'Chef of death': Ex-employee of luxury hotel in Canada admits to selling lethal substances to dozens of countries
Canadian Kenneth Law admitted in court that he sold lethal substances online to people who committed suicide, sending more than 1,200 packages to 41 countries, according to The Guardian.
Law appeared in court in Newmarket, Ont., on Friday, where he pleaded guilty to his actions after prosecutors agreed to drop murder charges. The man has confirmed his role in the deaths of 14 young people in Canada and another 79 people in the UK.
Countries where the poison packets have arrived include Canada, Great Britain, the United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. Sentencing is scheduled for September.
Before Judge Michelle Fuerst, the 60-year-old man said he was voluntarily pleading guilty to “advising or aiding and abetting suicide” and that he understood the gravity of his actions. He confirmed in court that the young Canadians who died were between the ages of 16 and 36.
Law, a former engineer and chef at a five-star hotel in Toronto, ran websites through which he sold lethal chemicals globally. To avoid detection by the authorities, he also sold food products, such as hot sauce, mimicking the activity of an industrial wholesaler.
Investigators determined that he shipped 1,209 packages to 41 countries before his online platforms were shut down. The packages sent were silver in color and contained accessories, instructions for use and a warning stating that use of the product is the sole responsibility of the buyer.
Documents presented in court show that several victims sought help after ingesting the substance. A 29-year-old man called 911 saying: “Please, I'm going to die soon,” and a UK victim told the operator she didn't want to die.
At the time of his arrest, Law had collected C$296,981 through platform accounts associated with his firms.
In court, relatives of the victims criticized the plea deal. Leonardo Bedoya, the father of an 18-year-old girl who took her own life, called the settlement “a disgrace” and called on the Canadian government to shut down online platforms that encourage suicide.
Kim Prosser, the mother of a 19-year-old who died in 2023, described the hearing as a difficult day to bear.
In the UK, the National Crime Agency has determined that 286 people have received parcels, resulting in 112 deaths. The Canadian judge will also take these UK deaths into account when determining the sentence.
British families are calling for a public inquiry, claiming authorities have ignored 65 warnings issued by coroners since 2019.
Prosecutors reduced the initial charges to manslaughter after an earlier appeals court ruling suggested that merely turning on or supplying a substance was not enough for a manslaughter conviction. Canada's criminal code punishes complicity in suicide with up to 14 years in prison.
The statements of the victims' relatives and the sentencing will take place in September.
What to do if you are in a crisis situation
If you have suicidal thoughts or someone close to you is going through such a crisis, call one of the following phone numbers:
*Helpline DepreHUB: For psychological support and first aid, contact the antidepressant hub at phone number 037 445 6420 (toll-free nationwide from any network). The line is by The line is open 24/7.
*Telverde Antisuicide: For counseling in suicidal crisis situations, call the Romanian Alliance for Suicide Prevention between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., on the phone number 0800 801 200 (callable nationally free of charge from any network) or anytime by e-mail at [email protected].
If you feel that suicide is imminent, call 112 immediately.
