Neck guard sales jump after Sask. hockey player slashed by skate
18h ago
More adult players are now investing in the protective equipment.
WARNING: This story discusses the topic of suicide.
The Regina Police Service (RPS) is investigating after someone in Regina received a so-called “suicide kit.”
Ontario resident Kenneth Law is accused of selling kits including sodium nitrate and other materials to those at risk of self-harm. Interim Chief Dean Rae said the RPS is aware of the kits being sent to Regina.
“We do have some knowledge of a couple of them coming here and we’re co-operating with the agency that’s conducting the investigation,” Rae said.
He doesn’t think it’s a major concern for the city at the moment.
“I don’t think there’s been a great deal of uptake here in the city with this, but I know we are involved in that,” he said.
In a statement, the RPS said the Saskatchewan Coroners Service contacted the local police in regards to this case on May 4.
Through investigation done by Peel Regional Police in Ontario, one potential victim was identified in Regina.
With the information provided by Peel Regional Police, RPS Major Crime investigators and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service reopened the joint investigation.
That investigation involved reviewing the toxicology reports, which concluded that the individual did not ingest any substance allegedly provided by Law.
According to The Canadian Press, Law allegedly ran the operation through multiple online websites.
The investigation into Law began in October of 2022 when a coroner’s report in the United Kingdom was looking into a death by suicide of a woman southwest of London. She allegedly had received a postal box from Mississauga, Ont., that was linked to one of Law’s websites.
In March of this year, Peel Regional Police investigated a local sudden death where the victim was believed to have consumed a chemical substance. This was the first of two deaths police have since linked to Law.
Peel Regional Police arrested Law and charged him with two counts of counselling and aiding suicide on May 2.
Several other police forces across Canada said they began to review sudden deaths in light of the allegations against Law.
On Aug. 25, Britain’s National Crime Agency said it has identified 232 people in the U.K. who bought products from the Canada-based websites allegedly linked to Law in the two years prior — and 88 of those people had died.
On Tuesday, police announced an additional 12 new charges against Law for aiding and counselling suicide in deaths from across Ontario. The Ontario victims range in ages from 16 to 36.
Police allege Law started to operate the websites used to sell sodium nitrate and other items that could be used for self-harm in late 2020.
Police claim Law sent more than 1,200 packages to more than 40 countries. Authorities in the United States, Italy, Australia and New Zealand have started their own investigations.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, there are resources available to help. Some of them can be found here, here, here and here.
— With files from The Canadian Press