FLORENCE, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona prisoner convicted of killing another man by throwing gasoline at him and lighting a match was put to death Wednesday, the first of three executions planned this week around the U.S.

Leroy Dean McGill, 63, was pronounced dead at 10:26 a.m. PDT following a lethal injection at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence. McGill was convicted of murder in the death of Charles Perez, who was attacked with his girlfriend in a north Phoenix apartment on July 13, 2002.

It was the first lethal injection carried out this year in Arizona, and McGill didn’t appear to be resisting at any point during the procedure. After a lethal dose of pentobarbital began flowing, he began breathing heavily and made a snoring sound. And, about 21 minutes after the IV insertion process began, he was pronounced dead.

While the state was criticized for having difficulty in inserting IV lines during executions in 2022, it took just one attempt on each of McGill’s arms to successfully insert IVs.

“Today’s process went according to plan,” said John Barcello, deputy director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry. Barcello quoted McGill’s last words as: “I just want to thank everyone for being so accommodating and nice.”

Before the injection began, McGill looked at the witnesses, smiled and nodded. Media witness Josh Kelety from The Associated Press said he heard McGill at one point say: “I’m going home soon.”

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, whose office pressed for the execution to be carried out, said her thoughts were with the victims.

Media witness Sean Rice from Phoenix television station KPN said the execution was carried out smoothly.

“I didn’t see any issue at all finding a vein on either arm,” he said. Rice said he also observed a slight twitching on the right side of McGill’s head about four minutes before the inmate was pronounced dead.

Authorities said that in 2002 McGill threw gasoline at Perez and Perez’s girlfriend, Nova Banta, as they sat on a sofa in the apartment, setting them on fire. Perez and Banta had accused McGill of stealing a gun from the apartment before the attack. At the time, McGill was using methamphetamine and hadn’t slept in several days.

Banta survived, but Perez died.

Twelve people have been executed so far this year in the United States. Tennessee and Florida each are scheduled to carry out an execution Thursday.

At the Arizona trial, Banta testified that McGill had told her and Perez not to talk behind people’s backs. Before they could respond, McGill lit them on fire, authorities said.

Perez and Banta ran out of the apartment. Another man who lived in the apartment used a blanket to put out the flames on Banta, who suffered third-degree burns over three-quarters of her body. Perez died later at a hospital in extreme pain, prosecutors said.

Banta identified McGill as the attacker at trial.

Jurors deliberated for less than an hour before convicting McGill of murder in Perez’s death in October 2004. He also was convicted of attempted murder for attacking Banta, arson and endangerment of people who escaped without injuries when the fire forced them to flee the apartment and a nearby unit where flames spread.

McGill’s lawyers had argued for leniency by presenting evidence about abuse he suffered as a child as well as mental impairment and psychological immaturity. The jury ultimately returned the death sentence.

This spring, McGill’s lawyers made a last-ditch bid to get him resentenced, but a lower-court judge rejected it. The Arizona Supreme Court also declined a request from McGill’s lawyers to postpone the execution.

McGill, who declined an interview request from The Associated Press, waived his right to seek clemency.

Arizona last applied the death penalty in 2025, executing Richard Kenneth Djerf for the 1993 killings of four members of a Phoenix family and Aaron Gunches for the 2002 fatal shooting of his girlfriend’s ex-husband.

The state carried out three executions in 2022 following a nearly eight-year hiatus brought on by difficulties obtaining execution drugs and by criticism that a 2014 execution was botched. In that 2014 execution, Joseph Wood was injected with 15 doses of a two-drug combination over two hours, leading him to snort repeatedly and gasp hundreds of times before he died.

The state’s current execution protocol calls for administering two syringes of pentobarbital, a powerful sedative.

With McGill’s death, Arizona now has 108 prisoners on death row. ___ Billeaud reported from Phoenix.

Katie Price shared a series of cryptic late-night posts on Instagram amid the ongoing disappearance of her husband Lee Andrews, who has been formally reported missing to the UK Government.

Advertisement

Katie Price has taken to social media to share a series of late-night posts, fuelling speculation over whether her cryptic messages are linked to the disappearance of her husband Lee Andrews.

The Dubai-based businessman vanished last week, leaving former glamour model Katie, 47, and her husband’s family frantically searching for him.

