A CANADIAN maniac who killed a man in Scotland was secretly freed to return to his homeland — where he is accused of leaving another stranger for dead in the street.
Tian Hui Zhan, 32, stabbed to death Michael Davis, 21, in Glasgow city centre in 2010, claiming he thought the victim was a zombie.
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He was ordered to be held at Carstairs state hospital indefinitely but we can reveal Scottish Government ministers allowed him to return to a secure facility in Canada six years ago — without informing Michael’s family.
Zhan was released back into society in 2023 by Canadian authorities and earlier this month was charged with bludgeoning a 70-year-old over the head with a baton in Hamilton, Ontario.
Michael’s shocked family said: “As far as we were aware, he was still held in Carstairs. None of the family had an idea he was back in Canada and walking the streets as a free man.”
Chinese-born Zhan, 18 at the time, was found not guilty of Michael’s murder by reason of insanity at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2011.
He was released fully into the community in 2023 after Canadian authorities ruled he was no longer a significant threat to public safety.
But earlier this month he was arrested and charged over the spontaneous street attack there.
Zhan is currently being held in custody and is due to appear in court at a later date.
Constable Adam Kimber, of Hamilton Police, said of the latest incident: “The two men had a brief interaction on a bus.
“When they got off the bus, Zhan hit the 70-year-old man over the head multiple times with the baton.
“The man had significant, life-threatening injuries to his head. Thankfully the hospital was nearby and staff there were able to stabilise him. There were multiple witnesses who identified Zhan as the person who carried out the assault and he was arrested at the scene.”
Zhan, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, previously told a psychiatrist he had travelled from Canada to Scotland because “voices” said he should.
His trial heard his mental health had got worse because he was not taking his medication.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr Ian Dewar told the court he thought Zhan would have to be “carefully supervised” for the rest of his life.
But in March 2023, the Ontario Review Board found the chances of him committing another violent offence were “minuscule”.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our sympathies remain with the family of Michael Davis.
“Under the Victim Notification Scheme, victims and their families can register to receive certain information including about transfers outwith Scotland and conditional discharge from hospital of offenders with a mental disorder.
“We understand there was no one registered in this case. We are working with victim support organisations to increase victims’ awareness of how they can register for the scheme and access information.
“We are also progressing plans to reform the Victim Notification Scheme so victims receive improved support, advice and information.”
The Ontario Review Board said it does not comment on individual cases.
