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Cannabis-smoking Mother Bags Life Jail For Drowning Two Sons

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A cannabis-smoking mother who drowned her two young sons, aged two and five, and tucked them into bed for their father to find has been sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday and will serve a minimum of 21 years, Daily Mail reports.

The 47-year-old mother, Kara Alexander, of Dagenham, East London in the United Kingdom, was found guilty of murdering Elijah Thomas, two, and Marley Thomas, five, in the bath at their home in December 2022.

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At Kingston Crown Court on Friday, Justice Bennathan reportedly sentenced Alexander to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and 252 days.

He also warned that Alexander’s reliance on super-strength cannabis, known as skunk, should serve as a warning that it can ‘plunge people into a mental health crisis in which they may harm themselves or others’.

The boys’ father Selvin Thomas was reported to have found found his sons lying dead on their bunk beds after they were killed by their mother. They had been tucked in but he immediately knew they were dead, describing them as cold and hard to the touch.

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Thomas, who had split up with Alexander just three months earlier, reportedly began screaming, “Kara, Kara, Kara. You’ve killed my children.” But she had already fled the house and he called the police.

He was due to have the boys that weekend and was worried because he had not received any messages or calls from Alexander. When he arrived at their home his ex-partner said they were upstairs sleeping before slamming the door in his face.

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But after he demanded entry, he reportedly ran to his sons’ bedroom to find they had been murdered, and their bodies lying side-by-side on their lower bunk bed. By the time the horrified father ran downstairs Alexander had fled.

She was arrested about an hour later and later claimed she had left the boys in the bath alone while she smoked cannabis.

“They had the duvet up to their shoulders, only their faces were visible. He touched Marley’s face, on his right cheek, and he was freezing cold and hard. He knew immediately that they were dead and thought they had been dead for some time,” prosecutor Philip Evans reportedly told the court.

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The cause of death was drowning or suffocation.

On Friday at Kingston Crown Court, Evans read out the victim impact statement of Thomas, who could not be present due to illness saying.

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The events of December 2022, have obviously had a profound impact on me and my family,” he said in Selvin Thomas’ words.

“Kara ensured there would be maximum impact on me by engineering a situation where I would find Marley and Elijah deceased in bed. I am coming to terms with the fact I dedicated seven years of my life to a cold-hearted, selfish and extremely stupid demon.

“I believe Kara’s intention was to frame me for the murders and somehow present herself as a victim. She was able to brutally end the lives of two innocent children, put them in the bed and wait calmly for me.

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“She has shown no remorse or provided any kind of explanation or apology, she did not consider the impact this would have. Despite the correct verdict being handed down, there still remain many unanswered questions. It is a pain that follows me all day, every day and will do for the rest of my life,” he read.

On her part, Alexander had reportedly claimed it was “an accident” when she left the boys in the bath as she smoked cannabis.

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The report stated that after deliberating for six hours and 54 minutes, the jury at Kingston Crown Court found Alexander guilty of two counts of murder.

Jailing her on Friday morning, Justice Bennathan reportedly told Alexander, “The heavy use of skunk or other hyper strong strains of cannabis can plunge people into a mental health crisis in which they may harm themselves or others. If any drug user does not know that, it is about time they did.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Navy Intercepts Cannabis Worth N100m, Foreign Smugglers

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“On the evening of December 15, 2022, you had been smoking skunk, you had been doing so for weeks before, probably longer. You drowned them both, I cannot reach any conclusion other than by your state at that time you intended to kill them.

“The bath was probably still run from the evening routine and I do not think your dreadful acts were pre-meditated. The next morning their father, worried by your unusual signs, came and found them – the stuff of nightmares.

“I find you were in a psychotic state when you killed your two sons. On the proper medical definition, I accept that it was cannabis induced, even if there were other contributing causes.

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“That finding of psychosis is consistent with the jury’s rejection to your defence of diminished responsibility. You had a previous psychotic episode in 2016.