In the early hours of Thursday (May 21), Katie posted to Instagram, sharing three seemingly pointed messages with her followers.

The first image read: “I’M NOT OVERWHELMED BECAUSE I CAN’T HANDLE IT. I’M OVERWHELMED BECAUSE I DO HANDLE IT. ALL. OF. IT.”

It continued: “ALL. THE. F***ING. TIME.”

Advertisement

Her second post was the one that really set tongues waggig, featuring the quote: “Sometimes you just have to accept the situation and say, it’s okay, it happens, it’s life”.

Her third and final shared message read: “Focus on yourself, because nothing is more powerful than a woman who knows her worth, chases her goals, and dares to dream big.”

The trio of late-night posts were uploaded via her Instagram stories, meaning followers were unable to comment publicly. Yet, given Katie’s previous social media activity surrounding her husband’s shocking disappearance, it is clear that the public is still very much in the dark about what is actually going on.

Katie last had contact with the 43-year-old Dubai-based businessman on Wednesday evening. She sounded the alarm the following day. “Lee was trying to get through the boarder at Hatta, this is so discombobulating, his location went off at 10.03pm on Wednesday night, that’s the last contact anyone has had – his family and myself. This is the third day now,” she said at the time.

In the wake of Lee’s kidnapping claims, a number of experts and insiders have voiced doubt about his version of events. Yet despite the apparent communication blackout during the supposed abduction, it has emerged that Lee has been using his mobile phone — just not to contact Katie.

Lee’s kidnapping ordeal has raised further questions for one seasoned investigator, with certain elements of his account failing to add up for investigative journalist Mark Williams-Thomas. Mark is well known for his expert analysis of some of Britain’s most prominent missing persons cases, including the tragic deaths of Jay Slater and Nicola Bulley.

He has now shared his thoughts on the unfolding situation, and the expert investigator appears far from convinced by several elements of Lee’s story. He said: ” Katie Price says she spoke to him on Wednesday, and shortly after 10 o’clock he was in the back of a van. He says they’re coming back.

Advertisement

“He had a hood over his head, his hands were tied, not by handcuffs, but he had managed to make a FaceTime call to her and didn’t tell her to phone the police. And he himself didn’t phone the police and didn’t give any more information.

“And since then, apparently his phone has gone dead, although he has, or someone has, managed to go onto his social media and delete some informational posts that are on there. So that’s slightly strange, isn’t it?”

Mark raised concerns over whether the alleged abduction had been reported to the authorities and what action was being taken. “Has this matter been reported to Dubai police? And in which case, given the information that Katie Price is saying, they’d be treating it as really serious, wouldn’t they? If it’s a potential kidnap,” he added.

Mark also accused Lee of “playing some ridiculous game” and suspects the situation is far more straightforward than an abduction. Speaking on TikTok, the investigative journalist said: “Well, has he been abducted? What’s the story behind it?

n

“The newspaper says that he’s not being kidnapped, he’s in hiding, he’s ghosting Katie Price and has been doing so for the past six days. It’s got to a situation now whereby, you know, I don’t think anyone believes Lee Andrews has been abducted or kidnapped in any way at all.

“He’s obviously playing some ridiculous game, but it’s attracted the media, and it will no doubt unfold more over the forthcoming days. Clearly this is a man who’s got some serious issues.”

Lee’s whereabouts remain unknown. He has also been officially registered as missing by the UK Government, with the Foreign Office confirming it is offering support to his family after a missing persons report was lodged.

Available for over a year

Today, the government announced a watering down of Russian oil sanctions as fuel prices rise from Iran war.

Adam is joined by Chris and Faisal to discuss that, as well as the cut in fuel duty and Wes Streeting’s resignation speech in the House of Commons.

And Emma Pinchbeck, CEO of the Climate Change Committee, speaks to Adam about a new report on climate adaptation in the UK.

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 was Adam Fleming. It was made by Chris Gray with Gabriel Purcell-Davis and Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producer was Joe Wilkinson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Programme WebsiteShow less

Earlier this week, England’s World Cup preparations were dealt a blow with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s calf injury ruling her out of this series and the following three matches against India.

They have been guilty of relying too much on Sciver-Brunt’s batting brilliance in recent years, which will add an element of added pleasure for Charlotte Edwards as she watched two 21-year-olds put together a mature, match-winning stand.

