Kenneth Law

Not to be confused with Kenneth Lay, Ken Lay (police officer), or Kenneth Lau.
Kenneth Law
Born1965 (age 58–59)
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
York University (claimed by Law)
Occupation
  • Sodium nitrite salesman

Kenneth Law (born 1965) is a Canadian man who was charged with shipping sodium nitrite, a potentially lethal substance, to people intending to kill themselves. He was arrested in May 2023 on two counts of counselling or aiding suicide.[1] He was later charged with 14 counts of first-degree murder.[2] By September 2023, he had become a suspect in 120 suicides worldwide, including 88 in the United Kingdom alone.[3] Law, however, is not being prosecuted outside of Ontario.[4]

Sodium nitrite is also a food preservative and is not inherently illegal, but is harmful to humans in large enough quantities. Law has admitted to selling the substance but argues that he had "no control" over what his customers did with his products and thus has not committed a crime.[5] As of 2024, Law is pleading not guilty.[6] His trial is scheduled to start in September 2025.[7]

  1. ^ Cecco, Leyland (2023-05-03). "Canada man charged with supplying substance linked to UK and US suicides". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  2. ^ Arsenych, Alex (2024-01-25). "Kenneth Law now facing upgraded murder charges in Ontario sodium nitrite deaths: sources". CP24. Retrieved 2024-05-26.
  3. ^ "'Brilliant, amazing': Ontario mom remembers son who authorities say died from Kenneth Law's products". CP24. 2023-09-08. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  4. ^ Yousif, Nadine (2024-02-02). "Canadian 'poison killer' Kenneth Law to head straight to trial". Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  5. ^ Freeze, Colin; Hager, Mike (2023-04-25). "Peel Police investigate Ontario man shipping substance used in suicides". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
  6. ^ Daigle, Thomas (March 21, 2024). "Quebec deaths probed for links to alleged poison seller Kenneth Law". CBC.
  7. ^ Daigle, Thomas (2024-06-28). "Murder trial for alleged poison seller Kenneth Law set for Sept. 2025, families told". CBC.