“I didn’t know Tim McLean but I was shocked and disgusted to learn of his violent death. My heart and soul are hurting with you and for you,” wrote Lisa Morgan of Inverness, Florida. “I just wanted to say that I am so, so sorry for your loss. McLean’s death has prompted thousands of messages of condolence to the McLean family on websites such as Facebook. She was …very gentle individual.”Īlso Sunday, friends of Tim McLean were planning a late-night vigil at the Manitoba legislature. But people here knew her well, spent a lot of time with her. “She has simply requested that we not put a spotlight of attention on her at the moment. “She is shocked and very much afraid as to what this is going to mean for her own life,” Castor said. Some members have already spoken with Anna Li, who has left her apartment in Edmonton and wants to remain out of sight for the time being. The congregation is planning to offer support to Li and his wife. “We are hoping the right thing can be done and that God will lead in how things are handled,” Julianna Enns said after the service. Church members were shocked by what had happened. He remains in custody and is due back in court Tuesday.Ĭastor led his congregation Sunday in a special prayer for everyone affected by the tragedy. Li has not entered a plea to the charge and said nothing during his first court appearance Friday. Li was charged with second-degree murder. Two days later, near Portage La Prairie, Man., Tim McLean, a 22-year-old travelling carnival worker riding a Greyhound bus to Winnipeg to visit relatives, was stabbed repeatedly and beheaded. On Monday, Li finished delivering his papers and disappeared, Augert said. Li asked for time off recently to go to Winnipeg for a job interview, but told his wife he was going for a family emergency, according to Augert. His delivery boss, Vincent Augert, also described Li as reliable, hard-working and not showing any signs of trouble. Li quit his job at the church in the spring of 2005, and later moved to Edmonton, where his jobs included service at a fast-food restaurant and newspaper delivery. “We are very thorough in our assessments, and there was nothing we could have foreseen,” Castor said. Like other churches, Grant Memorial offers new immigrants what it can to help them start - including menial jobs.Ĭhurch officials vetted Li by talking to people listed on his application as personal references. Li had come to Canada with his wife, Anna, to seek a new life. “He seemed like a person who was happy to have a job, was committed to doing it well and didn’t stand out in any way (in terms of) having anger issues or having any other issues,” Castor said Sunday in his office.Ĭastor’s comments are the latest details to emerge about Li, a man accused of committing a crime that has horrified people around the world. Pastor Tom Castor, who helped hire Li soon after he immigrated from China in 2004, said the man never showed any sign of anger or emotional problems. Long before he was accused of the gruesome beheading of a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus in Manitoba, Vince Weiguang Li was a quiet and hard-working custodian at Grant Memorial Church.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |