At a sentencing hearing in Ontario, bereaved families described how the deaths linked to Kenneth Law have "destroyed" their lives. Law has admitted 14 counts of aiding suicide in Canada; British authorities link about 79 UK deaths to his products. Authorities say he sold roughly 1,200 toxic packages to recipients in some 40 countries and was arrested in May 2023 after an international investigation. Family impact statements, including from parents and a survivor, described lasting grief, guilt and trauma.
Families Describe Lives 'Destroyed' as Impact Statements Are Read at Kenneth Law Sentencing
Danielle Cornish died after taking poison sold by Canadian Kenneth Law [Cornish Family]
The mother of British student Samuel Whitaker told an Ontario court that her son's death after taking poison supplied by Kenneth Law has "destroyed" their family. Samuel, a 19-year-old University of Warwick student, was found collapsed outside his halls after ingesting a toxic substance linked to Law.
Families Read Emotional Statements
Tanya Whitaker became emotional while giving a video statement that opened the second day of Law's four-day sentencing hearing in Ontario. "He barely had a chance," she said. "It has broken me completely and utterly. It has broken us as a family and me as a mother." She described her husband as a "shell" after losing their only biological son.
Law, a former chef, sold about 1,200 packages of toxic substances to recipients whom he met in online suicide forums [Peel Regional Police / PA Wire]
Debbie Cornish, whose daughter Danielle also died, told the court her family is "still fighting" to stay together nearly four years on. Cornish referred to Law only by the initials "KL" in her written statement and said the loss had left the family living "a constant nightmare."
Other Victims' Families Share Devastation
Relatives from several other British victims described ongoing grief, guilt and trauma. Faith George recounted finding her daughter Faith ("Chimma") helpless after taking the poison and said her daughter's last words "echo in my mind every day." Maurice Dunham said the final memory of his son Michael — an argument during a holiday — has haunted him and left him contemplating his own death.
Aimee Walton died with a stranger by her side who had flown from the US [PA Media]
Maureen Cooper called the pain of losing her son Gary "unbearable," while the mother of Yeanu Mistry described being told of his death as "the news every parent fears." Adele Zeynep Walton, sister of Aimee Louise Elif Walton, said Aimee died "in the company of a stranger" she met online, after a person from a suicide forum flew from the United States to be with her in the days before her death.
Survivor Testimony and Broader Investigation
The hearing also heard from a British survivor, Elisabeth Belien, who was given an antidote after taking poison linked to Law. She said she felt "guilty for surviving" and that her vulnerability had been exploited.
Law, a former chef, has admitted 14 counts of aiding suicide in Canada. Authorities say he sold about 1,200 packages of toxic substances to recipients he met in online suicide forums, shipping to people in roughly 40 countries; British authorities say around 79 deaths in the UK have been linked to his products. He was arrested in May 2023 after a complex international investigation involving more than a dozen agencies.
The sentencing hearing is ongoing, and family impact statements are being read so victims' loved ones can describe the losses and trauma they continue to endure.
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