Poison seller 'robbed victims of chance to recover from struggles', court hears

Kenneth Law, a Canadian poison seller, has been accused of depriving his victims of the opportunity to overcome their mental health struggles, a court has heard. During his appearance in Ontario, Canada, victim impact statements were read for some of Law's 93 victims involved in the Canadian proceedings. The 61-year-old pleaded guilty to 14 counts of aiding suicide, all connected to Canadian victims, although he was not formally charged with their deaths.

Ninety-nine UK victims, who died after purchasing Law's products online, also form part of the broader Canadian case.

Stephen Mitchell Sr., the father of 21-year-old Stephen Mitchell Jr., who passed away on March 25, 2023, described his son as gentle, intelligent, and loyal, but also vulnerable to depression. Mr. Mitchell Sr. explained that he tried his best to help his son, but Law robbed him of the chance to recover. Stephen Jr. had purchased poison from Law on January 31, 2023, and was found dead in his bed by his brother, Ethan, in Toronto.

Mr. Mitchell Sr. acknowledged that Law might have had fleeting moments of regret while in prison, but these thoughts were also shared by his son before he consumed the chemicals sold by Law.

Sandra Scott, whose 25-year-old daughter Amara Scott died in February 2022, shared that Amara was meeting her life goals but was going through a mental health crisis. She stated that their efforts to help her were cut short when she reached out to the accused. Greg Bryson, whose 34-year-old son Tyler died in May 2023, expressed that Law took away something they could never regain. He noted that Law provided Tyler and many others with an option to address their mental illness at their weakest point.

Adrienne Dalli, whose brother Maurizio Antonio Vadala died in March 2023, shared her anger, confusion, and sense of injustice at the guidance of Maurizio's death, instead of support or prevention. The court also heard that Law had sent 1,200 packages to 40 countries worldwide, with 330 products sent to the UK alone, from Canada-based websites. The maximum sentence for aiding suicide in Canada is 14 years, but the sentence in this case is likely to be more due to the number of victims and the nature of the offenses.