Kim Prosser holds a photo of her son Ashtyn outside the Ontario Court of Justice following a court appearance involving Kenneth Law in Newmarket, Ont., Friday, May 29, 2026. Law pleaded guilty to multiple counts of aiding suicide, including the death of Prosser’s son. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Drost
The heartbreaking stories of those who took their own lives with products purchased online from Kenneth Law were shared in a crowded Ontario courtroom on Friday after the Toronto-area man involved in an international investigation admitted guilt to 14 counts of aiding suicide.
Some of the 14 individuals from Ontario connected to Law’s actions were discovered by family members, while others were found by first responders. Some left behind notes detailing their reasons for their decisions. The ages varied; some were in their 30s and others – who cannot be named due to age restrictions – were minors.
One victim, 29-year-old Robert Hu, called 911 himself after taking a chemical he had bought from Law, desperately asking for help, according to court statements.
“He repeatedly said, ‘please,’ and ‘I am going to die soon,’ and then began crying,” Crown prosecutor Cindy Nadler stated. By the time paramedics arrived, he was unresponsive and struggling to breathe. Sadly, Hu later died at the hospital.
An additional case involved 19-year-old Ashtyn Prosser-Blake, who was found by his grandmother when she stumbled upon a journal containing his farewells while checking if their Thunder Bay home was locked for the night. She immediately called 911 but despite attempts at resuscitation by paramedics, he was pronounced dead at the hospital as reported by Nadler.
Law, aged 60, sat mostly still as prosecutors recounted the details surrounding his crimes. In attendance were some emotional family members wiping away tears and seeking comfort from one another. A few even stepped out of the courtroom briefly.
Outside the Newmarket courthouse, Kim Prosser struggled to hold back tears while discussing her son Ashtyn’s loss three years prior.
“Hearing his name read in there is tough,” she mentioned. “Seeing his name next to the word deceased has always been the most challenging to grasp.”
Stephen Mitchell Sr., whose 21-year-old son Stephen passed away in 2023 expressed that many more would have likely died due to Law’s actions had it not been for grieving families overseas who “raised concerns, spoke up and cried out in their countries over what Mr. Law was doing in Canada.”
“We grieve with you,” he said.
Leonardo Bedoya, father of Jeshennia Bedoya-Lopez who died at age 18 in 2022 shared with reporters outside court that he felt disheartened because Law didn’t acknowledge any families during his plea hearing. Speaking Spanish, Bedoya noted that this behavior felt disrespectful.
A former chef, Law was originally set for trial last month facing these charges along with an additional count of first-degree murder; however notice regarding a plea deal emerged from his defense lawyer Matthew Gourlay.
The Crown indicated on Friday it plans to drop murder charges once Law is sentenced which is expected in September; this will allow friends and relatives impacted by these tragedies an opportunity to share how they’ve been affected by Law’s actions.
Aiding suicide under Canada’s Criminal Code can result in sentences of up to fourteen years imprisonment for those found guilty.
Law operated multiple websites selling sodium nitrite among other substances that could be used for self-harm while shipping around 1,200 packages globally across more than forty countries according to a statement read during court proceedings. Nearly 160 packages went out within Canada alone as outlined.
A total nearing $290k from sales via Shopify and Pay Pal found its way into his accounts between January 1st ,2020 and May23rd ,2023 based on this statement’s information provided at trial.
Court records indicated that during transactions made lawfully , “Law was aware that these customers were likely using those products” intending them for suicide purposes.
Pseudonymously responding occasionally on forums where discussions about utilizing certain substances concerning suicide occurred , direct recommendations towards purchasing items through his sites also took place according prosecution evidence presented during trial proceedings.
Evidence further revealed recorded exchanges between law & journalist posing undercover representing Times Of London questioning product efficiency & speed alongside number fatalities resulting usage.
He promoted effectiveness stating “many, many, many” people had successfully utilized them within two years since beginning business operations acknowledging legal “grey area” yet suggesting possible alternative uses existed without lethal outcomes.
That same reporter eventually traveled into Canada confronting law regarding seven deaths linked with merchandise sold under him ; interaction captured onto recording played inside courtroom.
During this encounter law accused interviewer approaching deceitfully through phone calls denying accountability attributing caused fatalities arguing no coercion existed against consumers’ choices engaging purchases or determined use made thereafter.
“They are committing suicide. I’m not doing anything,”he remarked recorded evidence showcases.
Shortly after drafting a will indicating belief held,”helping people alleviate suffering whilst earning small profit”, law underwent scrutiny throughout trials centered around true motivations expressed intentionally documented remarks put forth during hearings conducted via judicial settings|—>
