Greyhound bus killer appears in court

Toronto: A man who witnesses said stabbed and beheaded his seat mate on a Greyhound bus in Canada made his first court appearance Friday, while police offered no motive for the savage attack against a 22-year-old carnival worker.

Vince Weiguang Li, 40, of Edmonton, Alberta, was charged with second-degree murder, an indication police do not think the attack was premeditated. He shuffled into the courtroom Friday in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba with his head bowed and feet shackled.

Li, whose face was bruised and one hand bandaged, did not reply when the judge asked if he was going to get a lawyer, and only nodded slightly when asked whether he was exercising his right not to speak. He was not required to enter a plea.

The prosecutor asked for a psychiatric assessment, but the judge said he wanted to give Li a chance to meet with his lawyer. Li's next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Li, who worked as a newspaper carrier in Edmonton, has no known criminal record.

Li's employer, Vincent Augert, said Li had delivered papers until Monday. He said he had told him recently that he had a job interview in Winnipeg.

"I just had shivers," Augert said. "And I still do. I cannot believe this. He's a nice guy."