LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison to a woman who pleaded guilty to selling actor Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him in 2023.

“You’re going to have to show some epic resilience,” Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett said to Jasveen Sangha, echoing the defendant’s words earlier in the hearing about her self-improvement.

Citing the unique role Sangha admitted to playing in Perry’s death and her broader drug-dealing business, the judge gave the 42-year-old a sentence that will almost certainly be more than all four of her co-defendants combined.

The hearing Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom was in many ways the pinnacle of the 2 1/2-year investigation and prosecution that followed the overdose death of the 54-year-old actor, whose role as Chandler Bing on NBC’s “Friends” in the 1990s and 2000s made him one of the biggest television stars of the era.

Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather and correspondent for NBC’s “Dateline,” told the judge that he and Perry’s mother, Suzanne, feel a “daily, grinding sadness and sorrow.”

“There was a spark to that man I have never seen anywhere else,” Morrison said. “He should have had another act. Two more acts.”

Just before she was sentenced, Sangha told the judge she wears her shame “like a jacket.”

“These were not mistakes. They were horrible decisions,” Sangha said, which “shattered people’s lives and the lives of their family and friends.”

Prosecutors secured the exact sentence they asked for after casting Sangha as a “Ketamine Queen” who had an elaborate drug operation catering to high-end clients to give herself a jet-setting lifestyle.

Sangha’s attorneys argued the time she has spent in jail since her August 2024 indictment should be sufficient, pointing to her good behavior behind bars and lack of prior arrests.

Perry was found dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death — and drowning was a secondary cause.

Mark Geragos, Sangha’s attorney, said “pernicious” addiction was truly responsible for Perry’s death, not his client.

“There was nobody who was going to stop Mr. Perry from doing what he was going to do,” Geragos said.

In September, Sangha became the last of five co-defendants to plead guilty, admitting to one count of using her home for drug distribution, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.

Geragos denounced the prosecution’s use of the moniker “Ketamine Queen,” blaming it on E. Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney when the case was filed.

Perry had been using the drug through his regular doctor as a legal off-label treatment for depression. But he sought more than the doctor would give him. That at first led him to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who admitted to illegally selling Perry ketamine and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison. And, days before his death, it led Perry to Sangha, and a $6,000 cash buy that included the lethal dose.

Another doctor, who admitted to providing Plasencia the ketamine he sold to Perry, was sentenced to eight months of home detention. Perry’s assistant and his friend, who admitted acting as the actor’s middlemen, are awaiting sentencing.

The judge said she was trying to carefully calibrate the sentences for the five defendants. She expressed concern about the balance during the hearing, asking lawyers why Sangha deserved so much more time than Plasencia or Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who obtained and injected the drugs at Perry’s request and injected them into him.

Geragos seized on this and said the disparity was outrageous.

“The person who supplies the ammunition, they’re more culpable than the person who pulls the trigger?” he asked.

But before sentencing, Garnett said the size of Sangha’s drug business, the years she spent dealing and her long list of clients clearly made her more culpable. And she said she believed Sangha’s lack of a criminal history was underrepresented.

The judge also cited Sangha’s continued dealing after learning through a text message from his sister that one of her customers, 33-year-old Cody McLaury, had died in 2019.

The sister, Kimberly McLaury, spoke in court.

“Had you stopped selling ketamine when I texted you, we wouldn’t be here today,” she said.

Perry’s stepmother Debbie Perry told Sangha she had caused pain for “hundreds, maybe thousands” of people.

The judge commended Sangha for the “countless” letters of support she got from family and friends touting her decency and loving nature. Many of them were there in court, sitting on the opposite side from Perry’s family.

“There’s no joy in this process,” Garnett told the victim’s family members. “Maybe at the end of the day you will feel a sense of justice.”

A fire at the velodrome in Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Park was brought under control early on 8 April, with no risk of it spreading to other parts of the complex and no injuries reported, fire officials said.

Around 80 firefighters and 20 fire trucks tackled the blaze, the state’s military fire department said in a statement, adding that no one was hurt.

The velodrome was built for the 2016 Rio Olympics and is administered by the city government. It houses the Olympic Museum, which features exhibits and historical artifacts from the Games, including the Olympic torch and medals.

