Former Canadian chef, Kenneth Law, 58, has been indicted on 14 counts of second-degree murder for allegedly aiding suicides of young individuals, including teenagers, in Ontario, according to a police announcement on Tuesday.
Law, previously charged with 14 counts of "counseling or aiding suicide" in relation to the same deaths, is believed to have sold over 1,200 suicide kits filled with lethal sodium nitrite, a food preservative, worldwide.
Law reportedly mailed 160 packages of the deadly substance to Canadians aged between 16 and 36. His operation is believed to have expanded to over 40 countries since 2020, following his job loss at Toronto's historic Fairmont Royal York Hotel due to the pandemic.
Law's activities have been linked to 117 deaths globally, with the majority occurring in the UK, as reported by Canadas CBC outlet, citing court documents and statements. The National Crime Agency in London identified 272 British individuals who purchased items from Law's websites, 90 of whom are deceased.
Among the alleged victims is 22-year-old Tom Parfett of Sunbury-on-Thames, who ended his life in October 2021 using a chemical purchased from Law's website for approximately $60, his father confirmed. "It sends a signal to other people who encourage vulnerable people to self-harm and provide suicide kits that theyre not beyond the law," David Parfett told the BBC, responding to the murder charges filed against Law in Canada.
Authorities in New Zealand, France, Ireland, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland have confirmed that Law shipped packages to their countries, resulting in at least one known death. Inspector Simon James of the York police force in Canada stated during a Tuesday press conference that Ontario police are collaborating with multiple international investigations.
Law, who allegedly used several websites to sell his lethal products to vulnerable individuals, has been incarcerated since May. "One of the challenges that we face are a number of these sites are located in other countries where Canadian law does not apply," Inspector James noted.
Law is scheduled to appear in court again on December 19. If convicted of second-degree murder, he could potentially be sentenced to life imprisonment, marking him as one of Canada's most prolific mass murderers.
Login