LOS ANGELES (AP) — The wide-ranging prosecution in the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry is coming to a close. Five people have pleaded guilty for various roles in supplying the actor with ketamine, the drug that killed him at age 54 in 2023. Four of them have been sentenced. The last person will be sentenced in the coming days.

Here’s a look at each person.

Kenneth Iwamasa

Perry’s 60-year-old longtime live-in personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa was intimately involved in the actor’s illegal ketamine use, acting as his drug messenger and personally giving him injections — six to eight per day in the last days of his life — according to his plea agreement.

“Shoot me up with a big one,” Iwamasa told authorities Perry said to him on Oct. 23, 2023. After several injections, the assistant left him at his home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles and returned to find Perry dead in his hot tub. An autopsy found the primary cause of death was the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning as a secondary cause.

Iwamasa made nearly all of the illegal drug buys on Perry’s behalf, working in coordination with his co-defendants. One of them, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, taught him how to give Perry the injections.

Iwamasa was quick to participate with police and prosecutors, becoming the first to reach a plea deal as they sought to use him as a key witness against other defendants.

PLEADED GUILTY TO: One count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.

SENTENCE: He’s scheduled to become the final defendant sentenced on May 27.

WHAT THEY SAID: Iwamasa is the only defendant who has yet to give public comment.

Jasveen Sangha

Prosecutors say she was known as “The Ketamine Queen,” because of her jet-setting, drug dealing lifestyle. Her lawyers say authorities made up that nickname to feed a media frenzy.

Jasveen Sangha did admit to running a serious drug operation, selling Perry the dose of ketamine that he took on the day he died, and causing the death of another man, 33-year-old Cody McLaury, in 2019.

Like the other defendants, Sangha had no previous convictions.

But, prosecutors said, and a judge agreed, that unlike the other defendants whose actions were atypical, she had been dealing drugs including ketamine, methamphetamine and cocaine for at least five years from her home.

Sangha is a 42-year-old who was born in Britain, raised in the United States and has dual citizenship. Her social media accounts showed her in posh spaces alongside rich-and-famous faces in Spain, Japan and Dubai, London and Los Angeles.

Sangha went to high school in Calabasas, California — perhaps best known as home to the Kardashians — and went to college at the University of California, Irvine, graduating in 2005 and going to work at Merrill Lynch. She later got an MBA from the Hult International Business School in London.

Her lawyers presented that personal history as evidence that she was an otherwise upstanding citizen, but prosecutors used the same facts to argue she didn’t need to sell drugs but did so for greed and glamour.

PLEADED GUILTY TO: Three counts of distribution of ketamine, one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury, and one count of using her home for drug distribution.

SENTENCE: She was sentenced to 15 years in prison, the longest so far.

WHAT THEY SAID: “These were not mistakes. They were horrible decisions,” Sangha said at sentencing, adding that her choices had “shattered people’s lives and the lives of their family and friends.”

Erik Fleming

Fleming, 56, was working as a drug addiction counselor when a mutual friend he had with Perry told him that the actor was seeking ketamine, according to filings from prosecutors.

Fleming’s lawyers said he was a former television and film producer whose career had been ravaged by substance abuse, and that after gaining hard-won sobriety he became a counselor.

But he had badly relapsed when approached about Perry, and connected the actor with Sangha to buy her product.

In all, prosecutors say, Fleming delivered 50 vials of Sangha’s ketamine for Perry’s use, marking up the price to make a profit, including 25 vials sold for $6,000 to the actor four days before his death.

Authorities found him early in the investigation and lawyers on both sides agreed he was immediately and extraordinarily cooperative. He gave up Sangha, and became the first to appear in court and enter a guilty plea.

PLEADED GUILTY TO: One count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.

SENTENCING: He was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison and three years of probation.

WHAT THEY SAID: “This grievous failure will haunt me forever,” Fleming wrote in a letter to the court. After he was sentenced, he said: “I want to do everything I can to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again. I don’t want anyone to die from ketamine.”

Dr. Salvador Plasencia

“I wonder how much this moron will pay?”

