Kenneth Law pleads guilty to aiding 14 suicides in Ontario

NEWMARKET — A packed Ontario courtroom is hearing about the last moments of people who died after using deadly products purchased from Kenneth Law, after the Toronto-area man at the heart of an international investigation pleaded guilty to 14 counts of aiding suicide.

Some of the 14 Ontarians whose deaths are linked to Law were found by relatives, others by first responders. Some left notes explaining their decision. Some were in their 30s, while others — who cannot be identified because of their age — were teenagers.

Law, 60, sat largely motionless as the details of his crimes were read aloud by the prosecution. In the audience, some dabbed their eyes with tissues and held each other for comfort. At least three briefly left the courtroom.

Law was scheduled to stand trial last month on these charges as well as 14 of first-degree murder but his defence lawyer, Matthew Gourlay, indicated that the murder charges would be withdrawn and his client would instead plead guilty to the lesser charges.

Court heard Friday that the Crown plans to withdraw the murder charges after Law is sentenced. A sentencing hearing is expected to take place this fall.

Police have alleged Law ran several websites that were used to sell sodium nitrite and other items that can be used for self-harm, shipping some 1,200 packages to people in more than 40 countries. They have alleged roughly 160 of those packages were sent to addresses in Canada.

An agreed statement of facts is being read in court, with the hearing expected to span several hours.

Prosecutors also laid out details on 79 people in the United Kingdom who they said died because of products bought from Law.

The families of people who died in the U.K. after allegedly receiving packages from Law say the country’s National Crime Agency and Crown Prosecution Service have informed them that Law will not be facing charges there because extradition could be a lengthy process and any sentence imposed in Canada would be similar.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2026.

Kathryn Mannie and Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press