Peel Regional PoliceFive deaths in Scotland have been linked to a Canadian man who sold lethal substances online to people across the world.
Kenneth Law appeared in court in Ontario on Friday, where he formally entered guilty pleas to 14 counts of aiding suicide, all relating to Canadian victims.
The 60-year-old sold lethal substances to victims across the world, including 330 packages sent to the UK.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said 79 UK victims who died as a direct result of purchasing Law’s products will form part of the wider case into his offending.
The Canadian prosecutor provided the court with an ‘Agreed Statement of Facts’ documenting the impact of Law’s crimes on UK victims.
This reflected the fact that 73 people died in England and Wales, five in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland, as a result of using products he supplied to them.
A spokesperson for the Crown Office said: “COPFS and Police Scotland have been liaising closely with Canadian prosecutors in relation to the deaths of a number of people in Scotland.
“We are limited in what we can say at this time.”
The court heard Law was the sole owner of four companies, with one firm’s website offering a “set of instructions” and advertising 40-minute telephone consultations for 150 dollars (£111).
The site also showed a “testimonial” from the estate of someone who had killed themself to prove the “efficacy” of his products.
The court also heard how Law would occasionally frequent an online forum where users discussed ending their lives, where he would post under the pseudonym “Greenberg” to direct people to one of his websites.
The maximum sentence for aiding suicide in Canada is 14 years – the same as for encouraging suicide in the UK.
It is understood that the sentence in this case is likely to be more than 14 years because of the number of victims and the nature of the offences.
Damon Hayes, the head of the NCA’s International Corruption unit, said that Law’s crimes against people in the UK had been included in the Canadian prosecution.
“Following recent legal advice, it was decided that including Law’s UK offending in his Canadian sentencing was the right course of action to secure justice for victims and families here,” he told reporters.
“Under Canadian law, it is likely that Kenneth Law could challenge extradition on the basis that he’s already been sentenced for the same offences in his own country.
“It’s only due to the thoroughness and strength of our investigation that this course of action is available.
“The UK is the only country globally that has an investigation detailed and mature enough to be included in the Canadian prosecution.
“The NCA has been working closely with policing colleagues in Scotland and Northern Ireland to ensure victims in their jurisdictions can also be recognised in this way in a Canadian case.”
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