That was a text message Plasencia sent to a fellow doctor when he learned Perry was looking for illegal, off-the-books ketamine, according to a plea agreement where the doctor admitted to selling 20 vials of the drug to the actor in the weeks before his death.

Plasencia, a 44-year-old Los Angeles-area doctor known to patients as “Dr. P,” was one of the main targets of the prosecution and had been headed for a joint trial with Sangha when he reached the plea agreement last year.

Perry was connected to Plasencia through another patient. The actor had been getting ketamine legally from his regular doctor as treatment for depression, an off-label but increasingly common use of the surgical anesthetic. But he wanted more than that doctor would prescribe.

Plasencia admitted to injecting Perry with some of the initial vials he provided, and left more for Iwamasa to inject, despite the fact that Perry froze up and his blood pressure spiked after a dose.

Plasencia graduated from UCLA’s medical school in 2010 and had not been subject to any medical disciplinary actions before the Perry case.

PLEADED GUILTY TO: Four counts of distribution of ketamine.

SENTENCE: 2 1/2 years in prison, two years of probation and a $5,600 fine.

WHAT THEY SAID: Plasencia cried at his sentencing as he imagined the day he would have to tell his 2-year-old son “about the time I didn’t protect another mother’s son. It hurts me so much.”

Dr. Mark Chavez

Chavez, a San Diego doctor who ran a ketamine clinic, was the source of the doses that Plasencia sold to Perry.

Chavez admitted to obtaining the ketamine from a wholesale distributor on false pretenses and passing it along.

Chavez, 55, graduated from UCLA’s medical school in 2004. He has surrendered his medical license.

CHARGE: One count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

SENTENCING: Eight months of home confinement and three years of supervised release.

WHAT THEY SAID: “I just want to say my heart goes out to the Perry family,” Chavez said at sentencing.

___

Versions of this story previously ran on Aug. 15, 2024, and Sept. 3, 2025.

Questions to ask when considering if your child’s screen time is too high

Dr Amir Khan has warned that this sign should not be ignored

A GP has warned that anyone experiencing a particular symptom should not delay seeking medical attention. Persistent bloating lasting three weeks or longer requires investigation.

During a recent episode of his No Appointment Necessary podcast, Dr Amir Khan discussed how to recognise the signs of ovarian cancer. The disease, as its name indicates, begins in the ovaries. Consequently, anyone with ovaries is at risk. Even those who have undergone ovary removal can develop ovarian cancer, as it may affect the fallopian tubes or the peritoneum (the lining inside the abdomen).

The condition is most commonly diagnosed in women aged over 50. Data from Cancer Research UK shows it ranks as the sixth most frequent cancer affecting women in Britain, claiming more than 4,000 lives annually.

During his discussion with co-host Cherry Healey, Dr Amir – familiar to viewers from his ITV appearances, explained that the warning signs can be “easily” overlooked. Cherry said: “Ovarian cancer – cancer of the ovaries, which is called the ‘silent cancer’ because there aren’t that many warning signs. “

Dr Amir responded: “Yeah, I’m not sure I quite like that term the ‘silent cancer’. There are symptoms but the symptoms are not very specific to the ovaries so they feel like they could be coming from somewhere else.

“But also they’re easily dismiss, not just by the the lady, but also by doctors as well.”

He particularly emphasised that individuals should arrange a medical appointment if they notice unexplained bloating. “If you’ve got unexplained gas or a feeling of being bloated, for three weeks or more and you are, the official guidance is 40 in Europe – I would say 35 or above anything, that is unexplained or persistent, and by that, I mean there’s no other obvious cause, it’s been going on for three weeks or more, go and get that checked out.”

A caption accompanying a clip from the podcast posted on Instagram stated: “There’s no such thing as ‘just bloating’ when symptoms persist. Ovarian cancer is often called the ‘silent cancer’, but as Dr Amir & Cherry discuss, there are symptoms. The problem is they’re easy to dismiss.

“If you’ve had unexplained bloating, gas, or discomfort for three weeks or more, don’t ignore it. Get it checked.”

