Sentencing hearing to begin for poison seller Kenneth Law

U.K. police link 79 deaths to Kenneth Law but aren't pressing charges

From left, Ashtyn Prosser, Jeshennia Bedoya Lopez and Stephen Mitchell Jr. are all listed in court documents as victims of Kenneth Law. (Submitted by Kim Prosser, Leonardo Bedoya, Stephen Mitchell Sr.)I'm Thomas Daigle, a senior reporter with CBC News in Toronto. I've been covering the Kenneth Law case since 2023.

Today is sure to be an emotional day in court. More than 50 victim impact statements from Canadian and British families are expected to be read out.

From 2021 to 2023, Law, a former Toronto hotel cook, ran websites selling toxic salt and other potentially dangerous products, knowing buyers — including teenagers — intended to use the items to end their lives.

Using the pseudonym "Greenberg" on a pro-suicide forum, Law coaxed at-risk users to buy his products.

As Britain's National Crime Agency put it, Law "believed he was untouchable in his criminal business which exploited vulnerable people around the world at a time when they needed support the most."

This page contains discussion of suicide, including references to people who have died by suicide. Some of the material may be distressing.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In Canada, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide Crisis Helpline. Kids Help Phone is available at 1-800-668-6868, or by texting 686868.

Kenneth Law, seen in a court sketch during a hearing held via Zoom, pleaded guilty in May to counselling or aiding suicide in connection with 14 deaths in Ontario. His sentencing hearing is taking place in Newmarket, Ont., this week. (Pam Davies/CBC)Sentencing proceedings are set to begin for poison seller Kenneth Law in a Newmarket, Ont., courtroom today. Law pleaded guilty in May to counselling or aiding 14 suicides in Ontario between 2021 and 2023, admitting he ran websites that sold suicide paraphernalia to vulnerable people who later died.

Today is the first day of hearings where Superior Court Justice Michelle Fuerst will hear evidence from the Crown and defence with respect to sentencing. The proceedings are expected to take several days, with court dates scheduled until Sept. 28, if necessary. 

We're expecting the court to hear several victim impact statements from the families of people whose deaths Law is guilty of abetting. 

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, counselling or aiding suicide carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years for each count.

At the time of Law's guilty plea, court heard a lengthy agreed statement of facts that included details of the circumstances of victims' deaths, including how in many cases, their bodies were found by family or friends with the items they purchased from Law located nearby.

Assistant deputy Crown attorney Cindy Nadler said Law was aware the products he sold were being used by people to bring about their deaths. She told the court Law frequented an internet forum that discussed suicide and would respond to posts, sometimes directing people to the websites he used to sell those products. 

Court also heard details about multiple other deaths linked to Law in other countries, including dozens in the U.K. alone. 

Although prosecutors in the U.K. decided not to charge Law or apply for his extradition, these details were included so they can be considered in the sentencing process.