them as a result of this tragic incident. “We also apologised to Benjamin Holiday’s family, especially his mother, Christina Holiday, for the distress caused to them.”

Mr Snowdon said the trust took the report “very seriously” and said lessons had “already been learned”. The trust also apologised after being criticised over the care of a mentally-ill man who killed his elderly mother in 2003.

Michael Torrie, then aged 43, cut his 82-year-old mother Ivy’s throat at their home in Pocklington, East Yorkshire, after a “rapid reduction” in his medication, the report said. Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, said Torrie was “extremely ill” and “probably not in control of what he was doing”.

She told BBC Radio Five Live: “He’s lost his freedom and his mother has been killed in the most horrific way and all of that could have been prevented.” Mrs Wallace said Holiday should not have been able to dictate his own treatment.

She said: “He didn’t want people to interfere and yes, we ought to respect the rights of a mentally ill person, but not if they are out living in the community and not if they are a risk to themselves or others.”

Mom.s magazine tribute to Tim McLean and his family

MOM Magazine Tribute to Tim McLean and his family

in the May/June 09 Issue

Dear Readers,
The death of Tim McLean in August 2008 horrified people around the world. Vince Li, the person responsible for Tim’s death, was found Not Criminally Responsible.

From what I have seen of Tim McLean’s mom, Carol de Delley, she is amazing. She has kind, dark brown eyes and a maternal warmth that makes her the type of woman you want to hug when you see her. She was composed, strong and articulate during an interview with the Winnipeg Free Press . Her strength amazes me. Seeing her speak about Tim and the events of his death made me want to reach out to this mom even more.
Carol sent me this speech that she gave during a vigil for Tim. These are her thoughts in her words.
She is currently trying to change the Not Criminally Responsible law. Let’s help make it happen.
Tamara
By Carol deDelley

In the beginning whenever I saw a greyhound bus I felt physically ill. Now every time I see a Greyhound bus, I wave and say, “Hi Tim,” because I have had to train my mind to think of it as a way of Timothy letting me know that he is okay now.

Whenever we have a moment of happiness or joy, whether it’s a funny joke or TV program, we smile laugh or giggle then feelings of guilt immediately follow because what is there to smile about? We know that life has to go on but it is very difficult.

Treatment or Punishment ?

Why not both? In a violent crime such as this one, the question here in Canada becomes: Treatment or Punishment?

I believe that treatment and punishment should go hand in hand. I do not believe that treatment will “heal” Vincent Li, and I do not believe that Vincent Li should ever, and I repeat ever, be permitted to walk amongst us as a free man, ever again. It could be your child, your loved one or you yourself that he loses it on next time. What possible assurance could we ever have that he wouldn’t repeat this unbelievably violent behavior.

Is it possible that this is a result of cutbacks to funding for mental health issues? I don’t know. Let’s not forget, however, that Vincent Li DID commit this horrific murder, beheading and cannibalization UNPROVOKED. And yes I believe he needs to be held RESPONSIBLE for that.

Fit to stand trial. Fit for punishment.

Treatment in a locked facility for the rest of his life, period. No parole, no good behavior, nothing. He took an innocent life, was completely unprovoked and we need to send a message that this is not OK and will NOT be tolerated.

My son Timothy lost his life and our lives will never be the same without him being a part of it. The horror that took place on that bus has created so much fear…the randomness of it…The fear of all the other passengers who actually witnessed it, the visions that are forever burned in their memories and will haunt them always.

The children that were there that night, I can’t even imagine the nightmares they all must be having, they are forever damaged, their innocence gone. They are all Vincent Li’s living victims and he must be held accountable for that as well. I want it to be very clear that under our current laws it is possible that Vincent Li could be released some day.

Most people believe that he will be locked up and the key thrown away. NOT TRUE!!! In fact if he is found not criminally responsible, my family will have to attend a yearly review of Mr Li’s mental condition.

How is that justice?

That is unbelievable and unacceptable! Would you want this person medically treated or not who has demonstrated this level of violence towards another human being, settling down in your neighborhood, ever, at any time in the future? I know I don’t.

