A Canadian man pleaded guilty to 14 counts of assisting suicide after sending lethal poison packets to more than 100 people across dozens of countries. He appeared in a packed Ontario courtroom and confirmed his voluntary plea while acknowledging the scope of his actions. The court read charges tied to deaths of 14 people in Ontario and he admitted sending substances that caused 79 deaths in the UK. Prosecutors agreed to withdraw 14 murder charges in exchange for the guilty plea. He previously ran websites selling lethal chemicals and suicide paraphernalia, including instructions for use. He used disguises such as offering other products to evade detection. Investigators said he sent 1,209 packages to people in 41 countries before the websites were shut down.
"Kenneth Law appeared in a packed courtroom in Newmarket, Ontario, on Friday to enter the plea, and sentencing is expected to take place in September. Prosecutors agreed to withdraw 14 murder charges in exchange for Law's plea. Law, 60, pled guilty multiples charges of counselling or aiding suicide. Wearing a dark blazer, white shirt and khaki pants, Law told Justice Michelle Fuerst he understood the scope of his crimes and was voluntarily entering a plea."
"Family members were visibly emotional as the court read out each of the charges and Law confirmed his role in the deaths of 14 people across the province of Ontario who were between the ages of 16 and 36. He also admitted sending the lethal substances that caused the death of 79 people in the UK. The closely watched case has highlighted the challenges of policing online forums that promote suicide and sell fatal substances."
"The court was told that Law sent suicide kits to people in 40 countries and territories, but the vast majority were sent to people in the UK and the US. Police officers outside the court on Friday before Law's appearance. Photograph: Carlos Osorio/Reuters Law, a one-time engineer and cook at a Toronto hotel, ran a series of websites that sold lethal chemicals to at-risk people around the world."
"To evade detection, Law offered other products including hot sauce to give the illusion that he operated as an industrial food-prep wholesaler. He also sold suicide paraphernalia and gave detailed instructions about how to use the items. Investigators say Law sent 1,209 packages to people in 41 countries before his websites were shut down."
Read at www.theguardian.com
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