Other symptoms

On its website, the NHS warns that the signs of ovarian cancer are “not always obvious”. This means the disease is often treated “late”. The main symptoms of ovarian cancer include frequently (roughly 12 or more times a month) having:

• A swollen tummy or feeling bloated
• Pain or tenderness in your tummy or the area between the hips (pelvis)
• No appetite or feeling full quickly after eating
• An urgent need to pee or needing to pee more often

Other symptoms of ovarian cancer can include:

• Indigestion
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Back pain
• Feeling tired all the time
• Losing weight without trying
• Bleeding from the vagina after the menopause

You should see a GP if you experience any of these symptoms. The NHS continues: “These symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions.

“But it’s still important to get them checked by a GP. This is because if they’re caused by cancer, finding it early can mean it’s more treatable.”

It adds: “It’s important to get any symptoms of ovarian cancer checked as soon as possible. Finding it early can mean it’s more treatable.”

A strong end to the season will ensure Liverpool return to the Champions League but it still looks like being a summer of change

Liverpool have a chance to finally clinch Champions League qualification this week, after which attention will soon turn to the summer transfer window. Three points against Aston Villa would guarantee a top-five finish but anything less than that and the door would be left open to the chasing pack.

Regardless of what happens with manager Arne Slot – and there had been plenty of speculation over the Dutchman’s future – the Reds may well feel they need to bolster their squad in the summer. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will leave in the summer and they might not be the only ones.

Alisson has missed the bulk of the run-in through injury and questions remain over the goalkeeper’s longer-term Anfield future. Even if the Brazilian stays, there’s likely to be a need for experienced additions to make up for the loss of some big characters.

There has already been plenty of chatter about what might be in store for the 2024/25 Premier League champions this summer. We’ve taken a look at some of the latest Liverpool lines.

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READ MORE: Alexander Isak learns World Cup fate as Graham Potter reveals ‘very difficult’ Sweden callREAD MORE: Liverpool star Joe Gomez opens door to exit after Arne Slot finds £60m replacement

Alisson talks lined up

Juventus and Liverpool have been in touch with a view to discussing a potential move to Turin for goalkeeper Alisson, according to reports in Italy. The situation has developed, however, with murmurings that Michele Di Gregorio might move in the opposite direction.

Juve keeper Di Gregorio, 28, has played in 29 of his team’s 36 league games this season. He is said to be keen to be an undisputed first choice at a team next season – whether that’s in his current surroundings or elsewhere – and the Bianconeri signing Alisson would make the former unlikely.

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The same reports suggest he might not get such an opportunity at Liverpool either, with Giorgi Mamardashvili expected to start the new campaign as No.1 if Alisson moves on. Another potential option for Di Gregorio would be to move to Tottenham if the London side avoid relegation, with Guglielmo Vicario linked with a summer return to Serie A.

Elliott handed future warning

Harvey Elliott is one of the Liverpool players whose future could hinge on whether manager Slot stays or goes. According to former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy, the 23-year-old needs to prepare for an exit if the Dutchman remains in the dugout next term.

Elliott has spent the current season on loan at Aston Villa but has failed to make a dent on the first team under Unai Emery. He is due to return to Anfield in the summer after failing to reach the threshold of appearances needed to trigger a permanent Villa move.

“For Harvey Elliott, if Arne Slot stays in charge, he needs a new home,” Murphy told Aceodds.com. “I felt for him this year at Villa, what’s gone on. It’s my understanding that it’s not down to him.”

He added: “The reality is he’s a super player. He’s very creative, brave on the ball. He’s a Premier League level player for sure and he’ll be desperately open to a change of manager because another manager might really like that type of player.”

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Robins are one of the UK’s favourite birds and are often spotted in gardens across the country. They can be more noticeable in spring, and there are certain plants, foods and shrubs that could help attract them to your garden

Birds need help throughout the year, whether that means offering them nutritious food to feed on or water for bathing. This becomes crucial during the spring months when British birds are building nests, laying eggs and nurturing their young.

Robins are one of Britain’s most beloved birds, and while they’re a delightful presence all year, they tend to be more visible during spring. This occurs because their dietary habits change and they depend more heavily on insects, worms and spiders, typically discovered in lawns. According to one expert, enticing them into your garden is straightforward.

James Ewen, gardening specialist at Green Feathers, explained: “Robins are a favourite of mine, and it’s always a pleasure when one pays you a visit.

