The wide-ranging prosecution of those involved in the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry has come to a close with the sentencing of his personal assistant, the last of the five people who pleaded guilty to playing various roles in supplying the actor with ketamine, the drug that killed him at age 54 on October 28, 2023.
Here’s a look at each defendant.
Kenneth Iwamasa
Perry’s 60-year-old 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.
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Iwamasa, a longtime friend, was hired for the $150,000-a-year job because those surrounding Perry trusted him to help with the actor’s sobriety. But he ended up being the actor’s chief enabler.
“Shoot me up with a big one,” Iwamasa told authorities Perry said to him on the last day of his life. After several injections, Iwamasa 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 at first lied about his role and destroyed evidence, but months later became the first to reach a plea deal and became prosecutors’ most important informant.
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PLEADED GUILTY TO: One count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.
SENTENCE: Three years and five months in prison.
WHAT THEY SAID: “Kenny at all times acted at the direction of Mr. Perry. Obtained ketamine at the direction of Mr. Perry. Administered ketamine to Mr. Perry at his direction,” defense lawyer Alan Eisner said after sentencing. “And as his employee, Kenny wishes he could have had the strength to push back and say no.”
Jasveen Sangha
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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 admitted to running a significant 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.
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Sangha, 42, 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.
She 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.
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SENTENCE: 15 years in prison, more than all the other defendants combined.
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.
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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 fairly early in the investigation using information from Iwamasa. He cooperated with prosecutors, giving up Sangha and becoming the first to appear in court and enter a guilty plea.
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PLEADED GUILTY TO: One count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
SENTENCE: Two years in prison.
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
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“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.
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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. He voluntarily gave up his medical license before any action was taken against.
PLEADED GUILTY TO: Four counts of distribution of ketamine.
SENTENCE: 2 1/2 years in prison.
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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.
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Chavez, 55, graduated from UCLA’s medical school in 2004. He has surrendered his medical license.
CHARGE: One count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
SENTENCE: Eight months of home confinement.
WHAT THEY SAID: “I just want to say my heart goes out to the Perry family,” Chavez said at sentencing.
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Versions of this story previously ran on Aug. 15, 2024, Sept. 3, 2025 and May 13, 2026.
Paul Kueker, a 51-year-old married father of two from Connecticut, died after falling 150 feet at Madison Square Garden
Paige Ingram Multimedia Journalist, Peter Hennessy UK & World News Editor, Reanna Smith and Somaiyah Hafeez
00:54, 22 Jun 2026Updated 00:59, 22 Jun 2026
A 51 year old man who fell to his death during a concert at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night has been identified as a beloved married father of two from Connecticut.
Paul Kueker plunged 150 feet from the Chase Bridge at Madison Square Garden during the Goose concert, shortly before 10pm on Saturday. His mother, Patricia Finelli, told the New York Post: “He was the greatest kid in the whole wide world, he’d give you the shirt off his back. He took care of me like I was a piece of gold.”
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Kueker had attended the concert with his wife, with whom he has two children. Following the tragic fall, he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead, according to police.
Kueker and his wife were at Goose’s second night at MSG as part of the band’s summer tour. The group concluded its 16-song set at around midnight, reports the Mirror.
A statement from the band read: “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show. We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.”
Concertgoers reported that a fan fell from the upper 200 or 300 tier down to level 100. The multi-storey venue’s main 100, 200, and 300 seating sections sit at a height equivalent to that of a typical 10-storey building.
One photograph of the alleged incident, shared by a gig-goer on Reddit, showed multiple damaged seats at the venue with police tape sealing off the section.
The band reportedly went on to perform a second set following the incident after a prolonged break. Multiple witnesses confirmed that paramedics carried him out on a stretcher.
Ghana, meanwhile, boast serious talent, including Antoine Semenyo, who scored 17 Premier League goals this season but veteran coach Carlos Queiroz must get the best out of him here.
Date, kick-off time and venue
England vs Ghana is scheduled for a 9pm BST kick-off on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
The match will take place at the Boston Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Where to watch England vs Ghana for FREE
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on BBC One with coverage starting at 8pm BST.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via BBC iPlayer or the channel’s website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, featuring expert analysis from Dom Smith at the ground.
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Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, along with BBC iPlayer and their websites.
