Kenneth Law pleaded guilty on Friday in a court near Toronto to charges related to aiding the suicides of 14 individuals in Ontario, including two minors. In addition to these charges, the 60-year-old admitted to facilitating 79 deaths in Britain by supplying toxic substances and asphyxiation equipment to people seeking to end their lives.

Mr. Law, who operated an online business from his home in Mississauga, was charged in 2023. During the hearing before Ontario Superior Court Justice Michelle Fuerst in Newmarket, he repeatedly affirmed his guilt as the charges were outlined. This marks the first time Mr. Law has formally acknowledged any criminal wrongdoing.

A detailed agreed statement of facts was read aloud by prosecutors, outlining the circumstances of each death in Ontario and referencing the 79 cases in the U.K. that Mr. Law assisted. The British National Crime Agency recently informed victims’ families that it would not pursue extradition, instead transferring evidence to Canadian authorities to be considered during sentencing. The agency described this arrangement as ensuring justice for victims and families in the U.K.

According to the statement, Mr. Law shipped hundreds of packages from a Canada Post location near his residence. While shipments were sent worldwide, the majority were destined for the United States (431 packages), Britain (330), and Canada (157). The products sold ranged in price from US$80 to US$450, generating approximately $300,000 in total revenue. Beyond toxic salts, Mr. Law also provided asphyxiation devices and charged a $150 hourly consultation fee for related advice.

Court testimony revealed that many victims were young, often under 40 and sometimes teenagers, with histories of anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges. Relatives frequently discovered their loved ones dead or dying, sometimes with Mr. Law’s resealable packaging nearby. Several victims contacted emergency services or family members after ingesting the substances but did not receive timely assistance.

Prosecutors detailed communications in which Mr. Law used coded language, requested assurances clients were not police, and advised on concealing equipment to limit evidence linking him to the deaths. It was also noted that more than a dozen individuals took their own lives after Mr. Law’s arrest in May 2023, despite police conducting wellness checks at the time.

Mr. Law’s defense lawyers stated that he sold items that were lawful and maintained that the customers made their own choices to use them to end their lives. They noted that he had accepted responsibility even for deaths outside of Canada, including those in the U.K. They expressed hope that the guilty plea would provide some degree of justice and closure for families.

The courtroom was filled with relatives of Canadian victims, many visibly emotional during the hearing as a recorded 2023 phone call featuring Mr. Law was played. In the conversation, Mr. Law described his business as a form of “social benefit” and explained the suicide methods he sold. He acknowledged operating in a legal grey area and admitted the challenge law enforcement faced in stopping him.

During a raid on Mr. Law’s apartment, police discovered shelves stocked with lethal substances. Prosecutors also revealed Mr. Law’s use of an online alias, “Greenberg,” to promote his products within suicide forums while feigning neutrality.

After several hours, Justice Fuerst found Mr. Law guilty of 14 counts of aiding suicide. His sentencing is scheduled for September.