“People think luring robins is an impossible task, and while they can be a rare sighting, when you know, you know.

“Considering their basic needs and comfort- food, drink, nesting opportunities, shelter and their most-loved plants and shrubs can go a long way.”

Shrubs

If you’re hoping to attract robins, supplying dense shrubs, hedges and climbing plants is ideal. They provide refuge from severe weather and safety from larger birds.

The gardening specialist noted: “A top choice for attracting robins and other songbirds is a serviceberry tree, known by many names, including juneberry.”

Their fruit matures from late spring through summer, supplying robins with a consistent source of soft, energy-rich berries, reports the Express.

Food

Understanding what robins enjoy eating is vital. They are enthusiastic feeders, and offering mealworms and earthworms is an excellent starting point. According to the expert, providing these will have robins “keep coming back”.

Fruits such as apples and pears can also be a brilliant source of fibre and vitamins for robins, helping to support digestion as well as healthy feathers and eyesight.

Water

Much like other birds, robins need water for both hydration and bathing. Keep a shallow bird bath topped up throughout the year, or position a small dish close to some shrubs.

The expert said: “Robins prioritise safety, so positioning water by shrub shelters them from predators. Never underestimate how important water is for robins to bathe in.

“Providing a place for robins to bathe keeps their feathers clean and free from parasites, and they also make their feathers more pliable when they bathe, allowing them to fight more efficiently, thus getting away from predators more effectively.”

Holmesterne began in 1986 and operated from two sites in Richmond.

However, James Clark and Howard Smith from Interpath were appointed joint administrators on Monday.

A statement from the administrators says that over 2024 and 2025, the company came under sustained margin pressure in the wake of high input costs across ingredients, packaging and factory costs, which were further exacerbated by increases in employment taxes.

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Company getting its teeth into market

The business launched a turnaround programme in July 2025 to put the business on a more sustainable financial platform. Unfortunately, however, sales continued to fall below expectations, which impacted cashflow, and in turn, caused creditor pressure to mount.

Consequently, after all available options had been explored by the company and its stakeholders, the decision was taken to seek the appointment of administrators.

The joint administrators have commenced an orderly wind-down of operations, the statement continued.

Regrettably, the majority of the company’s 130 staff have been made redundant, with a small number of employees retained by the administrators to assist them with the wind-down process.

James Clark, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “It is a real shame to see Holmesterne enter administration, particularly after the sale of the business last year and the renewed optimism that followed.

“Despite the best efforts of both the management team and the new owners, the headwinds facing the business sadly proved too challenging to overcome.

“Our immediate priority is to support employees through this difficult period, and we will be doing all we can to assist them in the days and weeks ahead.”

For five hours, the 11 survivors of a plane crash off the coast of Florida floated on a life raft, with no means of calling for help and no idea if anyone was coming to save them. As a thunderstorm approached, they gathered under a tarp for whatever protection it might offer.

Then, search and rescue crews from the U.S. military appeared overhead, members of those crews recounted during a news conference Wednesday.

“You could tell just by looking at them that they were in distress — physically, mentally and emotionally,” said Air Force Capt. Rory Whipple, a combat rescue specialist who jumped into the water and swam to the survivors. “You have to imagine the emotional injuries that they sustained out there, not knowing if someone was going to rescue them.”

The plane, a Beechcraft 300 King Air turboprop, was on its way from Marsh Harbour, on the Bahamian island of Great Abaco, to Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport when it suffered engine failure Tuesday, authorities said. The pilot ditched the plane in the water about 50 miles (80 km) off Vero Beach, Florida, and managed to get its 10 passengers, three with minor injuries, onto a yellow life raft.

Air Force Reserve Maj. Elizabeth Piowaty credited those efforts, saying the pilot would have been concerned about ocean swells and slowing the plane as much as safely possible before impact.

“I’ve not known anyone to survive a ditching in the ocean,” said Piowaty, who commanded a HC-130J Combat King II plane that assisted with the rescue. “From what I’ve seen, for all those people to survive is pretty miraculous.”

The downed plane’s emergency beacon alerted the U.S. Coast Guard to its location. At the time, the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing had a crew already airborne conducting a training mission in a HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter. The crew was redirected to help with the search.