Under our current Judicial system Vincent Li will likely continue to receive medical treatment and he will be studied. I believe that if he is able to remain aware of exactly what he did to another human being ( My son) than so be it.

He needs to be in a locked facility where he can think about it everyday for the rest of his life. THAT IS HIS PUNISHMENT!!! He still has a life and his victim does not. I believe this is a “NO BRAINER!”

Locked up for Life

Timothy’s 23rd birthday would have been Oct 3, 2008. We had his favorite foods for dinner and a cake with good friends, but Timothy wasn’t there and he never will be again. Myself and my family are seeking JUSTICE for Timothy. MERCY for ourselves. We should not have to go through Vincent Li’s review process each year instead of a birthday party. And SAFETY for all of us.

Most of all we are gathering here tonight to raise awareness that this is what this family now faces and what other parents could be facing in the future if these laws are not changed. Please help me to be the voice that says “NOT GOOD ENOUGH, NOT ACCEPTABLE and definitely NOT JUSTICE!!!!!”

A change needs to come from this tragedy, a change for improvements to many of our current systems because they failed Timothy and they are failing
all of us. I believe we are all fed up with violent criminals continuing to get away with or getting lenient sentences for outrageous and violent crimes against others. There have been too many cases of violent criminals being incarcerated, treated and released, only to re-offend.

Enough is Enough

I am inspired and strengthened by all the support and prayers from everyone here, across the country and across the world. My sons horrific murder happened so that everyone would be paying attention. Could this be the start of the greater good that’s supposed to come from something this devastating?

Vincent Li A Decent Man ? According to Dr. Stanley Yaren

Winnipeg beheading killer a ‘decent man’: Doctor
Vincent Li has very strong chance to recover from major mental illness
By Mike McIntyre, Winnipeg Free Press
WINNIPEG — He claims voices in his head from God caused him to single out a perfect stranger, stab him multiple times and then decapitate, defile and cannibalize the body in front of dozens of horrified witnesses.
But despite committing one of the most gruesome crimes in Canadian history, Vincent Li could be rehabilitated enough to return to the streets one day, according to his doctor.
It’s an assessment that’s frustrating members of Tim McLean’s family, who were in court Tuesday to see the man accused of brutally killing their 22-year-old son.

Psychiatrist Stanley Yaren told Li’s second-degree murder trial the admitted killer has a very strong chance to recover from the major mental illness and extreme psychosis that triggered last summer’s slaying of McLean on board a Greyhound bus.

He said he could make a significant recovery in the next few years under rigorous treatment and medication.

The brutal incident took place on a bus travelling near Portage la Prairie, Man., about 80 kilometres west of Winnipeg, on July 30, 2008.

Li boarded the Greyhound in Edmonton, with a ticket that would take him to Thunder Bay, Ont. But his trip ended two days later when he attacked McLean.

RCMP arrived on scene and watched from outside the bus, alongside dozens of passengers, for several hours as Li continued to stab and defile McLean’s body.

Li was seen eating some of McLean’s remains. Police later discovered McLean’s eyes, part of his heart and other pieces of his flesh were missing.

Yaren said Tuesday that Li is slowly beginning to realize what he’s done but still doesn’t accept the fact he consumed some of McLean’s body parts.

“It may be he’s blocked it from his consciousness . . . that it’s just too awful for him to contemplate,” he said.

Li admits he killed McLean but began his case Tuesday by pleading not guilty by reason of a mental disorder.

Yaren, a witness on behalf of the Crown who is the director of forensic psychiatry for both Manitoba and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, has concluded Li should be found not criminally responsible for his actions based on his mental state at the time.

Such a ruling would send him to a hospital, instead of a prison, for an indefinite period.

Yaren described Li as an otherwise “decent person” who was suffering from untreated schizophrenia and clearly out of his mind when he believed he was acting on God’s commands to eliminate “the force of evil” by attacking the sleeping McLean.

“He was being tormented by auditory hallucinations,” said Yaren, who has worked closely with Li at the Health Sciences Centre psychiatric ward in Winnipeg since he arrived last August.

