Crown prosecutors are dropping all 14 murder charges against an Ontario man accused of selling a harmful substance to individuals in crisis, as stated by his lawyer.
In response, Kenneth Law will admit guilt to counselling or aiding suicide, Matthew Gourlay informed on Friday evening.
Law’s case is set to return to a Newmarket, Ont., court on Monday afternoon.
This news suggests that Law’s criminal trial – which had been postponed and was supposed to start earlier this month – will not happen.
Instead, the 60-year-old will officially enter his plea at a later date.
Law, who is a trained engineer and worked as a hotel cook, faced charges including first-degree murder and counselling or aiding suicide related to 14 deaths across Ontario.
He has been in custody since his arrest at his Mississauga home in May 2023.
Authorities previously mentioned that Law ran online stores selling a legal – but possibly deadly – chemical along with other suicide-related items. An indictment filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice connects Law to 14 deaths in various cities such as Toronto, Thunder Bay and London, Ont.
The families of 18-year-old Jeshennia Bedoya Lopez, 19-year-old Ashtyn Prosser, and Stephen Mitchell Jr., 21, have identified their loved ones as alleged victims. Authorities noted that the other deceased ranged from ages 16 to 36.
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Ashtyn Prosser, Jeshennia Bedoya Lopez and Stephen Mitchell Jr. are all listed in court documents as alleged victims of Kenneth Law. (Submitted by Kim Prosser, Leonardo Bedoya, Stephen Mitchell Sr.)
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No word yet from AG
Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment on Friday evening. If Law’s murder charges are indeed dropped, he could face a lighter prison sentence. According to the Criminal Code, aiding suicide has a maximum penalty of 14 years. A murder conviction results in life imprisonment without parole for at least 25 years.Source link