Capsey, who usually bats at number three, was opening for the first time for England in this format but stepped up seamlessly as Wyatt-Hodge awaits the birth of her child.

She played to her strengths by dismantling New Zealand’s pace attack flawlessly, including back-to-back sixes off Jess Kerr in the 15th over, while calmly negotiating the spinners with singles.

Though it remains unclear who will make way in the side when Sciver-Brunt and Wyatt-Hodge return, World Cup winner Alex Hartley says England must find a way to keep Capsey in.

“I think she is in England’s best XI, the way she’s adapted her game,” Hartley said on BBC Test Match Special.

“When she came onto the scene as a 16-year-old she set the world alight, we all knew the talent that she had then. She had a little bit of a dip in form, she was on TV more and players started to to work her out.

“But she’s adapted her game, she was brilliant in the 50-over World Cup and she got England out of a lot of trouble a number of times.”

Capsey believes her game has improved since she had the opportunity to spend time working on her skills, away from the pressures of playing.

“That three-month block at the beginning of the year was amazing, just to get some proper skills development, which I’ve probably not had for the last couple of years,” said Capsey.

“I’ve worked on quite a few different areas of my game, I feel really comfortable at the crease, really calm – I think it showed today, I think I was two off eight, and just that composure to know I can catch up and really believe that as well.”

After fellow opener Sophia Dunkley skied a catch for eight and Maia Bouchier was cleaned up by Bree Illing, Capsey added 43 with former captain Knight before Kemp injected some late energy into the chase with her 20-ball knock as the threat of rain loomed.

With the ball, the roles of England’s attack is clear. Bell continues to shine in her leadership role while Smith dominated the powerplay, claiming the key scalp of skipper Melie Kerr, who was caught at mid-off which may have contributed to the rest of the batters’ timid approach to the spinner.

However, Ecclestone was also targeted by New Zealand in the third ODI at Cardiff which could be a trend used by opposition sides at the World Cup.

Devine was immediately on the attack with those three massive leg-side blows, but the return of Gibson and Kemp to bowling after their respective back injuries ticks off another key part of Edwards’ puzzle.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Get previews of every single team at the World Cup sent directly to your inbox, featuring the players to look out for, games you shouldn’t miss and Metro’s big England predictions.

The extent of Emery’s Aston Villa revolution cannot be underestimated.

When the Spaniard took charge on 1 November 2022, Villa were 16th in the Premier League – two places and one point above the relegation zone.

They went on to win 15 of their 25 league games to finish seventh and earn a spot in European competition for the first time since 2010-11.

In his first full season, Emery secured Champions League football for Villa for the first time since 1982–83. His side also won 15 consecutive home league games – the most in their 151-year history.

And now, with Champions League football secured once again, Villa are champions on the continent for the first time in a generation.

Former Villa midfielder Mark Albrighton told BBC Radio 5 Live that Emery has “taken Villa to the next level”.

He said: “There are going to be times when you have highs and lows, that is the nature of football.

“Villa have experienced some of those lows but now they are on a massive high. Unai Emery was a step up in terms of what they had before.”

Ashley Young, another ex-Villa player, also told Radio 5 Live: “As soon as Unai Emery came in to Aston Villa, the players saw what he had done in his career, saw the Europa Leagues he had won and the clubs he had managed.

“Emery is a born winner, especially in this competition when he has shown it time and time and time again. Put his name up there alongside Ancelotti and Mourinho.

“He’s put this club back into Europe, back into the Champions League. If you had said when we were in 16th position in the Premier League that he would come in and win the Europa League, not one player would think that would be true. He’s just got a way.”

There are more teams now who work the way Emery works, who study what he studies and have managers who stay up late watching football they don’t really have to watch.

But Emery will continue to go one step further – as he always does.

Aston Villa secured their first trophy in 30 years with an emphatic 3-0 Europa League final win over Freiburg.

Southampton lost their appeal for expulsion from Saturday’s Championship play-off final, while David Seaman has called for Mikel Arteta to be honoured with a statue if the club follow up their Premier League triumph by winning the Champions League.

Classy Villa cruise to Europa League glory

Aston Villa ended their 30-year wait for a trophy as they strolled to an emphatic 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul.