England vs Ghana team news
Declan Rice and Harry Kane are fit and available for this game, after Tuchel confirmed Rice’s substitution was precautionary, while Kane, pictured with his leg strapped, said he felt physically “good” after the game.
Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Reece James, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Jarell Quansah, Nico O’Reilly, Dan Burn, Djed Spence, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze, Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon
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Home run: Declan Rice in training on Saturday
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Ghana’s star man is Semenyo, but Kamal Deen Sulemana and Inaki Williams offer a threat going forward, while Coventry’s Thomas Brandon-Asante assisted Yirenkyi after coming on, so could start.
They have Thomas Partey available after he was denied entry to Canada and missed their Panama opener.
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Benjamin Asare, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Joseph Anang, Baba Abdul Rahman, Gideon Mensah, Marvin Senaya, Alidu Seidu, Abdul Mumin, Jerome Opoku, Jonas Adjetey, Kojo Oppong Peprah, Derrick Luckassen, Elisha Owusu, Thomas Partey, Kwasi Sibo, Augustine Boakye, Caleb Yirenkyi, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Kamal Deen Sulemana, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Ernest Nuamah, Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas-Asante, Prince Kwabena Adu, Iñaki Williams, Jordan Ayew
England vs Ghana prediction
England’s second-half display after Tuchel’s half-time intervention produced a dynamic attacking display alien to most people who have watched the Three Lions at the World Cup over the decades.
Ghana were lucky to beat a stolid Panama, so an England win is a foregone conclusion – almost.
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Head to head (h2h) history and results
England vs Ghana match odds
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As many of us head to the seaside to enjoy the nice weather, there are five common habits that could lead to fines of up to £2,500.
These include illegal beach camping, pocketing pebbles, using disposable barbecues, allowing dogs to roam freely, and littering.
Camping on the beach
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While appealing to many, camping remains illegal across much of England’s coastline without permissions.
This is enforced by major landowners such as the National Trust and the Crown Estate.
Visitors caught camping illegally could face fines of up to £1,000.
Taking pebbles
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It seems like a small issue, but taking pebbles, rocks, or plants is also an offence under the Coastal Protection Act 1949, with similar fines in place.
Disposable barbecues
BBQs are banned by many coastal authorities because of the fire and environmental risks they pose.
Visitors who ignore the ban may receive a fixed penalty notice of round £100.
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If you want to bring a picnic, experts recommend using ready‑made food, cold boxes and reusable containers instead of trying to cook on the beach.
Letting dogs roam freely
Dog restrictions are also in place on several beaches under Public Space Protection Orders.
On some beaches, including Roker and Seaburn in Sunderland, dogs are banned from designated sections between 10am and 6pm during the summer months.
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Owners who breach these rules risk a fine of up to £100.
However, not every shoreline is off‑limits, with some stretches of Northumberland coast – such as parts of Bamburgh and Alnmouth – allow dogs all year, often off‑lead in designated areas.
Littering
The final warning on the list, carries the heaviest penalty, with fines reaching £2,500 in serious cases.
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Prosecution is also possible for repeat or persistent offenders.
North Tyneside Council recently placed beach‑toy recycling boxes made from reclaimed pallets along parts of the seafront, encouraging visitors to donate old plastic toys instead of abandoning them on the beach.
Cape Verde pulled off another stunning shock at the 2026 World Cup as they held Uruguay to a dramatic 2-2 draw in Miami.
The team had already produced a remarkable 0-0 draw with European champions Spain in their opening game, and they added another point to their tally as they took advantage of mistakes in Uruguay’s defensive line.
The man appeared to have a “medical emergency” on board the plane which saw him allegedly bite a passenger and start “trying to fight everybody” triggering the pilot to make an emergency call
A pilot was forced to make a chilling call to air traffic controllers before landing on Sunday as a man allegedly bit another passenger on board.
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The American Airlines flight was landing in Philadelphia when the passenger was “trying to fight everybody” and suddenly got out of control.
Audio from the call from the pilot heard him say: “I don’t know if he’s hallucinating or whatever, but he just bit a passenger, and he’s trying to fight everybody.”
He then requested emergency medical crews and law enforcement before telling a controller in an audio recording obtained by CBS News, “what a day, huh?”
The controller wished him a happy Father’s Day and he responded: “I’ll be sure to tell my daughters about this one.”
