Accused suicide kit salesman Kenneth Law won’t face any charges in the United Kingdom over and above his charges in Canada, British authorities told family members of those who died, even though the majority of the people who are known to have died after consuming Law’s products lived there.
An investigating officer from the U.K.’s National Crime Agency and a prosecutor from that country’s Crown Prosecution Service wrote that it will be up to a judge in Canada to consider the worldwide impact of the crimes to which Law is expected to plead guilty on Friday.
“We understand how important it is for bereaved families to know that the death of their loved one has been fully recognised and properly accounted for in the justice process. After very careful consideration, we have decided that the harm suffered by victims in England and Wales will be included as part of Mr. Law’s sentencing in Canada,” says the letter, which was obtained by CTV News.
The letter says British prosecutors considered that extraditing Law to the U.K. would be a lengthy process, the sentence imposed could be similar, and Law may simply end up going back to Canada to serve his time if he were convicted.
Law was arrested in 2023 in connection with 14 deaths in Ontario and accused of aiding and abetting those suicides by supplying a deadly chemical, which is legally used to preserve meat, though in high concentrations it is deadly.
Police said at the time that Law sent more than 1,200 packages to 41 countries. Law was charged with first-degree murder, but those charges were dropped.
The U.K.’s National Crime Agency has tied 112 deaths there to Law’s products. Around the world, a count by CTV News has found at least 150 deaths. Police in Ontario said the youngest person to die in that province was 16.
The decision not to charge Law in the U.K. has bereaved families calling for a public inquiry there.
“What message does that send to every other predator who preys on vulnerable people online – that the United Kingdom will not act, even on this scale?” said Adele Zeynep Walton, a journalist whose sister Aimee died after consuming Law’s products.
The father of 22-year-old Tom Parfett, who died in 2021, said existing measures aren’t stopping other salesmen. He pointed to a W5 investigation that showed 29 more Canadians had died after Law was arrested, and a Ukrainian seller claimed he “regularly” supplied Canadians.
“I am angry, but I am not surprised. For months, we have been told that the system is working and that existing measures are enough. They are not. If our own country will not put anyone on trial for these deaths, the very least it can do is hold a proper inquiry into how they were allowed to happen,” said David Parfett.
Since Law was arrested, Canadian border guards have intercepted at least 30 packages containing the chemical, and they have alerted local police at the destination to provide support to the customer.
Suicide itself is legal in Canada, and a regulated process, called “Medical Assistance in Dying,” can be accessed by those over 18 who have a grievous and irremediable medical condition.
However, counselling suicide and aiding suicide are crimes punishable by a maximum of 14 years in prison for each case.
British authorities, in that letter, expected the Canadian judge to be informed of the scale of the deaths in the United Kingdom.
“The Canadian prosecutor has informed us that they would like the sentencing judge to take account of the consequences that Mr. Law’s offending had in England and Wales. The Canadian judge may impose a longer sentence if the court is informed of the harm caused to the victims in England and Wales by Mr. Law sending the products from Canada,” the letter says.
“This would allow the judge to reflect the full extent of Mr. Law’s criminal behaviour, including the fact that his actions resulted in the deaths of people in this country and that he sent products to many others around the world,” the letter says.
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If you or someone you know is in crisis or struggling with mental illness, here are some resources that are available:
Canada Suicide Crisis Helpline (Call or text 988 or visit 988.ca)
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (1-800-463-2338)
Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)
If you need immediate assistance, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