In 2017, its roof was struck by two fires, causing minor damage.

“Next week, Stormont will return – as no doubt will the tired sham fights between the two main parties who have collectively failed to offer leadership at a time of acute crisis for ordinary families,” he said.

SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has hit out at the Executive for what he describes as its “inexcusable silence” during the war in the Middle East, which has sent household energy and fuel costs rocketing.

The South Belfast MLA said that the Executive has, for weeks, failed to offer any meaningful leadership to a public struggling with increased costs, relying only on calls to the UK Government for action while failing to offer any concrete plans to disburse household support with money made available.

Mr O’Toole lambasted the Executive for as yet not having said anything substantive about how or when the £17 million made available to the Executive to support families with heating oil costs would be disbursed.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know as Motability black boxes mandatory and 300 NI vehicles withdrawnREAD MORE: The cheapest petrol and diesel spots in Northern Ireland as prices continue to rise

“The Executive’s radio silence at a time of crisis has been inexcusable. People in Northern Ireland are the most reliant on both vehicle fuel and home heating oil in these islands, but Ministers have had little to say other than writing letters to London and the occasional photo opportunity or dinner,” he said.

“At a time when Ministers and MLAs are getting a healthy pay rise despite continued poor performance, it will prompt anger and incredulity that local Ministers cannot even make progress in delivering a package of support with the funding that has been made available to them.

“Next week, Stormont will return – as no doubt will the tired sham fights between the two main parties who have collectively failed to offer leadership at a time of acute crisis for ordinary families. It is another damning indictment on our failed politics in need of fundamental change.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Kate Allum, Co-op Group’s interim chief executive, said: “Joining forces across Co-op Group and Southern Co-op will create new opportunities for members to have access to a greater range of benefits across a wider society, with more trading opportunities, and in turn more benefits for them and their communities.”

Emergency services were called to a serious crash in Aberdeen where several people were taken to hospital.

Three people have been rushed to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash in Aberdeen where one car had flipped on to its roof. Emergency services attended the scene around 1.30pm at Garthdee Road which has been taped off by police at the junction of Inchbrae Road.

Images taken at the scene show police officers, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and critical care teams all in attendance. The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) confirmed three vehicles were involved in the collision.

Three patients were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Three special operations response teams, two ambulances and a critical care team were sent to the scene.

Two fire appliances and a heavy rescue unit attended. A SAS spokesperson said: “We received a call at 13:36 to attend a three-vehicle road traffic collision on Garthdee Road, Aberdeen.

“We dispatched multiple resources to scene including three special operations response teams (SORT), two ambulances, and a critical care team. We transported three patients to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Garthdee Road in Aberdeen is closed at the junction of Inchbrae Road due to a crash reported around 1.30pm on Wednesday, 8 April, 2026. Emergency services are in attendance, and the public is asked to avoid the area.”

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Filmed last year, a live final to crown the winner will broadcast from London later in the month

I’m A Celebrity South Africa viewers were left furious over receiving spoilers just seconds into the latest episode of the ITV series.

The All Stars version of the annual Ant and Dec programme kicked off at the beginning of the week. Stars from past I’m A Celebrity series have headed back into the jungle in order to follow in the footsteps of Myleene Klass and become a ‘legend’.

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Filmed last year, a live final to crown the winner will broadcast from London later in the month. Among the first arrivals was former Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas, Coronation Street legend Beverley Callard and singer Sinitta.

On Tuesday (April 7), TOWIE legend Gemma was revealed as one of the first late entrants, alongside Red Dwarf and former Coronation Street star Craig Charles. Gemma famously left I’m A Celebrity after just 72 hours in 2014.

Gemma and Craig had to battle it out for a spot in the main camp by taking on an eating challenge. They feasted on grim dishes Fish Eye Pie, Terror-rine, Brain Freeze and Bloody Moory Shots.

The main camp were asked which celebrity they wanted to back, with David Haye making the decision to choose Craig. That meant that Gemma was the newcomer of Savannah Scrub.

Things became intense as both Gemma and Craig chose to drink 30 shots of a rank liquid in front of them. Ant and Dec announced that it was now a race to see which one of them would finish first, and therefore win the challenge for their chosen camp.