Piowaty said that after locating the survivors, her aircraft passed overhead and dropped a survival kit that included two additional rafts, food and water. The survivors were then able to spread out, and the crew of the HH-60W, including Whipple, was able to hoist them to safety amid 3- to 5-foot (1- to 1.5-m) swells, raising the last survivor just a few minutes before the helicopter would have been forced to refuel.

There was no sign of the downed aircraft, Piowaty said.

All 11 survivors were flown to awaiting emergency medical services at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, authorities said. All were reported to be in stable condition.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate the crash.

HM Inspectorate of Probation’s latest inspection of the region’s probation service found that long-standing issues with staffing “continued to undermine capacity and confidence”.

The Ministry of Justice said it inherited a “criminal justice system in crisis” which it is addressing by increasing funding for the probation service and recruiting more probation officers.

Martin Jones, chief inspector of probation, said the inspectors were “encouraged to find signs of increasing stability” across Yorkshire and the Humber’s probation service after 90 of its cases were inspected.

However, Mr Jones said the probation service, which is the second largest after London, continued to face “longstanding issues with vacancies, sickness and attrition”.

He said these issues, “combined with high levels of practitioner and middle manager inexperience, continued to undermine capacity and confidence”.

Mr Jones urged leaders to “strengthen practitioners’ skills and confidence and ensure there is meaningful management oversight and consistent delivery of interventions”.

Inspectors found that workforce pressures remained a “significant challenge” for the Yorkshire and the Humber probation service in some probation delivery units, but said “encouragingly, there were signs of increasing stability”.

“Despite this, longstanding issues with vacancies, sickness and attrition, combined with high levels of practitioner and middle manager inexperience, continued to undermine capacity and confidence,” inspectors said in their report.

They found that staff retention levels were being affected by “long vetting delays, concerns about pay, and excessive workloads”.

Inspectors also found that “leaders felt national recruitment campaigns had not properly reflected the public protection responsibilities of the role, leaving new staff unprepared”.

“Inspectors noted constant organisational change, driven by national policies, and crisis-driven working, which meant that staff were encouraged to focus on transactional tasks rather than reflective, analytical decision-making,” they added.

Probation service faced delays in accessing information from police, inspectors find

Inspectors said access to critical risk information from the probation service’s partners – such as the police and children’s services – had improved, but practitioners “still faced delays and received incomplete information”. They said leaders “stressed that national action was required to fully resolve this”.

The report recommended that the probation service develops practitioners’ confidence and skills in the use of “professional curiosity and challenging conversations”.

They also said the probation service should ensure senior probation officers have “sufficient capacity and resources to undertake effective management oversight of casework”.

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Inspectors recommended that the government develops a national strategy to improve information service from the probation service to the police and children’s services.

They also urged the government to “reduce vetting delays and address workforce instability by implementing streamlined and more regionally responsive recruitment processes”.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “The government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis, placing significant strain on the probation service.

“We are addressing this by boosting probation funding by up to £700 million extra by 2028, recruiting another 1,300 probation officers on top of the 2,300 we already committed to and delivering the biggest expansions of tagging in British history to ensure robust supervision of offenders and protect the public.”

Manchester United round-up following a major update on the managerial situation

After clinching a return to the Champions League, Manchester United are close to confirming their next permanent manager, with Michael Carrick in pole position. The 44-year-old has surpassed the expectations of many since taking over for the remainder of the campaign in January following an acrimonious end to Ruben Amorim’s rocky reign.

United have explored other options but Carrick has long been considered the front-runner for a job that he has been publicly backed for by a number of players. The former Middlesbrough boss has overseen a marked improvement in mood and results, with Champions League qualification secured with three matches to spare.

Ahead of the final two matches of the season – at home to Nottingham Forest on Sunday and away to Brighton – United are also on the brink of securing a comfortable third spot ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa.

It’s sure to be a fascinating summer at Old Trafford, with arrivals and departures expected as Carrick, assuming he lands the job, puts his stamp on the side. Here’s a round-up of the latest United news…

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Carrick’s demand

Carrick has made no secret of the fact he wants the job full-time, saying after a recent game that it feels like a “natural” fit. However, he expects to be backed during what could be a hectic summer.