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“I also note that in December 2022, you spoke regularly to two members of your social circle about your heavy cannabis use, they both knew you were looking after small children, yet neither of them warned you of any risks.”

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The judge added that her “shocking abuse of trust that any small child ought to be able to have in their mother or father” was a significant aggravating factor.

You not only lack any previous convictions but before that terrible evening you had been a caring mother, that stands as a stark contrast of what normally happens when a child is killed. You may not have been told that your previous psychotic state could be triggered by cannabis.

“Every day you will remember and grieve the little boys whose lives you snatched away,” he was quoted as saying.

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Marley and Elijah, also known as Teddy, had previously lived with Alexander and Thomas in Hackney before they split up and she moved to Dagenham with the boys.

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US Reality Star, Rolling Ray, Dies At 28

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Reality TV star, Raymond Harper, popularly known as Rolling Ray, has died at the age of 28.

His mother confirmed the news to TMZ, while his home network, Zeus, also announced his passing.

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In a tribute on Instagram, Zeus Network described him as “gone way too soon,” praising his impact on their productions, including Bobby I Love You, Purr and The Conversation.

“Gone way too soon. #RestInPeace to the BIG hearted, most Raw, & Real FRIEND & #Zeus Star #RaymondHarper aka @iamrollingray. Your Laughter, Light, & Loving Spirit will Live on FOREVER,” the network wrote.

Rolling Ray first gained attention in 2018 after appearing on MTV’s Catfish: Trolls before going viral in 2019 with his appearance on Divorce Court. He built a strong social media presence, amassing over 449,000 Instagram followers and a growing TikTok audience.

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He is also widely credited with popularising the catchphrase “purr,” now used globally as a slang expression of excitement and approval.

Born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 3, a genetic condition that weakens muscles over time, doctors once predicted he would not live past 14. However, Ray defied expectations and went on to live a full life.

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Reflecting on his journey in a 2023 interview, he said:

At first, they said I was going to die at 14 years old. The doctor was wrong. Science changed, and doctors are not always right. God is good.”

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6 CEOs Fired Over Secret Affairs

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Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are expected to be professional, have boundaries and uphold ethical leadership. This is because, in most cases, one must have climbed up many ladders to become a CEO.

And if not careful, those years of experience can fade away in a single stand.

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This is because some companies have policies that forbid workers from having a romantic affair with each other.

And if found culpable. The punishments are not novel. Some CEOs have been fired over secret affairs that failed to align with their companies’ principles hence.

Here are the CEOs fired over secret affairs:

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1. Laurent Freixe
Laurent Freixe was the former CEO of Nestle. He was fired on 2 September 2025 after an investigation revealed that he was having an affair with his subordinate.

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This action by Freixe violates the code of business conduct of the company. His case was investigated and chaired by Paul Bulcke and Pablo Isla alongside other independent counsel.

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In Freire’s place, Nestle appointed Philipp Navratil as the new chief executive officer.

2. Alan Shaw
Alan Shaw is an American business executive. He was the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Norfolk Southern Corporation, a provider of rail transport services.

His tenure which lasted two years, ended on 11 September 2024, after he was found guilty of having an affair with Nabanita Nag, the company’s executive vice president corporate affairs, chief legal officer and corporate secretary, effective.

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Shaw, whose tenure was described as “turbulent”, was replaced by Mark George, the former CFO of the company.

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3. Ashley Buchanan
Ashley Buchanan was dismissed in May 2025 as the head of Kohl (a retail company) months after his appointment.

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After a thorough investigation, the company discovered that Buchanan was in a romantic relationship with a woman called Chandra Holt, the founder of Incredibrew, a coffee business.

Ashley made her do business with Kohl; unknown to the management they were lovers until it was unraveled.