“He believed Mr. McLean was a force of evil and was about to execute him. He had to act fast, urgently, to save himself. This wasn’t an innocent bystander or stranger he chose to kill, but rather an evil force he was commanded to kill.”

Wearing handcuffs and leg shackles, Li shuffled into the courtroom Tuesday led by several sheriff’s officers. He sat motionless in the prisoner’s box, wearing a dark suit jacket, slacks and a light-coloured dress shirt without a tie.

Yaren said Li has been co-operative and made significant strides since being hospitalized and medicated and could function again in the community — something Yaren admits doesn’t sit well with most people, including the victim’s family.

“I completely understand the need for a sense of justice, of retribution,” said Yaren.

“It would be in some sense easier if Mr. Li was an anti-social psychopath with a history of malicious behaviour, but he isn’t that. He is, as I’ve come to know him, a decent person.”

Li still suffers delusions, including a belief he will one day be executed, Yaren said.

“He is not 100 per cent out of his psychotic phase yet,” he said. “But over time, as he recovers, he will have to come to terms with the awful things that have occurred.”

Yaren said Li began experiencing psychotic episodes around 2003, including a 2005 incident where he was picked up by police walking down Highway 401 in Ontario, believing he was “following the sun” after shedding most of his possessions.

He was briefly hospitalized in Etobicoke, Ont., but received no further followup after refusing to accept he had an illness or take any treatment, court was told.

Tim McLean’s mother, Carol deDelley, said she found it offensive a city psychiatrist described her son’s killer as a decent man.

“I hate the illness, but that doesn’t mean I forgive the man,” she said Monday.

She also said she found it difficult being in court hearing the details of her son’s death being made public for the world to hear.

But she added she was compelled to be in court so her son’s death would not be in vain.
“I’ve got to say what I think needs to be said. If I just stay at home. I’m just accepting this for the way that it is.”
She was joined by about a dozen family and close friends, many wearing white T-shirts and buttons emblazoned with McLean’s picture.

DeDelley has said she wants the law changed so anyone found not criminally responsible for a crime still serves time behind bars.
© Copyright (c) Winnipeg Free Press

Witness that the crown never called to the stand.WHY?

Stephen Allison was sitting across the aisle from Vincent Weiguang Li when he allegedly beheaded and defiled McLean’s body near Portage la Prairie on July 30. He hailed McLean as a hero.

“If it wasn’t for what he did, there would have been more that didn’t get off that bus,” said the 19-year-old Northwest Territories native.

He said McLean tried to get away from the suspect, attempting to fight off his killer after receiving at least two devastating stab wounds.

‘LAST ATTEMPT’

“When Tim fought back, he gave us all time to get off the bus,” Allison said in Winnipeg last night. “He was asleep initially, but then he jumped over (the suspect) and tried to fight … it was a last attempt (to save his own life).”

He said that last ditch move landed McLean in the aisleway, where the suspect allegedly continued his brutal attack.

“He was quickly and repeatedly stabbing him … he was arching his back, using his whole body. He was coming crashing down with each blow,” said Allison, noting the suspect used a double-edged hunting knife about 15 centimetres in length.

Allison ran to the front of the bus to tell the driver to pull over, then returned to the rear of the bus to reach his wife Isabelle, who was still near the horrifying scene.

“By the time I got back, (McLean) wasn’t moving,” he said, noting only seconds had passed.

Allison said he believed he and others were also in danger.

Allison and his wife were travelling from Fort Smith, N.W.T., to Kenora to visit family at the time of the murder, before moving onto Winnipeg to attend school. He said witnessing the grisly murder so closely has had a terrible impact on their lives, even prompting him to steer away from an education in criminal justice this fall for one in environmental sciences.

“We can’t even sleep through the night any more,” he said.

Li, 40, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the homicide. His next court appearance is set for Sept. 8.

Cure For Criminal Insanity

Cure for criminal insanity discovered!!!
Friday, March 6th, 2009

We must assume that such a cure has been found.

