The Canadian man who helped scores of people worldwide kill themselves by selling them poison pleaded guilty on Friday to 14 counts of aiding suicide, as prosecutors said they will withdraw murder charges.Since Kenneth Law’s arrest in 2023, details of the online forums where he advised distressed people on how to end their lives have caused public outrage and triggered investigations in several countries.In Canada, Law faced 14 murder charges and an additional 14 charges for aiding suicide.At a court in Newmarket, north of Toronto, prosecutors said they did not believe they had a viable path towards a murder conviction.Law then stood in a semi-enclosed area reserved for defendants, flanked by his three defence lawyers, and said “I plead guilty” to aiding the suicide of 14 people in Canada.A man walks outside the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, Canada, on Friday. Photo: ReutersSentencing will be determined at a separate hearing, probably in September, when the court will hear victim impact statements.
Canadian poison seller Kenneth Law pleads guilty to aiding suicides
The former chef could face 10 to 20 years in prison but will not stand trial for murder.
TL;DRAI
Kenneth Law, Canadian man who sold poison online to help people kill themselves, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of aiding suicide in a Newmarket court; murder charges were withdrawn by prosecutors who saw no viable conviction path. The case, which sparked investigations across multiple countries, highlights the growing legal and regulatory pressure on online platforms enabling harm — with sentencing expected in September.
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