A coroner in New Zealand has officially connected the deaths of four individuals to the purchase of “suicide kits” from an online business operated by a former chef from Canada, as said in findings released on Monday.
Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame determined that three students, ranging in age from 18 to 21, and a 40-year-old personal trainer took their own lives after acquiring kits from companies associated with Canadian Kenneth Law.
According to Canadian authorities, Law is suspected of distributing up to 1,200 “suicide kits” to individuals in over 40 countries between 2020 and his apprehension last year, specifically targeting vulnerable people online. Canadian authorities have accused that the kits contain a food additive that can kill if misused.
Law was apprehended in May 2023 and is facing charges in Canada, including 14 counts of murder and a further 14 counts of aiding and counselling suicide. Law has refuted the allegations against him.
Following an alert from Interpol, multiple nations have initiated their own investigations into the matter. Authorities in the United Kingdom have reported that a minimum of 272 individuals purchased items from Law’s online platforms, resulting in at least 88 fatalities.
Meanwhile, Italian officials have identified nine buyers, with at least one confirmed death.
According to Canadian law enforcement, the victims in Canada encompassed both genders and ranged in age from 16 to 36 years old.
In response to the situation, New Zealand’s Suicide Prevention Office has requested that internet service providers in the country restrict access to Law’s website, as stated by the coroner.
Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame determined that three students, ranging in age from 18 to 21, and a 40-year-old personal trainer took their own lives after acquiring kits from companies associated with Canadian Kenneth Law.
According to Canadian authorities, Law is suspected of distributing up to 1,200 “suicide kits” to individuals in over 40 countries between 2020 and his apprehension last year, specifically targeting vulnerable people online. Canadian authorities have accused that the kits contain a food additive that can kill if misused.
Law was apprehended in May 2023 and is facing charges in Canada, including 14 counts of murder and a further 14 counts of aiding and counselling suicide. Law has refuted the allegations against him.
Following an alert from Interpol, multiple nations have initiated their own investigations into the matter. Authorities in the United Kingdom have reported that a minimum of 272 individuals purchased items from Law’s online platforms, resulting in at least 88 fatalities.
Meanwhile, Italian officials have identified nine buyers, with at least one confirmed death.
According to Canadian law enforcement, the victims in Canada encompassed both genders and ranged in age from 16 to 36 years old.
In response to the situation, New Zealand’s Suicide Prevention Office has requested that internet service providers in the country restrict access to Law’s website, as stated by the coroner.