Federal prosecutors have revealed that Matthew Perry’s PA was the one to administer the dose of ketamine that ultimately led to the American actor’s death at age 54. Now, legal experts have been debating just how culpable Kenneth Iwamasa was in the Friends star’s tragic death.
Perry’s 59-year-old assistant, along with four others, have been charged in connection with his death – where he was found floating face-down in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home.
Iwamasa lived with Perry, having been his assistant since 1994. It’s said that on the fatal day the PA had administered three doses of ketamine – one in the morning and one at lunchtime. Perry then requested Iwamasa get the hot tub ready and shoot him up with “a big one”.
US magazine PEOPLE discussed the case with two legal experts; one of which says Perry’s assistant was the least culpable of the five. The other argues the opposite.
Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, said Iwamasa was “the least culpable in my opinion”.
“I don’t think he is in the business of dealing drugs. I think he’s in the business of being an assistant. You have an assistant and if your boss is a drug addict and you want to keep your job, maybe you might do it for that reason.”
For an alternative view, PEOPLE spoke to Mark Chutkow, a former federal prosecutor who is now head of government investigations and corporate compliance practice at a law firm.
He believes the other four defendants exploited Perry’s addiction. But because Iwamasa “was actually injecting this drug” it makes him “the most closely tied to what eventually happened.”
He added that the former PA is “the link to all the other defendants” and may be a valuable witness.
Iwamasa is looking at up to 15 years in prison. But he may get a lesser sentence, having pleaded guilty and entering into a “cooperating deal” with federal prosecutors.