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‘It never goes away’: Kiwi dad’s grief after daughter’s death linked to ‘Merchant of Death’

Saturday, 30 May 2026

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Warning: This story talks about suicide and self-harm and may be distressing for some readers.

The father of a young woman who died after using a lethal product mailed to her by a Canadian chef says he’s satisfied the man has pleaded guilty and will be jailed in Canada.

Kenneth Law, 60, entered guilty pleas on Friday (Canadian time) to 14 counts of counselling or aiding suicide after his global business sent lethal products to vulnerable people, with New Zealand authorities linking his activities to the deaths of at least five Kiwis.

Liana Kirk, 21, was one of those who died in New Zealand, in November 2022.

Law, dubbed the ‘Merchant of Death’ by overseas media, entered the pleas as part of a deal with Canadian prosecutors that saw them drop 14 first-degree murder charges against him.

Liana Kirk with her dad Dale. Liana died in 2022 at age 21.
Liana Kirk with her dad Dale. Liana died in 2022 at age 21.

Liana’s father Dale Kirk told Three News he never thought there was enough evidence to convict Law of murder and he was satisfied with the outcome.

“I mean, if he’s sitting in a jail in Canada, I’m OK with that.

“Ultimately, nothing changes… (it) doesn't bring back the people that died as a result. But I hope that he gets a, you know, a suitable sentence.”

The scope of Law’s operation spanned the globe, triggering law enforcement investigations in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, Italy, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

In New Zealand, authorities linked the deaths of at least five people with items ordered from a business associated with Law. However, the coroner has noted that Law's activities fall outside the jurisdiction of New Zealand courts.

Globally, police have investigated more than 100 suicides linked to the Canadian national.

Canadian man Kenneth Law has pleaded guilty to 14 counts of assisting suicides overseas.
Canadian man Kenneth Law has pleaded guilty to 14 counts of assisting suicides overseas.

Canadian police alleged Law sent at least 1200 packages to more than 40 countries from his home in Ontario, where he was arrested in May 2023. About 160 of those packages were sent to addresses within Canada.

The 14 charges Law pleaded guilty to relate specifically to victims across Ontario aged between 16 and 36. Those convicted of aiding suicide in Canada face up to 14 years in prison per charge, whereas first-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Family members of the victims cried in court as the prosecutor detailed the final moments of almost 100 people who died after using products purchased from Law, the Associated Press reported.

Dale Kirk said the pain of losing his daughter Liana, 21, ‘never goes away’.
Dale Kirk said the pain of losing his daughter Liana, 21, ‘never goes away’.

While assisted suicide has been legal in Canada since 2016 for adults aged 18 and older with a serious illness, disease, or disability, they must formally seek assistance from a physician. Recommending or aiding suicide outside of these strict medical parameters remains illegal.

Law has been held in custody since his arrest. His sentencing is scheduled for September.

‘It never goes away’

Kirk described his daughter as a good, “really caring, loving person” and a happy younger child.

“But she just struggled with her own demons.”

He said Liana began to change around the age of 15, and by 17 she was struggling with motivation after her friend group changed. She began self-harming, he said.

“And eventually she got involved with the wrong people, I guess, and was using various drugs including meth and that was a major issue.”

A former police officer, Kirk’s job was policing drug offending. Now, he educates people about it.

James Plunket died after purchasing a lethal product from a site linked to Law in 2022.
James Plunket died after purchasing a lethal product from a site linked to Law in 2022.

He said the cruel irony was not lost on him that he could not save his own daughter.

Liana’s addiction to methamphetamine accelerated her downhill slide, he said.

“It’s like any parent who’s lost a child… it never goes away.”

‘It should be much harder to access’

In 2024, the family of a Wellington man who died after buying a lethal product from Law told Stuff they wanted restrictions in place to stop further suicides.

In July 2022, Wellingtonian James Plunket, a 40-year-old personal trainer, was discovered dead in a hotel room.

Plunket – the half brother of broadcaster Sean Plunket – died after buying a lethal product from a website linked to Law.

Otago University student Crow Grant was just 18 when they were found dead in their residential college room last April, after ordering a package from one of Law’s websites.

Nicholas Heyworth, a 21-year-old Victoria University student, died in a Wellington hotel room in May 2022.

In 2024, Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame ruled the deaths of all four were caused or assisted by products ordered from Law.

The deaths of 25-year-old Auckland woman Sayaka Steed in April 2022 and 30-year-old Auckland woman Savannah Auric in May that year have also been linked to products purchased from Law’s website.

“We’re really sad that he was in a position that he felt he needed to make this [mail] order, and it is … upsetting that he was able to get hold of it so easily,” Jack Plunket, James Plunket’s younger brother, told Stuff in 2024.

“It feels like it was a bit too easy. I just think the importation … needs to be better regulated.

“It should be much harder to access those kinds of websites.”

Where to get help