University student Tom Parfett died alone in a hotel room after buying a lethal but legal substance online.
His death is one of hundreds which have followed the same pattern of using this poison, often recommended on suicide forums.
Police in Canada have arrested and charged one man, Kenneth Law, with first-degree murder and aiding suicide in connection with providing the product to people in Ontario.
But investigations by Tom’s father, David, and The Times have revealed the full extent of this deadly trade across the globe and are now chronicled in a new two-part documentary airing on Channel 4 on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 July at 9pm – Poisoned: Killer in the Post.
Samantha Anstiss, from Wonderhood studios which produced the documentary, said: “This urgent and powerful series is testimony to the bravery of bereaved families determined to prevent further deaths and stop young people from being preyed upon online.”
University student Tom Parfett, 22, died in October 2021 (Image: David Parfett)Tom Parfett was a Manchester United fan with a dry sense of humour and a great group of friends.
After getting near-perfect scores in his GCSEs, he had found the academic pressures of sixth form and beyond and the loss of a friend who died by suicide affected his mental health.
Nonetheless, he went on to become a university undergraduate at St Andrews in Scotland, studying Philosophy.
While at university, he had been seeking help for his mental health. And on 28 October 2021, the 22-year-old told his parents he was checking into a mental health support facility.
Tom died that night after checking into a Premier Inn hotel in Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey with a lethal substance he had purchased online.
His father believes he had learnt what to get and how from suicide forums
He said: “It was quite obvious to me how Tom was able to get it – and that there’s people out there who are posting this poison to vulnerable people, facilitated by internet forums like this one.
Kenneth Law is accused of sending packages of poison to people across the globe (Image: Peel Regional Police/PA)Who is Kenneth Law and what is he accused of?
Kenneth Law is a former aerospace engineer turned chef, who worked at a five-star hotel in Toronto and allegedly ran a sideline business selling poison online to people who wanted to take their own lives.
Following the death of Tom Parfett, his father David had researched the website from which his son had purchased the poison and traced it to Canada.
An investigation by The Times then revealed an alleged link between Kenneth Law and the website. Further inquiries unearthed a pattern of similar deaths occurring across the UK, US, Canada, Germany and Australia, all involving the same method as Tom Parfett.
Mr Law was arrested by police in Canada in May 2023, after The Times had published an exposé piece by journalist James Beal.
Canadian police allege he sent 1,209 packages to 41 countries but cannot say how many contained poison.
According to Radio Canada International, as many as 131 deaths have been linked to Mr Law’s products, including 97 in the UK.
The 59-year-old was originally charged with two counts of counselling or aiding suicide, but this has now been upgraded to 28 counts, including 14 of first-degree murder and 14 of counselling or aiding suicide relating to 14 Canadian victims.
All of the charges are linked to the deaths of people from across Ontario, aged 16 to 36.
Mr Law is intending to plead not guilty.
He was approached for comment but did not respond to allegations made in the Channel 4 documentary.
The i Paper has approached Mr Law for comment via his lawyer in Canada.
The Times journalist James Beale investigated the world of online suicide forums and websites allegedly distributing poison (Image: Channel 4)When will Kenneth Law stand trial?
Mr Law is due to stand trial on the 28 charges in January 2026.
The trial was originally due to take place in the autumn of 2025 but prosecutors requested the Supreme Court of Canada give an opinion on whether assisting suicide can be charged as murder.
This has delayed the trial to January next year.
Mr Law is currently in prison awaiting trial. If convicted, he faces imprisonment for life with no possibility of parole for 25 years.
The National Crime Agency, in the UK, is also investigating potential offences linked to the deaths of 98 individuals who purchased items online to assist with suicide.
No charges have been brought against Mr Law at this stage.
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