However, just as they started the credits rolled and viewers at home admitted they were ‘raging’ as they have to wait until tomorrow to see the result. Heading into Wednesday night’s (April 8) episode, fans were excited to see who won.

In a surprising mood, the teaser before the opening credits began to roll indicated that it was Craig who won the challenge. The reveal arrived as a result of Gemma being seen in Savannah Scrub expressing her frustrations about the facilities.

Those watching the episode at home rushed to X, previously known as Twitter, to have their say on why they feel like they waited 24 hours for no payoff.

@Jamie2550934 said: “#ImACeleb Who ever decided to show the spoiler before the start needs sacking.” @JamieAstonReels added: “Not #imaceleb showing us that Gemma lost the challenge in the intro when there was a cliffhanger? @imacelebrity.”

@Rosie12_1994 wrote: “#imaceleb why would they show us that talk about spoiling it ffs!” @Mrssammoore posted: “Well done #ImACeleb for spoiling the result of the task we waited 24 hours for – f.sake.”

@dave_oliverr commented: “whats the point in a cliffhanger ending last night if they’re just gonna show us who wins in the previews? #imaceleb.” @MinaaMorris pointed out: “It wasn’t spoilt for us, they were already chosen which camp to be in – they’re winning for meals #imaceleb.”

It’s amazing the damage Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) continue to do, despite being dead. They were both killed weeks ago and yet are still managing to ruin the lives of the Emmerdale locals, Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) being one of them.

He’s currently under suspicion of murdering Ray and in a cruel turn of events, Ray is about to reach out from beyond the grave and make things a whole lot worse.

Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) is clutching at the tiniest straw that new evidence may come to light ahead of their trial on 4th May. He gets his wish, but it doesn’t go the way he hopes.

The Dingles are hellbent on getting Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) freed, which prompts Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley), who’s guilty of framing Moira for her crimes, to approach Bear and pressure him for information that might save her.

Bear gives him a glimmer of hope in the form of a number plate Ray once asked him to hide. Robert uses Kammy to trace it to a storage facility and with the key Marlon (Mark Charnock) found at Celia’s farm, they open it.

The locker is chock full of new evidence, but it doesn’t help Bear, it incriminates him further.

In the interview room, DS Walsh slaps Bear with the first bit of new evidence – bank statements that show Ray made payments into an account in his name.

DS Walsh has a new theory, and it’s compounded by a throwaway comment Bear makes that Ray said he’d always take care of him.

The detective theorises that Bear was in fact Ray’s partner and that he murdered him in a bid for control of the whole organisation.

April Windsor (Amelia Flanagan) and Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) both know otherwise, but at this stage, will anyone be able to help Bear?

MORE: Devastating Emmerdale twist in Bear saga as unexpected character confesses to murder in ITVX release

MORE: Emmerdale confirms who will save Bear in early ITVX release – and it’s very unexpected

MORE: Paddy’s exit ‘confirmed’ after 29 years in Emmerdale ITVX release as the police have him

English World Cup winners Rosie Galligan and Marlie Packer have announced they are expecting a baby together.

Lock Galligan, 27, is due to give birth in October.

The pair, who are engaged, were part of the Red Roses squad that won the Women’s Rugby World Cup on home soil last year.

Packer, 36, who has a five-year-old son named Oliver, also lifted the World Cup with England in 2014.

In a joint Instagram post the pair, who both play for Saracens, wrote: “Baby Packer due October 2026 and your mummies and big brother can’t wait to meet you.”

Diana Henry is the Telegraph’s much-loved cookery writer. She shares recipes each week, for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. She is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, and her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.   

Available for over a year

Today, we discuss the ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran. The deal was agreed last night just hours after President Trump had threatened Iran’s ‘civilisation will die.’

But Israel has continued to strike Lebanon, with the US saying it’s not included in the ceasefire deal. And, Vice-President JD Vance will lead US negotiating talks aimed at the war with Iran in Pakistan on Saturday.

Adam is joined by BBC News chief presenter Caitríona Perry, chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet and Parham Ghobadi from BBC Persian.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you’re in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Gray with Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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