Crime & Safety
Oxford Premier Inn death named among 79 UK poison victims
Yeanu Mistry, a 22-year-old Wolverhampton-born single man, has been named in a Canadian Court as one of those who died as a result of purchasing products from Kenneth Law.
Mr Mistry was found dead by staff at a Premier Inn in Milton, Oxfordshire, on May 21, 2022, and was named by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
READ MORE: PHOTOS: 1979 Pontiac Firebird ‘bursts into flames’ at Tesco petrol station
Law appeared in court in Ontario, Canada, on Friday, May 29, where he formally entered guilty pleas to 14 counts of aiding suicide, all relating to Canadian victims.
The 60-year-old sold lethal substances to victims across the world, including 330 packages sent to the UK.
The court heard Law was the sole owner of four companies, with one firm’s website offering a “set of instructions” and advertising 40-minute telephone consultations for 150 dollars (£111).
The site also showed a “testimonial” from the estate of someone who had killed themself to prove the “efficacy” of his products.
The maximum sentence for aiding suicide in Canada is 14 years – the same as for encouraging suicide in the UK.
It is understood that the sentence in this case is likely to be more than 14 years because of the number of victims and the nature of the offences.
The NCA and the CPS said all 79 UK victims who died as a direct result of purchasing Law’s products would form part of the wider case into his offending.
Before this, authorities informed the victims’ families that Law would not face criminal proceedings in the UK because of the potential for the hotel cook to challenge the extradition after being convicted of similar offences in Canada.
After his Canadian convictions, British prosecutors described Law as a “serial offender who callously exploited many vulnerable and innocent people exchanging their lives for his financial gain”.
He sold 1,200 packages to 40 countries across the world from Canada-based websites, with 286 people in the UK receiving products, leading to 112 deaths.
READ MORE: Multiple women arrested after incident at Oxfordshire Asda superstore
The senior investigating officer at the NCA, Damon Hayes, told reporters that including British victims in the Canadian case “guarantees all victims and families in the UK will see justice”.
He added: “This approach is not unusual in cases involving serious offending that crosses international borders.
“This will allow the judge to take into account the full extent of Law’s criminal behaviour, including the fact that his actions resulted in the deaths of people in this country.”
Victims’ families criticised the move, with one bereaved father saying: “I am angry but not surprised.”
The Samaritans offer a 24/7 helpline, which can be reached for free from any phone on 116 123.
They can also be contacted via email at jo@samaritans.org or through the Samaritans website.
Oxford Stand Up To Racism has accused Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, of inciting the ‘awful violent scenes’ in Southampton on Tuesday night (June 2).
The city where 18-year-old Henry Nowak died and where his killer, Vickrum Digwa, lived became a scene of destruction after hundreds descended to smash car windows, hurl bricks and cause eleven officers and a police dog to be injured.
READ MORE: New date set for Tommy Robinson appearance in Oxford
Following the disorder, the chief of Hampshire police said those involved were ‘determined to spark fear and division’.
Yaxley-Lennon, who has been jailed multiple times for a variety of offences including when he was imprisoned in October 2024 for contempt of caught, addressed the crowd at the riot.
He said: “I heard someone say this wasn’t about race, this is about race.
“A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn’t.”
Oxford Stand Up to Racism is now renewing its call for the Oxford Union to withdraw its invitation for the ‘riot agitator’ to speak on June 17 on the subject of Islam.
He was originally due to speak at the historic debating society on Thursday, May 28 before his appearance was postponed over security concerns and after massive backlash.
READ MORE: Major emergency response in Oxford as paramedics on scene
Ian McKendrick, a member of the anti-racism group, said: “Despite Henry Nowak’s family clearly requesting that his death should not be used to promote further hatred, Robinson was at the centre of protests in Southampton last night and clearly inciting violence.
“Giving him a televised platform at the Oxford Union legitimises hate and violence, and gives him the opportunity to incite violence to an audience of millions.
“It does not promote free speech – instead, it promotes fear and intimidation among minoritised communities.
“Already we have seen Oxford fascists alongside Robinson in Southampton and now mobilising to bring more hate onto Oxford’s streets.”
Members of Raise the Colours: Oxfordshire were called to attend the Southampton protest on Tuesday night, with the leader of the group posting on Facebook to ask followers to join the ‘justice for Henry Nowak’ protest.
Mr McKendrick added: “There is a concerted effort by far right leaders and fascist groups to incite outrage and bring people on to the streets to riot.
READ MORE: Traffic chaos in Witney amid report of ‘major incident’
“We risk an explosion of violence similar to what we saw around the Southport murders across the UK.
“We’re calling on Oxford to say a clear ‘no’ to this hate and division by protesting against Yaxley-Lennon’s appearance at the Oxford Union.”
Faith and civic leaders of Oxford already wrote to the Oxford Union asking it to rescind the controversial figure’s invitation, and hundreds have signed an open letter calling for the same.
A reported incident at a junction in Witney is causing traffic chaos in the town, with drivers coming off the A40 and elsewhere stuck in long queues.
Source link
An incident occurred in St Aldate’s, outside the entrance to Christ Church Meadows, at about 4pm on Tuesday, June 2.
At least three ambulances were responding to what appeared to be a medical emergency on the pavement.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire footbridge over A-road a collapse risk for years
An individual was scene on a stretcher being cared for by paramedics.
An eyewitness said the incident occurred opposite the Alice Shop, and the medical teams ‘evacuated’ the person.
Apart from the pavement briefly being blocked while the first responders dealt with the emergency, it did not appear to affect traffic or block the road in busy St Aldate’s.
South Central Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment.
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoWaitrose supermarkets across UK shut due to ‘critical error’
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoMan arrested in connection with rape in Oxfordshire town
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoHow to spend a day in Harpsden among UK’s poshest villages
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoBanbury woman jailed after lying to police about kidnapped children
-
Oxford Events3 weeks agoStage Watch: Somerset House enters the comedy arena with major new festival Laughterama
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoStrictly Come Dancing new hosts reportedly Emma Willis
-
Business & Technology4 weeks agoCBI posts 14% revenue rise as payment services grow
-
Crime & Safety3 weeks agoUK Hantavirus update as 22 ship passengers moved to hospital