Tim McLean, 22, was on his way home to Winnipeg when he was slain on a Greyhound bus last July 30. (Family photo)

Vince Li, who this week was found not criminally responsible for the beheading of a fellow Greyhound bus passenger in Manitoba last summer, will not be walking free any time soon, says an expert on issues involving mental illness.

Annette Osted, executive director of the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba, said it will be years before Li could even be considered stable enough to be moved from the most secure areas of the Selkirk Mental Health Centre.

And it will be years after that before he could perhaps be considered stable enough to be released from the facility. If that were to happen, Li would be observed up to twice a day while he's out, said Osted.

"He will be assigned a forensic community mental health worker — very often a registered psychiatric nurse — and he will be followed up by that … worker and a psychiatrist for the rest of his days, like permanent parole, if you wish," she said.

'These grotesque acts are appalling... but are suggestive of a mental disorder.'—Judge John Scurfield

On Thursday in Winnipeg, Li was found not criminally responsible in the unprovoked killing of Timothy McLean last summer.

Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench Judge John Scurfield said Thursday that Li, 40, could not be found guilty of murder and is not criminally responsible because he was mentally ill at the time of the killing.

"These grotesque acts are appalling … but are suggestive of a mental disorder," the judge said. "He did not appreciate the act he committed was wrong."

Li had pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder. Psychiatric evidence at his trial this week suggested he is a schizophrenic who suffered a major psychotic episode last July 30 when he fatally stabbed McLean, 22, cut off his head and ate some of his body parts.

For five hours after the killing, Li wandered around on the bus, defiling the body while an RCMP tactical team waited to subdue him.

Mental health review board not easy on criminals: Osted

If Li were ever freed, he would be reincarcerated at the first sign he was unstable or not taking his medication, said Osted.

She said the mental health review board is often tougher on people found not criminally responsible than a regular parole board.

Since Scurfield's decision, McLean's family has expressed concern whether Li could, in the future, end up free in the community again without supervision.

Osted said the fear is understandable, but she hopes the community can get past it and ensure Li and others who are found not criminally responsible for reasons of mental illness can get the treatment they need.