A man who sold a deadly poison manufactured in Britain has been convicted in a landmark case that exposes the dark underbelly of the online suicide trade. The verdict marks a significant victory for campaigners who have long argued that the UK must take a tougher stance on the sale of lethal substances to vulnerable people.
Kenneth Law, a 58-year-old former chef from Cheshire, was found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of 14 counts of encouraging or assisting suicide. Law had set up a network of websites selling sodium nitrite, a substance commonly used as a curing salt for meat, but which is fatal when consumed in even small quantities. The prosecution argued that Law knew his customers intended to use the poison to kill themselves, yet he continued to supply it, often providing advice on dosages.
The case has drawn international attention, with authorities in Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and several European countries launching their own investigations into Law's operations. Evidence presented in court showed that he had shipped packages to over 40 countries, with at least 88 deaths linked to his products. The conviction is the first of its kind in the UK, and campaigners hope it will set a precedent for prosecuting others who profit from the online suicide trade.
The verdict comes amid growing concern over the availability of lethal substances on the internet. Suicide prevention charities have long warned that the anonymity of online marketplaces makes it easier for vulnerable individuals to access information and tools to end their lives. The Law case has shone a light on a murky world where sellers exploit loopholes in legislation and the lack of international cooperation to peddle death.
The UK government has signalled its determination to take on this challenge. The Home Office has announced a review of the laws governing the sale of poisons, with a focus on closing loopholes that allow substances like sodium nitrite to be sold without proper oversight. Ministers are also exploring whether to classify such substances under the Offensive Weapons Act, which would make it a crime to sell them to individuals.
For the families of the victims, the conviction of Kenneth Law is a bittersweet moment. While it brings a measure of justice, it also underscores the systemic failures that allowed a man to build a criminal enterprise on the back of human despair. Many of the victims were young people struggling with mental health issues, who had turned to online forums in their darkest moments. The court heard how Law had targeted these communities, advertising his products as "pure" and "reliable".
The case has also raised questions about the responsibilities of tech companies. Many of the suicide forums where Law's products were promoted are hosted on platforms that have been slow to act against harmful content. Campaigners are calling for stronger regulation of online spaces, arguing that social media giants must do more to monitor and remove content that encourages self-harm.
As the UK takes a lead in tackling this issue, the spotlight will be on other countries to follow suit. The Law conviction demonstrates that the sale of poisons for suicide is not a victimless crime, but one that causes profound harm. It is a message that needs to be heard loud and clear: the online suicide trade must be shut down, and those who profit from it must be held to account.