Vince Li (the nut who decapitated an innocent passenger on a bus) was found to be not criminally responsible for his act due to insanity the other day. It is hardly unexpected that Li was determined to be a lunatic. A person does not exactly need their doctorate in psychology in order to conclude that Vince Li was crazy. Of course, how many people who commit murder have all of their marbles rolling around correctly anyway?

I do not believe in a vengeful justice system. As horrific as the murder that Li committed was, I am not one of those calling for his execution or a lifetime of daily torture in a deep hole. What I do believe though is that the protection of the public must be paramount!

While some people are expressing shock and rage with Li’s being found not responsible, the usual hug-a-thug crowd is quick to come in and point out that Li will likely never be released back into the public. That would indeed be comforting if indeed there was any reason to believe it. Unfortunately that is nowhere near the truth in Canada’s “justice” system.

The media did not need to dig too deeply to find a local example of an insane murder released among us with a paltry amount of time served in a nuthouse.
Steven Gaeten Lee (the clearly remorseful man pictured above) murdered Steven Tavares in a Kananaskis hotel room in 2004. Tavares’ body was found to be viciously perforated by 28 stab wounds.

Well, Lee was found to be not criminally responsible due to being insane. We were assured that he would be in an institution for a very long time.

Steven Gaeten Lee was released last May!

Perhaps I am being simplistic, but would it not take a little more than three years to confidently “cure” a man who is capable of committing such an act?

We must assume that he has been cured. The institution would never have released him otherwise right? I must have missed the headlines when this cure for insanity was discovered. Criminal insanity has plagued humanity for centuries, one would think that the cure for such a condition would have been trumpeted far and wide. Sorry folks, there is no way that a person who can commit acts as Li and Lee did could ever be considered safe and stable.

Obsessive compulsive disorders take years of treatment to bring under control (they are never cured), how the hell is murderous rampaging exactly cured?

Li is a young man and we can rest assured that his crazy and dangerous ass will be walking Canada’s streets again.

The benefit of the doubt is given to these killers far too often and the public is paying the price. Just ask the families of the victims that Gingras killed when on a three day rampage after being released from an Edmonton institution.

The safety of the public must come before giving the benefit of the doubt to these nuts.

N.C.R Not knowing what you did was wrong?

Evidence of Knowledge of Wrongfulness

1) Efforts to avoid detection
- wearing gloves during crime
- waiting until dark
- taking victim to an isolated place
- wearing mask or disguise
- concealment of a weapon on way to crime
- falsifying documents (passport, firearm permit)
- giving a false name
- threatening to kill witnesses if they report to police
- giving a false alibi

2) Disposing of evidence
- wiping off fingerprints
- washing off blood
- discarding of murder weapon
- burying a murder victim secretly
- destroying incriminating documents
3) Efforts to avoid detection
- fleeing from the crime scene
- fleeing from the police
- lying to the police

4)Statement by the defendant that he or she knew the act was wrong at the time of the offense

5) Notifying the police that a crime was committed

6) Expression of remorse or guilt after the crime committed

7) Absence of hallucinations or delusions suggesting that the offense was justified

Who is Dr Stanley Yaren?

Who is Dr Stanley Yaren? I need to state first and foremost that the views expressed in this post may not be shared by others. I am of the opinion that the crown prosecutor never fulfilled their legal duty to the people they represent. I am also of the opinion that the taxpayers were double billed for this trial. The taxpayers should not be burdened with a requirement to pay for the defence lawyers nor was there any need for a witnesses for the defence. This was a waste of taxpayer’s money … Defence lawyer 101 … if the prosecution has not proven their case… you make a motion to quash the charge. If they have proven your case… sit back and smile.

Dr Stanley Yaren was called by the crown as their star witness…. actually, their only witness.

Dr. Stanley Yaren described Li as a “decent person” who was clearly out of his mind when he believed he was acting on God’s orders to eliminate “the force of evil” and attacked Tim McLean.

Yaren said Li has made significant strides since being hospitalized after his arrest and could one day function again in the community — something Yaren admits doesn’t sit well with most people, including the victim’s family.

“I completely understand the need for a sense of justice, of retribution,” Yaren told Queen’s Bench Justice John Scurfield.