4. Steve Easterbrook
Steve Easterbrook was the former CEO fired from an American fast food company, McDonalds.

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He was appointed in March 2015 but his appointment was terminated on 1 November 2019 by the board of directors after Steve was found guilty of having a romantic affair with an employee — a violation of the company’s policies.

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5. Nadine Ahn
Nadine Ahn is an experienced and expert in banking, capital markets, corporate development and strategy.

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She was the chief financial officer of Royal Bank of Canada. Unfortunately, Ahn was dismissed for having a romantic relationship with one of her subordinates. She was caught hugging and kissing Ken Mason as they exited the elevator of the Royal York Hotel, Canada.

6. Andy Byron
Andy Byron, a seasoned software executive, was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Astronomer, a private company focused on building reliable data products and power data-driven applications.

Bryony became famous after being caught on camera caressing (which actually went viral on social media) Kristin Cabot, the company’s HR officer during a concert.

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Bryony was compelled to resign or better put: fired.
(TRIBUNE)

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Daniel Levy Makes Shock Decision To Quit As Spurs Chairman

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Daniel Levy stepped down as Tottenham executive chairman in a shock move on Thursday after a controversial reign lasting nearly 25 years.

Levy was the driving force behind Tottenham’s £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) stadium and state of the art training centre.

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But the 63-year-old was a polarising figure among Tottenham fans, with numerous protests against him during difficult spell for the Premier League team.

Levy, who was the longest-serving chairman in the Premier League, had come under fire more than ever over the last few seasons.

A series of failed managerial appointments and the club’s transfer policy infuriated supporters and turned up the heat on Levy, who was accused of caring more about the club’s financial profits than success on the pitch.

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Tottenham endured their worst top-flight finish since 1976-77 last season, coming 17th before salvaging the campaign by winning the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League.

That success — which ended Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought — was not enough to spare boss Ange Postecoglou from Levy’s wrath as the Australian was sacked after two turbulent seasons in charge.

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Levy hired Thomas Frank from Brentford to replace Postecoglou in the last significant decision of his reign.

“I am incredibly proud of the work I have done together with the executive team and all our employees. We have built this club into a global heavyweight competing at the highest level,” Levy said in a statement.

More than that, we have built a community. I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years.

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I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn’t always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately.”

Vinai Venkatesham was hired as Tottenham’s chief executive officer in April, while Peter Charrington joined the board in March and will step into the newly created role of Non-Executive Chairman.

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– ‘A new era of leadership’ –

I am very honoured to become Non-Executive Chairman of this extraordinary Club and, on behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Daniel and his family for their commitment and loyalty to the Club over so many years,” Charrington said.

“This is a new era of leadership for the club, on and off the pitch. I do recognise there has been a lot of change in recent months as we put in place new foundations for the future.

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“We are now fully focused on stability and empowering our talented people across the Club, led by Vinai and his executive team.”

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Since Levy took the reins in 2001, Tottenham had won just two trophies, with the 2008 League Cup followed by the long wait that ended with last season’s Europa League final victory over Manchester United.

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Levy became renowned for his ruthless sacking of managers as the likes of Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino and Nuno Espirito Santo were dismissed.

Tottenham’s best period under Levy came during Pochettino’s spell.

The Argentine led Tottenham to three successive top three finishes in the Premier League and reached the 2019 Champions League final.

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Even Pochettino couldn’t escape Levy’s axe, but the spotlight eventually turned on the chairman.

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Tottenham fans were furious as their side spluttering badly last season and a difficult summer transfer window, which saw the club miss out on Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze only increased the pressure on Levy.

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One banner displayed last season at Levy’s pride and joy — the gleaming 62,000-capacity stadium that opened in 2019 — summed up the divisive nature of his reign.

24 years, 16 managers, 1 trophy – time for change” it said.

While Tottenham eventually added a trophy to that meagre haul in the Levy era, the disillusioned supporters have finally got their wish.

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There will be no changes to the ownership or shareholder structure of the club following Levy’s departure.

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