British Woman Who Bought Poison From Canadian Seller Died With Stranger She Met Online, Court Hears

Aimee Louise Elif Walton, 21, of Southampton, was found dead in a hotel room in Slough, Berkshire, on 14 October 2022, a Canadian court was told. Prosecutors say she purchased poison from a Canadian national, Kenneth Law, who is accused of supplying so-called suicide kits internationally.

Victim Impact Statement Played In Ontario Court

In Ontario, a recorded victim impact statement from Ms Walton's sister, Adele Zeynep Walton, was played during hearings. Adele Walton told the court her sister did not die alone or in the company of a friend, as earlier reports suggested, but while staying with a man she had met on an online forum where people discussed ending their lives.

"She died in a strange place, in a strange city, in the company of a stranger," Adele Walton said. She added that the man had flown from the United States and had been staying with Aimee for 11 days before her death. "You only need to listen to the recording of the emergency call to know how much she suffered during the last moments of her life."

Allegations Against Kenneth Law

Prosecutors allege Kenneth Law, 61, sold about 1,200 packages to buyers in some 40 countries via Canada-based websites. Court documents say roughly 330 packages were sent to the UK and that 286 individual recipients in the UK have been identified. Authorities say 79 people in the UK are known to have died after purchasing poison linked to Law.

Kenneth Law is accused of assisting suicide by allegedly selling 1,200 packages of poison across 40 countries - PA Wire/Peel Regional Police

Law has pleaded guilty in Canada to 14 counts of aiding suicide relating to Canadian victims. He has not been formally charged in relation to the UK deaths, but the British fatalities are referenced in the wider Canadian proceedings. Families have been told that extradition and further UK prosecution could be legally complicated because of double jeopardy and other procedural issues.

How The Services Were Promoted

Court evidence indicates Law owned several companies and ran websites that sold chemical agents with instructions. One site reportedly advertised 40-minute telephone consultations for around $150 and offered step-by-step guidance. He is also said to have posted on online forums under the alias "Greenberg," directing users to his sites.

Purchases, Motive And Mental Health

Prosecutors told the court Ms Walton purchased poison from Law on several occasions between June and September 2022 for a total of about $269 (approximately £203). Adele Walton said her sister had struggled with her mental health since the Covid-19 pandemic, which had forced her to delay her studies.

Adele Walton has written a book about losing her sister, Aimee - Russell Sach

Sentencing Outlook And Reactions

In Canada the maximum sentence for aiding suicide is 14 years, the same top penalty for encouraging or assisting suicide in England and Wales. Media reports and court sources say the sentence in Law's case is expected to be substantial given the number of victims and the severity of the offences.

Relatives of British victims, including Adele Walton, have criticised the lack of a clear UK prosecutorial route and called for a statutory public inquiry to examine how the situation arose and what steps the British state will take to prevent similar tragedies.

Note: This article reports allegations and court testimony. Law has pleaded guilty to charges in Canada; investigations and legal proceedings concerning international victims are ongoing.