Canadian ‘poison cook’ Kenneth Law, 57, has been charged with a further 12 counts of assisted suicide among victims aged 16 and over as he has been linked to 88 deaths in Britain.
The merchant of death was previously charged with two counts of counseling and assisted suicide after allegedly selling 1,200 packages to 40 countries through disguised websites.
Law, a former aerospace engineer who eventually worked in the kitchen of a luxury hotel, now faces a dozen charges in connection with even more deaths in Ontario, said Simon James, the York regional police superintendent.
“We will not tolerate criminal actions by those who target vulnerable individuals in our communities and we will hold those responsible accountable,” he told reporters at a news conference.
Police said Law’s 12 charges related to four deaths in Toronto, three in the York area, one in the Durham area, one in London, Ontario, one in Thunder Bay, one in the Waterloo area and one in the Peel.
But they added that they believed more than a tenth of the packages he sent were sent to Canadian addresses, though they quickly said that was an “approximate” figure.
A Canadian chef has appeared in court after allegedly selling deadly substances to help people around the world commit suicide
While he is currently in police custody, Canadian police officers warned the public to watch for packages or transactions bearing the names of Imtime Cuisine, AmbuCA, Academic/ACademic, Escape Mode/escMode and ICemac.
Britain’s National Crime Agency has also launched an investigation into the deaths of 88 people who purchased products from Canada-based websites that sell resources to aid suicide.
The agency said 272 people believed to have purchased substances to facilitate suicide through Law’s websites, but it could not confirm that the chemical allegedly sold by Law was the direct cause of the 88 deaths.
NCA Deputy Director Craig Turner said on Friday: ‘Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of those who have passed away. They are supported by specially trained police officers.’
That same day, Law appeared briefly in court in Brampton, Ontario before the hearing was postponed to September 8.
Kenneth Law leaves the post office in the city of Mississauga in Ontario, Canada. International police are now investigating a string of suicides around the world for links to him
Kenneth Law previously appeared in court in Brampton, Ontario on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, an artist sketch
The law is also being investigated by forces around the world, including in the United States, Italy and Australia, though Canadian police said they would only focus on cases within Canada’s borders.
British police have also made welfare visits to hundreds of addresses to track down buyers across the country.
The NCA said that “there is no confirmed link between the items purchased through the websites and the cause of death in any of these cases at this early stage.”
“In consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, the NCA has taken the decision to launch an investigation into possible criminal offenses committed in Britain. This operation is in progress.’
The law came on the radar of the police after she told an undercover reporter for The Times newspaper that “many, many, many, many” of his clients had died in a two-year period.
The Times reported that Law also claimed to have sent the substance to “hundreds” of people in dozens of countries.
17-year-old Anthony Jones Westland of Michigan, an American who ran to his mother and yelled “I want to live” after ingesting the substance that eventually killed him
Michael Dunham of London, UK died after buying products from Law’s company
Tom Parfett, from Maidenhead, Berkshire in Great Britain, died at the age of 22 after buying the drug
Neha Raju, from Surrey, UK, who died after buying products from Law’s company
Peel Regional Police have released images of the chemical allegedly being sold
He allegedly boasted that some buyers had told him he was doing “God’s work.”
Law told the reporter that he started selling the poison after seeing his mother suffer a stroke.
“We have not progressed far enough as a civilization to openly accept death. I hope I’m just a little bit more enlightened,” he said.
Anthony Jones, a 17-year-old from Michigan, was one of Law’s alleged victims.
“It was 3 a.m. and he ran into his mother’s room, screaming and begging to call emergency services,” New York attorney Carrie Goldberg told CTV News Toronto.
He ran to his mother and shouted “I want to live” after ingesting the substance, which eventually killed him, according to research from The Times.
In the UK, retailers are required by law to alert authorities if they believe the substance may have been purchased to cause harm.
It is also illegal to commit suicide in the UK and Canada, both of which carry a maximum of 14 years in prison.
Law’s websites have since been removed by the domain owners.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat with 988lifeline.org.
You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA at 741741, and for confidential support, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255
In the UK, the Samaritans helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whatever you’re going through.
It’s free to call them on 116 123 and you don’t have to be suicidal to call them.