In brief
Elisabeth Belien, a 23‑year‑old British woman, delivered a testimony in Ontario in which she alleged that Kenneth Law, a former chef turned poison broker, sold her toxic substances through online suicide forums. She cautioned that at the time of purchase, her mental health was fragile, and the transaction reinforced her despair. Law, who has been charged with 14 counts of aiding suicide in Canada, sold roughly 1,200 packages across 40 countries, a quarter of which were sent to the UK, where up to 80 deaths have been linked to the substances. The sentencing hearing also featured victim impact statements from families of several victims across both nations. Despite a plea agreement that limits criminal liability in the UK, the proceedings highlight the international reach of online drug trade and the ongoing need for cross‑border cooperation to prevent similar tragedies.
Elisabeth Belien, a 23‑year‑old British woman, stood before the Ontario Superior Court and said that Kenneth Law, a former chef turned poison broker, sold her toxic chemicals while exploiting her depression and mental‑health struggles.
Belien told the four‑day sentencing hearing that at the time of purchase, she was at her lowest ebb, and the encounter reinforced the desire to commit suicide. She later received an antidote from emergency services and recovered physically, but she remains haunted by intrusive thoughts and flashbacks.
Law has admitted 14 counts of aiding suicide in Canada after meeting people in online suicide forums. He sold about 1,200 packages of toxic substances across 40 countries; roughly a quarter of those were delivered to the UK, where authorities say up to 80 deaths have been linked to his products.
As part of a plea deal with Canadian authorities, Law will not face charges in the UK or over any British deaths. Nonetheless, the sentencing hearing also featured victim impact statements from families of those who lost friends and relatives.
“I was in a vulnerable state, and I feel my vulnerability was exploited,” Belien said. “I now wonder whether I enabled him to continue selling his products to others who might have been in the same position.”
The hearing continues as families of victims read their statements over the courtroom walls. The proceedings underscore the global reach of online chemical sales and the urgent need for enhanced international collaboration to protect vulnerable individuals.
