Update: Mississauga man Kenneth Law now faces 1st-degree murder charges

Warning: This story discusses suicide.

Mississauga resident Kenneth Law, accused of selling deadly substances online, now faces first-degree murder charges.

In an update this morning, Law’s lawyer confirmed the upgraded charges and said his client will be pleading not guilty.

Kenneth Law was charged last month with 14 counts of second-degree murder, and his lawyer confirms those have now all been upgraded to first-degree murder.

First-degree murder is defined as a planned and deliberate killing.

Law is also facing 14 charges of counselling and aiding suicide.

Initially, Law faced two charges of counselling or aiding suicide, Peel Regional Police announced on May 2, 2023. Police had been investigating Law since March 31 after a sudden death caused by the consumption of chemicals.

Police said Law allegedly used a series of websites to market and sell sodium nitrite, a substance commonly used to cure meats that can be deadly if ingested.

The case expanded and by the end of 2023, Law faced 28 charges related to 14 alleged victims, who were between the ages of 16 and 36 and died in communities across Ontario.

And Law is suspected of sending at least 1,200 packages to more than 40 countries, police said. Authorities in the United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand also have launched investigations.

Britain’s National Crime Agency said it has identified 232 people in the U.K. who bought products from the websites in the two years until April, 88 of whom had died.

Peel Regional Police told insauga.com that the investigative team had no updates to share regarding the case.

Law’s case was set to return before a Newmarket court on Tuesday (Jan. 30), but defence lawyer Matthew Gourlay says that will likely not take place as scheduled since the case is now proceeding by direct indictment.

A direct indictment means there will be no preliminary inquiry, and the case will instead go directly to trial in Superior Court.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, support is available 24/7 by calling Talk Suicide Canada (1-833-456-4566) or, for residents of Quebec, 1 866 APPELLE (1-866-277-3553). The U.S. suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org. In the U.K., the Samaritans can be reached at 116 123 or www.samaritans.org.

With files from the Canadian Press