At Kenneth Law’s Ontario sentencing hearing, Tanya Whitaker said her 19-year-old son Samuel’s death after taking poison sold by Law broke their family. Law has admitted 14 counts of aiding suicide in Canada; UK families’ impact statements are also being read.
Samuel, a University of Warwick student, was found collapsed outside his halls after taking the poison. British authorities have confirmed 79 UK victims died after using Law’s products. Authorities say Law sold about 1,200 packages of toxic substances to recipients from 40 countries he met in online suicide forums; roughly a quarter of the packages were sent to the UK.
Under a plea deal with Canadian authorities, Law will not face charges in the UK or over any British deaths. The four-day hearing continues; a British survivor who was saved by an antidote after taking poison from Law told the court on Wednesday that she felt her vulnerability had been exploited.