READ MORE: Man Utd reach agreement over Michael Carrick appointment as first demand madeREAD MORE: Darren Fletcher shows up Ruben Amorim with ‘powerful’ Michael Carrick comments

In key talks with top bosses next week, Carrick will want assurances the club will do whatever it can to land their leading transfer targets. His expected appointment as permanent boss will have the knock-on effect of sewing up Bruno Fernandes’s long-term future.

The Portuguese playmaker was close to leaving the club last summer before being persuaded to stay by Amorim. His countryman’s dismissal raised more questions about his future amid suggestions he had grown tired of the club’s constant cycle of upheaval. However, with Carrick at the helm, Fernandes is ready to commit his long-term future to the club.

Casemiro’s advice

Outgoing midfielder Casemiro has been dishing out advice to Kobbie Mainoo, calling him the “present and the future of the club.” The fortunes of both players have been transformed under Carrick.

Mainoo has come in from the cold after struggling to force his way into Amorim’s plans, while Casemiro has been a key player over the second half of the season, with calls for him to reverse his decision to leave this summer.

The Brazilian has been key off the pitch too, offering guidance to younger players like Mainoo. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, he discussed the challenge of getting through to younger players in the age of social media.

When Ferdinand put to him that you can’t be as strong with young players [these days], he said: “I try, I try, but the phone, the social media is very difficult because everyone sees on the phone, ‘Nah, you play good.’ You think, ah, you play good. Yeah, it’s top, it’s top.’

“And I try every day about this with Kobbie. He’s an unbelievable player. But he needs to train, train, train. He needs fear – I play, I don’t play. I need to push the training because this guy is the present and the future of the club.”

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Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

The 7-year-old died after being knocked down in April 2021

A witness to an accident that claimed the life of a seven-year-old girl in West Belfast five years ago told an inquest that a noise he heard at the time still “haunts” him to this day.

Deirdre Crawford left home at 5.50pm on April 3, 2021, to bring a present to a work colleague’s house for their 30th birthday. As she drove up Springhill Avenue, Mrs Crawford’s blue Renault Captur car hit Kaitlin McCoubrey-Fullerton, who sadly died at the scene. No prosecution was taken against her by the PSNI after the incident.

An inquest into the young girl’s death took place this week at Belfast Laganside Court, with the evidence focused on the circumstances before Kaitlin entered the road, what happened as she did so, and the layout and condition of Springhill Avenue.

READ MORE: ‘Our blue-eyed girl’: Belfast parent’s tribute to schoolgirl who died after being struck by carREAD MORE: ‘I was numb’ – Driver who hit child in fatal West Belfast crash gives evidence at inquest

Additionally, the inquest has examined the presence of parked vehicles and a speed ramp, as well as the driver’s control.

When the hearing resumed on Wednesday, witness Martin McGahan recalled calling to the home of his friend Gerard McGivern and his wife, Carmel for a barbecue at Springhill Avenue that evening. He said it was a “beautiful, dry and sunny” Easter Saturday, adding, “It felt like summer had arrived.”

“There were a lot of people in the street, mostly sitting in their gardens and plenty of kids in the street. The play park on Springhill Avenue was packed with children. I could smell barbecues as I walked up the street. The atmosphere was amazing, it felt really lively,” he said.

“There were cars parked on either side of the street, partly on the road and pavement, which made it very narrow for traffic. Because of all the cars and children, it meant that anyone driving on the street had to go very slow.”

Mr McGahan said he was sitting in the front garden and had just drunk his first couple of mouthfuls of beer when, shortly after 6pm, he saw a sky blue car pass in front of the house.

He added: “The car didn’t appear to be doing any speed as it passed. Around the same time, I remember hearing the sound of a car suddenly stopping or braking, although it wasn’t a skidding sound.

“It also sounded like something being sucked under a car. There was a gasp from the street and then silence. From the noise I heard, I knew something had been hit by a car. I thought it was possibly a child.”

Mr McGahan added that as soon as he heard the noise and saw the car pass, he jumped up and rushed out of the garden.

