![Canadian Kenneth Law has had 28 charges brought against him in the state of Ontario for murder...](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_square_extra_large/public/story/2024/07/kenneth_law.png?itok=qJVovh8a)
Crow Grant, an 18-year-old non-binary student, moved from Whangarei to attend the University of Otago.
On April 22 last year, they were found dead in their residential college room.
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Crow Grant’s mother said her child was "obsessed with death" and a coroner found that in March last year, the student ordered a package which was ultimately used to cause their death.
By New Zealand law, the exact method cannot be published.
The website from which the package came was associated with Kenneth Law, a Canadian some overseas media have called "the merchant of death".
Law is accused of assisting suicides by enabling the distribution and marketing of materials online, and hosting discussion forums for people considering suicide.
Last month, CBC News reported the 58-year-old former hotel cook had been in custody since his arrest on 14 first-degree murder charges and 14 charges of counselling or aiding suicide.
He denies the allegations and an eight-week trial is expected to begin in September next year.
Crow Grant’s twin sister said they had good family support, but hid their struggles and actively avoided seeking help.
In the days before their death, Crow Grant’s family said they seemed to be "in good spirits" and behaving as usual.
A sub-warden said they seemed "quite normal" but had trouble sleeping a few days before their death.
The sub-warden offered extra support which Crow Grant declined.
On the morning of April 22, Crow Grant’s mother read a pre-scheduled email from them which advised emergency services should be contacted.
Police investigated the death and were satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances.
Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame found that Crow Grant died through suicide.
"It is not possible to identify what, exactly, triggered Crow’s decision to take their life", Ms Cunninghame said.
She said because Law lived in Canada and his activities were outside the New Zealand court jurisdiction she could not make any recommendations specific to him.
"Other agencies are already working together to reduce the risk posed to vulnerable New Zealanders by Mr Law’s activities", she said.
Discussion forums connected to Law had been classified last year and the Suicide Prevention Office had requested that internet service providers block access to his website.
The coroner found that three other New Zealanders died through suicide in similar circumstances and had ordered items from websites connected to Law.
James Derek Cottrell Plunket, 40, brother of broadcaster Sean Plunket, was found dead in a Wellington hotel room in July 2022.
He was a personal trainer and part-time DJ, but had struggled with methamphetamine use, a relationship breakdown and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nicholas David Alexander Heyworth, 21, and Liana Nicole Kirk, 21, also died through suicide using items they received from overseas.
felicity.dear@odt.co.nz , PIJF court reporter
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