Survivor faces poison seller in court

Elisabeth Belien, a British woman, confronted Kenneth Law at his sentencing hearing in Ontario, Canada on Wednesday. She was 23 when he sold her toxic chemicals after meeting her in an online suicide forum.

She survived but carries lasting trauma

Belien received an antidote and physically recovered. But she has suffered survivor's guilt after learning others had died, and continues to struggle with intrusive thoughts and flashbacks from the day she took the poison.

“I feel guilty for surviving.”

Law made despair easier to act on

Belien told the court that Law had exploited her vulnerability. She said he made it easier for her to act on her despair and that her purchase enabled him to continue supplying products to other vulnerable people.

“Kenneth Law made it a lot easier to act on that despair.”

Law admitted 14 counts of aiding suicides

Kenneth Law, a former chef, has admitted 14 counts of aiding suicides in Canada after meeting people in online suicide forums. But almost 80 deaths in the UK have also been linked to him.

Sold 1,200 packages across 40 countries

Law sold about 1,200 packages of toxic substances to recipients he met in online suicide forums in 40 countries. Roughly a quarter of the packages were sent to the UK. He was arrested in May 2023.

Father of Tom describes five years of grief

David Parfett, whose son Tom died in October 2021, said he has struggled with his mental health since. He spent months trying to expose the harm caused by internet platforms that allowed Law to trade, and is still unable to fully process Tom's death.

Parents of 14-year-old Henry Tucker speak

Kate and Henry Tucker said their son Henry, 14, had been diagnosed with autism but actually had a neurological condition that could have been treated with antibiotics. They said the realisation his death could have been prevented is a weight impossible to bear.

“The realisation that his suffering and his death could have been prevented is a weight that is impossible to bear.”

Ashleigh Harris's father demands recognition

Norson Harris, father of British victim Ashleigh Harris, read a statement in person about losing his daughter. He said Law sold her a chemical instead of offering the help she needed, and expressed hope Law will recognise that those who reached out to him were loved.

“Rather than offer the help needed that individual Kenneth Law sold her a chemical that Ashleigh took to end her life.”

Stephen Mitchell Sr addresses his son's death

Stephen Mitchell Sr, father of Canadian Stephen Mitchell Jr who died on March 25 2023, told Law that his son was ill and needed help. He said Law robbed his son of the chance to be well and imagined what despair Law might feel in prison.

“He was ill, he needed help, and I tried my best to bring him that help.”

Amara Scott's mother describes her loss

Sandra Scott, whose daughter Amara Scott died on February 9 2022 aged 25, said the family was trying to help her through a mental health crisis when she contacted Law. Scott said finding her daughter broke her heart but called it a blessing to be Amara's mother.

“The day I and her friends found Amara, and the way that she died, it broke my heart.”