“We were all worried it was one of Gerard’s children that had been hit. I ran around a car and saw a young girl with red hair lying on the road. She was completely still. I thought she had no chance, that she was dead.

“There were two young women near the car. One of them said there’d been in an accident and that they’d just seen a flash of her hair.”

Mr McGahan then rang 999 and paramedics arrived soon after: “They didn’t seem to do much. I asked one of them if there was anything I could do to help, but they indicated she was beyond help.

“Then the parents of the child arrived. The girl’s father, who was really distressed, lifted her shoe, which had been lying on the road and threw it up the street in the direction of the Springfield Road. Both of them were shouting at the girl to wake up.”

He added: “The family of the driver were in a complete panic. They were asking me if the girl was OK. When I told them she had died, they were distraught.”

Under cross examination by David Reid, counsel for the coroner, Mr McGahan said he also recalled hearing a scraping noise when the car hit a speed ramp.

“That noise still haunts me to this day,” he added.

In her evidence, Carmel McGivern recalled being in her garden with Mr McGahan and others when she heard what “sounded like a wheelie bin or someone’s wing mirror being struck by a car”.

“I knew a vehicle had hit something. It was loud enough to make my stomach turn. When I heard voices, I knew from their tone that something serious had happened. Someone had been knocked down,” she added.

When Mrs McGivern got up and ran straight out through the garden gate onto the street, she observed a stationary car and a young girl lying in the middle of the road.

She recalled: “There was no sign of life at all. My immediate thought was that she was gone. I knelt down beside her and said, ‘I’ve got you, sweetie, I’m here for you’ – ‘you’ve been in an accident, there’s help coming’.

“I lightly stroked her back and pulled her hair back from her face to behind her ear. I held her hand and just kept whispering soothing things to her, calling her by her name and telling her she was loved”.

When questioned about the conditions on the road in terms of how busy it is for traffic, Mrs McGivern replied: “Springhill Avenue is a very busy street, and very active with kids and cars constantly going up and down the street. Some of them respect the speed and some don’t. A lot of people are on their mobile phones. It’s still like that today.”

She added: “I think if the drivers were made aware that maybe there was a camera watching, they might slow down and not use their phones as much. I do see a lot of people on their phones.”

Sean Dodds, who was driving behind the blue Renault Captur, after collecting his own daughter, when it hit Kaitlin recalled: “There were cars parked on either side of the road, meaning it was very tight for traffic getting through. It was Easter weekend, so there were loads of people in the area. I remarked to my partner that it was crazy how busy it was.

“The road is a long straight with a couple of speed bumps along it. My partner’s car had new alloy wheels, which I did not wish to damage, so I took it very slowly over the speed bumps.

“I volunteered to take my daughter home before returning to pick up my partner. I left at about 6:10pm with my daughter in a child seat in the rear of the car. I didn’t have the radio on and the windows were closed.”

Mr Dodds said the car in front driving at a constant speed and not fast: “All of a sudden there was a sharp movement towards the road. I distinctly remember a young girl with red hair running out straight across the road. I’m not sure where she was looking when she ran out.

“The car in front of me had either reached the speed bump or was just before it when the girl ran out immediately in front of the car.

“I don’t recall seeing the car in front brake or swerve prior to impact. It all happened very quickly. The car seemed to hit her as soon as she came out. She was struck by the front of the car in the front of the passenger side.”

He added: “I didn’t hear any noise prior to impact and don’t recall hearing the impact itself. She went straight under the car. I had a clear view of her under the car and that’s the image I can remember to this day. She was like a wee doll, not like a person.

“I could hear shouting and screaming outside. I was in shock and didn’t want my daughter to be exposed to what had happened. I reversed into a cul-de-sac and drove back up to where I’d come from. I told the people in the house what had happened and a while later, police came and took my details as a witness.”

A forensic scientist who attended the scene afterwards also gave evidence on Wednesday, saying an examination of the Renault car revealed no pre-collision defects and that the road surface was in good condition with no irregularities.

When questioned on driver perception-response time, he told the inquest: “I’m not aware of what the driver could have done differently, unfortunately.”

The inquest has now concluded its evidence and the coroner will deliver her findings in due course.

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