“But (Li) is as much of a victim of this horrible illness … as Mr. McLean is a victim. Don’t hate the person. Hate the illness.”

Yaren tells court he saw Li nineteen times, for a total of 12 hours. Who is Stanley Yaren… Doctor Stanley Yaren is Manitoba’s chief forensic psychiatrist… He has testified at other hearings… Although I have marked in bold some statements, you can formulate your own opinion!

R. v. Lowes:  Between Her Majesty the Queen, informant, and Kirk Lowes, accused

[1997] M.J. No. 549 Manitoba Provincial Court

Briefly summarized: The accused has pleaded guilty to an information charging him with the offence of distributing child pornography, contrary to Section 163.1(3)(a) of the Criminal Code. The Crown having proceeded by indictment, the maximum punishment is incarceration for a term not exceeding ten years.

Dr Stanley Yaren report for this case:

The psychiatric report prepared by Dr. Stanley Yaren, Psychiatrist, Health Sciences Centre, PsychHeath Centre, dated April 16, 1997 (contained in Exhibit 51):

“The reason for this assessment was explained to Mr. Lowes. He understood that our conversation was not confidential as I would be preparing this report for your use. He was completely cooperative, open and spontaneous throughout the assessment procedure. Mr. Lowes is facing charges in connection with distributing child pornography over the Internet. Mr. Lowes readily acknowledges and admits to the actions which led to the charges against him. He also acknowledges the wrongfulness and immorality of his behaviour. Based upon this assessment it is my opinion that Mr. Lowes’ involvement in the offending behaviour was not intentionally malicious was not done either for personal sexual gratification or for financial gain. Mr. Lowes first developed an interest in the Internet in December of 1996 at which time his home computer became connected to the Internet through a commercial Internet service provider. Mr. Lowes’ interest rapidly progressed to a fascination and then later an obsession. He started spending all of his spare time in front of the computer attempting to master the technology of the Internet. This type of experience was not new for Mr. Lowes or for his wife, as it was his usual practice when he was becoming involved in and learning about something new to totally immerse himself in it. Mr. Lowes eventually mastered the techniques of searching the Internet and discovered News Groups where he was able to access sexually explicit material of all kinds. He admits that initially he was somewhat titillated by the erotic material (but not the pedophiliac material). He states that the novelty soon wore off and the content became boring. He then became interested in exploring more deviant material. He derived excitement from the sense that he was exploring and accessing things that are usually forbidden. He viewed this more as a technical challenge than as something he was doing for sexual gratification. As I understand it he explored a number of areas of deviant sexuality not only pedophilia. Eventually Mr. Lowes sought to increase his technical skills and mastery as well as his exploration of the forbidden by getting into the process of exchanging pictures by electronic mail. Apparently Mr. Lowes was unaware of the fact that there are relatively simple techniques which can be used to exchange E-mail without having it traced back to the individual. Mr. Lowes appears to have been experimenting without giving much thought to the implications of his actions. Mr. Lowes states that by the time he was charged with the offences his interest in the Internet had already begun to wane and it had been several weeks since he had accessed or exchanged any of the pornographic material. He states that he was in the process of deleting the material from his computer hard drive as the pictures were using up all of his storage space. Mr. Lowes is 27 years old. He has no past history of mental disorder and no criminal record. He has been married for the past 2 1/2 years to a woman who he has known for the past 14 years. They are expecting their first child later this year. Mr. Lowes has some university education. He is steadily employed on a full-time basis in a semi-skilled job with a cable manufacturing company. Previously he has worked as a salesman. Mr. Lowes is a moderate drinker and he does not use illicit drugs. He is in good physical health . . . . .

