A Canadian chef has appeared in court after allegedly selling deadly substances to help people around the world commit suicide.
Kenneth Law, 57, was arrested in his hometown of Ontario and charged with two counts of counseling and assisted suicide after allegedly selling 1,200 packages to 40 countries through disguised websites.
Britain’s National Crime Agency has launched an investigation into the deaths of 88 people who purchased products from Canada-based websites that sell resources to aid suicide.
The agency could not confirm that the chemical allegedly sold by the law was the direct cause of the 88 deaths.
Law appeared briefly in court in Brampton, Ontario, on Friday before the hearing was postponed to Sept. 8.
A Canadian chef has appeared in court after allegedly selling deadly substances to help people around the world commit suicide
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.
British police have also made welfare visits to hundreds of addresses to track down buyers across the country.
A total of 272 individuals in the UK have been identified as having purchased products through the websites over a two-year period to April 2023. According to the NCA, 88 of these people have died.
The law enforcement agency added 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.”
Craig Turner, deputy director of the National Crime Agency, said: ‘Our deepest condolences go out to the loved ones of those who lost their lives. They are supported by specially trained police officers.
“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 Britain, Tom Parfett, Michael Dunham, 38, Neha Raju, 23, and a 21-year-old student all died after allegedly buying products from Law’s company.
Tom Parfett, from Berkshire in England, committed suicide at the age of 22 after allegedly buying Law’s drug.
His father, David, said his son was actually given a loaded gun.
He told The Times: “I believe my son would still be alive if it weren’t for this drug.”
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 Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
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.