Doctor and "ketamine queen" to face trial over Matthew Perry death
The pair are among five people who are said to have taken advantage of the US actor after he fell back into addiction last autumn.
LONDON - A doctor and a woman dubbed "the ketamine queen" will face a joint trial in March 2025 following the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, a judge has ruled, reported German news agency (dpa).
The pair are among five people who are said to have taken advantage of the US actor after he fell back into addiction last autumn.
Perry had been seeking treatment for depression and anxiety when he became addicted to intravenous ketamine, turning to allegedly unscrupulous doctors.
He died from the "acute effects of ketamine" on Oct 28 at the age of 54.
Salvador Plasencia, a doctor from Santa Monica, allegedly used Perry's live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa to distribute ketamine to the actor from September to October last year for US$55,000.
He is set to face a trial on March 4 next year, District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett ruled in court documents seen by the PA news agency.
Plasencia will stand trial alongside Jasveen Sangha - an alleged drug dealer named by authorities as "the ketamine queen" - who is said to have sold ketamine to Perry for US$11,000 in cash.
The ketamine supplied by Sangha was ultimately the dose that took Perry’s life, a Drug Enforcement Administrator previously claimed.
Plasencia is facing a maximum sentence of 120 years in federal prison, while Sangha is facing life imprisonment.
During a previous court appearance, Plasencia denied conspiracy to distribute ketamine; seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two charges related to allegations he falsified documents during the investigation into Perry's death.
Sangha also pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine; maintaining a drug-involved premises; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
Plasencia had been due in court on Oct 8 and 15 for Sangha. However, a Californian judge ruled the pair will face trial together on March 4, with a pre-trial hearing set for Feb 19, 2025.
According to the initial indictment, Plasencia is said to have conspired with fellow doctor Mark Chavez to supply Perry with large amounts of ketamine, writing in a message: "I wonder how much this moron will pay" and "let's find out".
Last week, Chavez appeared in court after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors, with his change of plea court hearing date yet to be confirmed.
Perry, who played Chandler Bing in hit US sitcom Friends, died last autumn after receiving several injections of ketamine from his live-in assistant Iwamasa.
Iwamasa previously pleaded guilty on Aug 7 to conspiring to distribute ketamine causing death - admitting to "repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training".
His sentencing has been set for Nov 6.
During the last few weeks of his life, Perry "turned to street dealer" Erik Fleming who is said to have sourced ketamine from Sangha.
Fleming pleaded guilty on Aug 8 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
He is set to be sentenced on Oct 30.
Plasencia is currently on release after posting a US$100,000 bond, while a judge denied bond for Sangha. - BERNAMA-dpa
