A Canadian man accused of selling toxic substances to vulnerable people around the world has pleaded guilty to 14 counts of aiding suicide, bringing a major international criminal case closer to conclusion.
Kenneth Law, 60, entered the guilty pleas in an Ontario court on Friday as part of a deal with prosecutors, who agreed to withdraw more serious murder charges.
Authorities allege that Law sold about 1,200 packages of toxic chemicals to customers in 40 countries after connecting with them through online suicide forums.
The case has attracted international attention because of its global reach, with investigators linking a significant number of deaths in several countries to products supplied by Law.
Canadian prosecutors said the charges relate to 14 victims in Canada. However, authorities in the UK have previously linked 79 British deaths to substances allegedly supplied by him.
The plea agreement has angered some families in Britain, who argue that Law should also face prosecution in the UK.
According to the UK’s Crown Prosecution Service, it agreed to the Canadian plea arrangement on the basis that British victims would be considered during sentencing.
Prosecutors said pursuing extradition after a Canadian conviction would likely face significant legal obstacles and could take years to resolve.
Among the victims was 19-year-old Ashtyn Prosser-Blake of Ontario, who died in March 2023.
His mother, Kim Prosser, said that her son had struggled with his mental health following the Covid pandemic but remembered him as “a super happy, really gentle soul” who always stood up for others.
In Britain, David Parfett said his 22-year-old son Thomas died after obtaining the substance allegedly supplied by Law.
Parfett described his son as someone who “really saw the joy in life” and said he remained frustrated that Law would not face trial in the UK.
He has called for a public inquiry into the deaths linked to the case, arguing that authorities need to better understand how such substances were obtained and distributed.
Law was arrested in May 2023 following a multinational investigation involving law-enforcement agencies from countries including the UK, the United States and Italy.
Investigators alleged that he operated several websites offering substances and equipment intended to help people end their lives.
Under Canadian law, a conviction for aiding suicide can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
Erizia Rubyjeana
