Kenneth Law, charged with 14 counts of first-degree murder, faces direct indictment

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes a discussion of suicide.

The case of an Ontario man accused of sending lethal substances to people who later took their own lives will proceed by direct indictment.

Kenneth Law is charged with 14 counts of both first-degree murder as well as counselling and aiding suicide.

Law appeared by video feed in court today where the prosecutors confirmed the attorney general had decided to proceed by direct indictment, sending the case directly to trial in Superior Court without a preliminary inquiry.

A preliminary inquiry is typically used to determine whether the Crown has assembled enough evidence against an accused to proceed to trial.

Law will make an appearance in Superior Court on Thursday afternoon.

His lawyer said last week that Law would plead not guilty.

Police have said all charges against Law relate to the same 14 alleged victims, who were between the ages of 16 and 36 and died in communities across Ontario.

Investigators have alleged that Law, 58, ran several websites that were used to sell sodium nitrite and other items that can be used for self-harm, shipping them to people in more than 40 countries.

If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, resources are available. In case of an emergency, please call 911 for immediate help, For immediate mental health support, call 988. For a directory of support services in your area, visit the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention at suicideprevention.ca. Learn more about preventing suicide with these warning signs and tips on how to help.