Mr. Lowes indicates that he does not experience any deviant sexual arousal. He indicated that he worked in one of the first adult video stores in Winnipeg. Initially he found this job quite sexually exciting but he rapidly discovered that continuous exposure to explicit sexual material was boring, monotonous and he soon lost interest. It is interesting to note that this earlier experience seems to have been repeated in his more recent exposure to explicit material over the Internet. It appears that when he became bored with this material he pursued more deviant and forbidden material as a way of stimulating his interest. Mr. Lowes indicated that he and his wife are quite compatible sexually and that he does not experience any need for involvement in deviant sexual fantasies or practice. There is nothing based upon my examination to indicate that Mr. Lowes suffers from pedophilia or any other paraphilic disorder . . . . . I would not classify Mr. Lowes’ level of involvement in the Internet as a true addiction. I do not consider his interest in child pornography to be a manifestation of a pedophilic disorder. I do not identify any other mental disorder or condition requiring treatment or psychological intervention.”

end of report

Sounds like Kirk Lowes would also be a fine upstanding citizen who according to Mr Stanley Yaren, should be allowed to work at your local daycare.. thanks, but no thank… Kirk Lowes can watch your kids!

Li was not convicted of any crime. Based on the testimony of this Dr Stanley Yaren,  the judge was forced to make a judgement based on the evidence presented. Had the judge been presented with evidence allowing him to convict the defendant, there would have been minimum sentencing guidelines that would have been imposed.  But the judge was presented with Stanley Yaren’s professional opinion. Like the opinion I just shared….  This is why we need Tim’s Law.

We are looking for donations to offset the cost of getting the transcript of Dr Stanley Yaren testimony at the Li trial. Information on donating to the Tim’s Law effort can be found under the contact info at the top of the homepage.

The Humane Way

It’s pretty obvious we need new laws governing those found not criminally responsible for serious, violent offences, including murder.

The story of Vince Li, who stabbed, beheaded and mutilated carnival worker Tim McLean last year just outside of Portage la Prairie, is a perfect example.

I know all the do-gooders and the highbrow crowd think putting a guy like Li away for the rest of his life is inhumane and uncivilized.

They trot out all the psychiatric statistics and justifications for why we shouldn’t keep severely psychotic people like Li in secure custody forever.

NOT REALLY CRIMINALS

They’re not really criminals. They didn’t really commit the offence, the illness did. And they should be given a chance to reintegrate. Yeah, we get it.

But for those of us who place greater weight on public safety, we say keeping Li off the streets forever is just common sense.

I keep hearing this argument that most people deemed not criminally responsible after killing someone don’t kill again after they’re released into the community.

Therefore, they don’t need to be locked up forever, the argument goes.

Well, the same could be applied to people who are found criminally responsible for homicide. Most of those don’t kill again either, most studies show. But we still hand out life sentences for first and second-degree murder.

CIVILIZED

I don’t see why under the Criminal Code we can’t sentence people deemed not criminally responsible for serious, violent offences to life in a secure facility.

Instead of a prison, a court would sentence them to a secure mental-health facility.

It would be humane, civilized and the right setting for people with severe mental health illnesses.

The reality is, there are all kinds of complicated reasons why people commit offences. Some people are controlled by their addictions, serious psychological afflictions from years of abuse and neglect, fetal alcohol syndrome, mental health issues not serious enough to warrant institutionalization, you name it.

Are those people responsible for their crimes? Did they know what they were doing? Did they know it was wrong?

Yes, no, maybe.

At some point did Vince Li know what he was doing was wrong when he dismembered Tim McLean? Did he have a lucid moment?

Not even Dr.Stanley Yaren, the forensic psychiatrists who testified at his trial could say for sure.

If we’re going to allow someone like Vince Li back on the street because he has a serious mental disorder, should we let the person with FAS convicted of second- degree murder out, too?

If not, why not? No doubt a bunch of high-priced lawyers and forensic psychiatrists could make a case for why the FAS offender shouldn’t be held responsible for his actions because he didn’t know what he was doing was wrong.

After all, it wasn’t his fault his mother drank during pregnancy.

No, we shouldn’t let the FAS killer out. We shouldn’t let the crack-addicted killer out. And we shouldn’t let Vince Li out.

All for the same reason: public safety. Put them in the right institution. Treat them humanely. Give them the treatment they require. Whatever.

But for goodness sake, don’t let them back on the street.

For excerpts of the agreed statement of facts in the Vince Li case, visit Brodbeck’s blog Raise a Little Hell at winnipegsun.com.
News Columnists / Tom Brodbeck