Campaigners have criticised a decision not to seek the prosecution in Scotland of a Canadian who sold suicide poison responsible for five deaths.
Kenneth Law, 60, has plead guilty in Ontario to 14 counts of aiding suicides after he sold toxic chemicals online, mainly to young people.
However despite five victims being in Scotland and a further 73 across the UK, the charges only related to those who died in Canada, and a more serious murder rap was withdrawn.
The prosecution service in England and COPFS in Scotland agreed to a Canadian plea bargain on the basis Law’s sentence took the British deaths into account.
However Andy Burrows, Chief Executive of the Molly Rose Foundation suicide prevention charity, said: “Bereaved families have been campaigning tirelessly to hold Kenneth Law to account in the UK and to be told he will not be prosecuted here is a bitter blow.
“Families up and down the country, including of Scottish victims, have been impacted by Law’s crimes and should have the right to full justice in the UK.
“As long as the pro-suicide forum remains online, and while this substance is available in the UK and across borders, more vulnerable people are at risk. It’s down to law enforcement, Government, Border Force and regulators to act now to prevent more lost lives.”
View 3 ImagesTom Parfett(Image: STV )
Former chef Law sold about 1,200 packages of the toxic substances to recipients met in online suicide forums in 40 countries – roughly a quarter of which were sent to the UK.
It is understood prosecutors in Scotland and England decided Law would not face charges in the UK because he could challenge the extradition after being convicted of similar offences in Canada.
Specialist CPS prosecutor Andrew Hudson said that including UK victims in the Canadian sentencing process – without being included in charges – was the “quickest and most effective route” to justice.
Hudson said a successful extradition was “far from guaranteed and would have taken years to conclude”, while any UK prosecution “could have been blocked under double jeopardy principles”.
View 3 ImagesDavid Parfett (Image: STV)
The Sunday Mail has not been able to contact the families of any of the five Scottish victims.
However in Surrey David Parfett’s 22 year-old son Thomas died in 2021 and used a substance said to have been sold to him by Law.
He said: “Tom was somebody who really saw the joy in life. He would find humour in the weirdest places. I often think about his laugh.
“Tom was a massive football fan and he was a good footballer as well. I miss the opportunity to enjoy the 2026 World Cup with him.”
Tom paid £50 for the substance. His body was found in a hotel in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, in 2021.
David added: “I would have preferred Kenneth Law to be tried here [in the UK].
“I would have wanted to have seen him in court answering charges related to my son’s death.
“The toll here is astonishing – multiple deaths including of children – and yet we don’t see any coordinated attempt to really understand it.”
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He is calling on the UK government to hold a public inquiry into the deaths.
Law was arrested in May 2023, following a complex investigation by at least 11 law-enforcement agencies that involved investigators from around a dozen countries, including the UK, Italy and the US.
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.