Kenneth Law, 60, pleaded guilty on May 30 to 14 counts of aiding suicides in Canada after selling toxic chemicals online. The pleas were entered in an Ontario court as part of a deal with prosecutors, who withdrew more serious murder charges.
Authorities said Law sold about 1,200 packages of the toxic substances to recipients in 40 countries, many of whom he met through online suicide forums. Roughly a quarter of these packages were sent to the United Kingdom. While all charges relate to Canadian victims, families of British victims have expressed frustration that UK prosecutors will not charge Law over the deaths of 79 Britons linked by authorities to products he supplied.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) agreed to the Canadian plea bargain on the basis that Law’s sentence would take British deaths into account. A letter from the CPS stated that Law would not face charges in the UK because he could challenge extradition after being convicted for similar offences in Canada. Specialist CPS prosecutor Andrew Hudson said including UK victims in Canadian sentencing was “the quickest and most effective route” to justice. Hudson also said successful extradition was “far from guaranteed and would have taken years,” while any UK prosecution “could have been blocked under double jeopardy principles.”
Ontario man Ashtyn Prosser-Blake died by suicide at age 19 using substances allegedly supplied by Law. His mother, Kim Prosser, described him as “such a super happy, really gentle soul,” and added, “The pain of losing my son Ashtyn doesn’t ease because someone sits behind bars… There is no solace in my healing journey to see someone else suffer.” In the UK, David Parfett’s son Thomas used a substance reportedly sold by Law before his death at age 22. Parfett said, “Tom was somebody who really saw the joy in life… I miss the opportunity to enjoy the 2026 World Cup with him.” He called for a public inquiry into such deaths so authorities can “understand this issue and stop other people unfortunately suffering.”
Law was arrested in May 2023 following an investigation involving at least eleven law enforcement agencies from around twelve countries including Canada, Italy and the US. His arrest followed reporting that included undercover work alleging he sold poison directly while advising customers how best to use it for fatal results.
Law’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for several days beginning September 23; victim impact statements will be read out during proceedings.
