Television Drug death of "Friends" star Perry: doctor pleads guilty

Following the arrest of five people in connection with the death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry, one of two doctors on trial has admitted his guilt in court.

The 54-year-old doctor from San Diego pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to procuring the anesthetic ketamine for Perry, according to US media reports. The sentence is to be announced in April.

The judge responsible had previously banned him from continuing to work as a doctor. The man has been released on bail. He faces a prison sentence of up to ten years. His client is incredibly remorseful, said the doctor's lawyer recently.

In mid-August, the police and public prosecutor's office brought serious charges against five of those arrested. These included doctors, dealers and an assistant to the actor. The manhunt focused on the question of how the actor had obtained the anesthetic ketamine, which he had in his blood in unusually high quantities at the time of his death.

The investigations had "uncovered a widely ramified criminal underground network", said public prosecutor Martin Estrada. The defendants had exploited Perry's addiction problems to enrich themselves.

The main defendants are a Los Angeles doctor and a drug supplier known as the "Ketamine Queen". Both have pleaded not guilty. The trial against them is scheduled for 2025.

The then 54-year-old Perry was found dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home in October 2023. Prior to this, the actor had repeatedly spoken publicly about his battle with addiction problems. He had reportedly undergone ketamine therapy under medical supervision for depression and anxiety.

SDA