The Prince of Wales was in attendance to see his beloved side win their first silverware since the League Cup in 1996.

Villa’s quality shone through with a pair of unstoppable strikes at the end of the first half from Youri Tielemans and Emiliano Buendia.

Villa started to flex their muscles and Morgan Rogers added a third which sparked jubilant scenes on the final whistle.

Southampton play-off appeal dismissed

Middlesbrough will play Hull in Saturday’s Championship play-off final after Southampton lost their appeal against their expulsion for ‘spygate’.

An independent commission imposed the penalty after Saints admitted three spying charges, including observing a Boro session ahead of the semi-final first leg.

The commission also reinstated Middlesbrough and denied Southampton the chance of a shot at promotion to the Premier League, worth an estimated £200million at a minimum.

Saints chief executive Phil Parsons called it “manifestly disproportionate” to any other sanction handed down in the history of the English game, but their appeal was rejected.

Arteta deserves statue if Arsenal win Champions League, says Seaman

Former goalkeeper David Seaman believes Mikel Arteta should be honoured with a statue outside the Emirates Stadium if he completes Arsenal’s “best season” by winning the Champions League.

The Gunners’ 22-year wait for the Premier League title is over, which sparked wild celebrations, among the players and staff at their training base, as well as thousands of supporters at the Emirates.

Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Tony Adams, former managers Arsene Wenger and Herbert Chapman, and the club’s president Ken Friar, are all immortalised with bronze statues outside the ground.

And when asked if Arteta could also be recognised if Arsenal see off Paris St Germain in the Champions League final on May 30, Seaman said: “If that does happen, it is going to be the best season in the club’s history, so why not?

“I just feel this team can get better and better. The club has never won the Champions League before and that would be one hell of a double. It is a big ‘if’, but it would be epic.”

Haaland: Man City ‘should be angry’

Erling Haaland has urged Manchester City to use the pain of missing out on the Premier League trophy for a second successive year to fuel next season’s title challenge.

Arsenal were crowned champions after second-placed City were held to a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.

“The whole club should use this as motivation now,” said Haaland. “We should be angry, we should feel a fire inside our belly because it’s not good enough. It’s gone two years now, it feels like forever.”

What’s on today?

Arteta is due to speak for the first time since Arsenal won the Premier League when he faces the media at the club’s London Colney headquarters.

Vet Dr James Greenwood shared an easy distraction that can also help stop your dogs from digging up the garden

Dog owners who spot their four-legged friend digging in the garden or casually munching on garden waste might not consider it concerning, but while addressing viewer queries on BBC Morning Live, one veterinary surgeon explained when this behaviour could prove potentially fatal for your animals.

One caller, Steve, mentioned that his dog frequently eats soil during walks and from his planted containers in the garden. Dr James Greenwood explained this could be a condition called Pica, which can also affect humans, and it may be hazardous depending on the varieties of plants in your garden.

He stated: “The main thing here really is to just be worried about what he might find in that soil. So, one of the things that I’d be quite sort of nervous about is bulbs.

“Lots of the plant bulbs that we have in our gardens can actually be quite toxic to dogs. So just be a little bit aware of that.”

This includes some common springtime plants according to the RSPCA:

• Daffodils
• Tulips
• Bluebells
• Foxglove
• Azaleas and rhododendrons

These can trigger various symptoms in animals, from digestive problems to tremors, drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea. RSPCA guidance cautions: “In some cases, just licking pollen off their paws or fur can cause a reaction. The bulbs of many plants are particularly toxic.”

Dr James explained that pica happens when animals consume something non-edible, from concrete to plastic and soil. He observed this can be connected to medical conditions and if it’s accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea or weight loss and lethargy then it’s advisable to arrange a veterinary examination.

However, if your dog isn’t displaying these symptoms or digging up toxic plants, the vet confirmed there’s “no real harm” in dogs playing or consuming some soil, apart from it ruining your garden. But Dr James had a solution for that as well.

“If you actually lean into that and give him something to dig, a sand pit, for example,” he said. “You could bury some of his toys or treats and let him go and dig in that that is less likely hopefully to to go for the tubs.”

The vet pointed out that occasionally dogs may seem to be ‘eating’ soil but are in fact just using their muzzle as an additional ‘paw’ in their digging efforts.