A Canadian man accused of selling lethal substances online to people at risk of self-harm has agreed to plead guilty to counseling or aiding suicide, his lawyer confirmed Saturday. In turn, Canadian prosecutors will withdraw all 14 murder charges against Kenneth Law.
Background
Kenneth Law, a former chef from the Toronto area, operated a series of websites that marketed and sold sodium nitrite, a substance commonly used to cure meats that can be deadly if ingested. Police say Law sent at least 1,200 packages to more than 40 countries worldwide.
Law was arrested at his Mississauga, Ontario, home in May 2023 and has remained in custody since. The case drew international attention as authorities in the United States, Britain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand launched their own investigations into his online sales.
Britain's National Crime Agency said it has identified 232 people in the U.K. who purchased products from Law's websites in the two years up until April 2023. Of those purchasers, 88 had died.
The Canadian victims were both male and female between the ages of 16 and 36, according to police. The young age range of some victims highlighted the deadly reach of Law's online operation.
The Investigation
Peel Regional Police led the investigation into Law's activities. Investigators uncovered that Law targeted vulnerable individuals seeking means of self-harm through his online platforms.
Matthew Gourlay, Law's lawyer, confirmed the plea agreement in an email to The Associated Press. "The plea will be to the charges of aiding suicide," Gourlay said.
Under Canadian law, it is illegal to recommend suicide, although assisted suicide has been legal since 2016 for people aged at least 18 who have a serious illness, disease or disability. However, anyone seeking medical assistance in dying must ask for help from a physician — not purchase lethal substances online.
Key Takeaways
- Kenneth Law agreed to plead guilty to counseling or aiding suicide
- All 14 murder charges will be withdrawn by prosecutors
- Law is accused of selling sodium nitrite to vulnerable individuals online
- Police say he sent approximately 1,200 packages to more than 40 countries
- British authorities identified 232 U.K. purchasers; 88 of them died
- Canadian victims ranged in age from 16 to 36 years old
- Law has been in custody since his arrest in May 2023
What's Next
Law's case is scheduled to return to a Newmarket, Ontario, court on Monday afternoon for the plea hearing. The maximum sentence for aiding suicide under Canadian law is 14 years in prison, significantly less than the mandatory life sentence with no parole eligibility for at least 25 years that murder charges would have carried.
Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the plea agreement.