Thursday, the verdict on the case of a mentally ill man on trial for beheading a fellow Greyhound bus passenger will be announced by the judge in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The case involves brutal murder of Tim McLean, last July, by Vince Li. In this case both the Crown and the defense agree that Li is mentally ill and suffering from schizophrenia and thus cannot be held guilty of murder as he was not in his senses when he committed this crime.

On Wednesday Dr. Jonathan Rootenberg, a psychiatrist, testified for the defense, saying that Li, 40, heard the voice of God telling him to kill McLean or be killed himself.

"The attack was sudden and came as Li caught a glimpse of the sunlight and heard God's voice telling him that McLean was a threat," said Rootenberg. "The voice said, Do it now ... If you don't, he's going to kill you."

The agreed statement of fact produced in the court also read that that Li attacked his victim "for no apparent reason" and repeatedly stabbed McLean, completely ignoring the other passengers on the bus.

The bus then pulled over near Portage la Prairie, Man. Where the passengers fled the bus and Li was locked inside it. He initially tried to escape, but when he failed in his attempts he went back to McLean's body and continued to mutilate it.

Dr. Stanley Yaren, the psychiatrist who testified on behalf of the Crown, told the court that Li cut up McLean's body, because he was afraid that he would come back to life otherwise.