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The Current

Hunting the Suicide Salesman

6/22/202625 min

Matt Galloway speaks to investigative journalist Daemon Fairless about his new CBC podcast, "Hunting the Suicide Salesman" which looks at the case of Kenneth Law. Last month, Law pleaded guilty to counselling or aiding suicide, in connection with fourteen deaths in Ontario. Law is also allegedly connected to at least 147 deaths globally. Daemon Fairless talks about who Kenneth Law is and what we know about what motivated him to get into the suicide business -- and how we might need to re-think how we talk about suicide.

Clips

Teen’s Final Plea to Live
Journalist Almost Bought Poison
1,200 Packages of Death
Covering Suicide Without Harm
Silence vs. Speaking Out

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Damon Fairless· Guest0:00

    If you're listening to this, I already know you have great taste in podcasts. But maybe, if you're like me, you still wonder if you're missing out on the best stuff. That's where the Sounds Good newsletter can help you out. Every other Thursday, the audio files at CBC Podcasts highlight one must-hear show and lots of other new and noteworthy titles. They do conversation starters, they do hidden gems, and they also tell you about the stuff they love that they didn't make. Go to cbc.ca/soundsgood to subscribe.

  2. Matt Galloway· Host0:29

    [music] This is a CBC podcast. Hello, I'm Matt Galloway, and this is The Current podcast. Kenneth Law used to be many things. He was an engineer. He later worked in the kitchen of the Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto. Now, he is a convicted criminal. Last month, Kenneth Law pleaded guilty to counseling or aiding suicide in connection with 14 deaths in Ontario. Kenneth Law operated an online business selling lethal substances and suicide paraphernalia. He admitted to sending hundreds of packages to dozens of countries, mostly to the United States, Britain, and Canada. A CBC News investigation found Law is suspected of being tied to at least 147 deaths worldwide, including the death of David Parfitt's son, Tom, who died by suicide.

  3. David Parfitt· Soundbite1:18

    Tom would still be here if he hadn't found this poison and hadn't been able to buy it. Uh, it's 99% certain that he would

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