American Airlines said in a statement the passenger was experiencing a medical issue, and a medical professional on the plane assisted him before the flight landed.
According to tracking sight FlightAware the flight left Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier in the morning, and landed just before 10 am ET.
The news of the passenger’s behaviour follows other incidents onboard flights recently.
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On a Frontier Airlines flight a man allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit mid-flight, having to be held down by passengers and crew members.
The plane bound for Guatemala City was flying at 36,000 feet at the time of the incident.
On a Lufthansa flight a female passenger attacked somebody on board and it had to make an emergency landing.
Sharp, fearless and brimming with confidence, Lamine Yamal drifted past defenders with ease and injected life into Spain’s attack. There was a sense of inevitability about what would follow.
When the breakthrough came, it was fittingly his.
A low cross flashed across goal and Lamine Yamal arrived at the back post, sliding in to convert and score his first World Cup goal.
The Atlanta stadium erupted as fans cheered, danced and chanted Lamine Yamal’s name. This was the superstar they had come to see.
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Guillem Balague, speaking on 5 Live, said he saw Lamine Yamal walking out looking around like he had just conquered the world.
“Is it arrogance? Or confidence? A mixture of both,” he said. “He is the chosen one, he wants to be the chosen one.
“He is so happy in the role he is taking on as leader of the team. He told me once that his joy when he plays football is seeing the same reaction when he used to play five-a-side.’
Lamine Yamal became the seventh player in history to score at a World Cup before turning 19, and only the second aged 18 or younger to open the scoring in a match, the other being a 17-year-old Pele for Brazil against Wales in 1958.
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Wayne Rooney was highly complementary of the teenager – the comparisons to Lionel Messi inevitable.
Lamine Yamal has broken many of Messi’s records at Barcelona and now he has pipped him on the global stage, too – the Argentine was just shy of his 19th birthday when he netted his first World Cup goal in 2006, the Spaniard has done it two weeks younger.
“For Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the application and dedication they’ve had is the reason they are both playing in this World Cup,” the former England forward told Match of the Day. “They have done everything right. Hopefully Lamine Yamal can do that.
“What is really impressive to me is when Messi came in to that Barcelona team, there was some top players and a crossover with Ronaldinho.
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“[Lamine Yamal] has come in to the Barcelona and Spain team and it is his team, he is the main man.
“Everyone is looking to him to win. [He was] a big part of winning the Euros and will be a big part of this World Cup. That is what really impresses me, he is taking the pressure on at such a young age. You hope he can do that for the next 15, 20 years.”
Rob Key, the ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket, said last week that Atkinson claimed he did not know the midnight curfew was in operation after the completion of a game. In response, Key said the details had been communicated via the Team England Player Partnership – an umbrella group representing those with central contracts – and were widely known.
“Countries such as Germany, Ireland, Italy and several other European destinations are attracting increasing interest from Indian students because of lower tuition costs, favourable post-study work pathways, strong employment prospects and a more attractive overall value proposition,” said Mayank Maheshwari, co-founder and COO of University Living, a student accommodation platform.
Officers were called to the beach after concerned members of the public saw the men on Sunday afternoon, June 21.
Police in Northern Ireland were called to reports of men “believed to have a knife” on a beach – only to find they were preparing for a barbecue.
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Families had been out enjoying the summer sun at Portstewart Strand, near Coleraine, in County Derry on the country’s north coast when a number of people spotted one of the men carrying the knife.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have moved quickly to allay fears after speaking with the men and discovering the innocent intentions behind the incident, reports Belfast Live.
Several officers were dispatched to the scene but it was quickly de-escalated. No crimes were recorded but officers did remove the knife which will be destroyed.
In a statement, PSNI said: “Police received a report of a number of men – one of whom was believed to have a knife – in the Portstewart Strand area on Sunday afternoon, 21st June.
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“Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene where they spoke with the men.
“A subsequent search of the men’s van established that they had been preparing barbecue at the beach and the knife was being used for this purpose.
“No criminal offences were noted, however the knife was removed for disposal. No further police action was taken.”
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Bowie, who was recently made an MBE for services to radio and charity in the west of Scotland, said: “The Commonwealth Games returning to Glasgow deserves a special kind of star power, so it was an honour to share a few tips with Scotland’s own global superstar, Sam Heughan, and help get him ready for the occasion.
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