Doctor pleads guilty over overdose death of Friends star Matthew Perry
Al Jazeera
Mark Chavez admits to obtaining ketamine with a fraudulent prescription for Perry, who died aged 54 in October 2023.
One of two California doctors who were among the five people charged in the overdose death of Friends star Matthew Perry has pleaded guilty to illegally distributing the drug ketamine.
Mark Chavez of San Diego entered the plea during an appearance in US District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday. He could face up to 10 years in prison at his sentencing, which was scheduled for April.
Another physician charged in the case, Salvador Plasencia, has pleaded not guilty, as has co-defendant Jasveen Sangha, who authorities said was an illicit supplier of the drug and was known as the “ketamine queen”. The pair are scheduled to go on trial in March.
Perry’s live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who admitted to injecting Perry with the drug, and the alleged middleman who said he obtained ketamine from Sangha, have already pleaded guilty to charges they faced.
Authorities said Plasencia purchased ketamine from Chavez, and in text messages to Chavez discussing the amount to charge Perry for the drug wrote: “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
Chilean Environment Ministry suspends 43 measures touching on issues such as pollution, emissions and national parks.
Pakistan’s Minister for Information “strongly” rejects the claim Pakistan was behind an air strike on a Kabul hospital.
Ireland, which took a strong stance on the Gaza genocide, is similarly robust on Iran, but Martin is criticised for passivity.
Argentinian President Javier Milei has criticised the global health body for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Madrid ease into quarterfinals by beating 10-man City 2-1 at the Etihad to complete a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Member of the public shares photos with lawmakers, speculating they are dug-up burial sites, emails show.
Pakistani minister ‘strongly rejects’ Afghan government’s accusation, saying his country only targets military sites.
Leaders of Colombia and Ecuador trade allegations after Gustavo Petro says 27 charred bodies found on country’s border.
US president strikes defiant tone as allies reject joining coalition, does not name countries he said ‘on their way’.
Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso’s election success will extend his nearly 42 years in power.
The legislation aims to prevent bets made based on insider knowledge of wars, economic policy and other controllable events.