Human angle
LORETTA SWIT, BELOVED ‘M.A.S.H.’ ACTRESS, DIES AT 87
Loretta Swit, the talented actress who brought to life the iconic character of Maj. Margaret Houlihan in the hit TV series “M.A.S.H.,” has passed away at the age of 87. Swit won two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of the demanding head nurse of a behind-the-lines surgical unit during the Korean War.
Swit’s publicist, Harlan Boll, confirmed that she died on Friday at her home in New York City, likely due to natural causes. Swit was best known for her role in “M.A.S.H.,” which aired for 11 seasons from 1972 to 1983 and became a cultural phenomenon. The show was based on Robert Altman’s 1970 film, which was itself based on a novel by Richard Hooker.
Swit’s character, Maj. Houlihan, was initially portrayed as a one-dimensional, rules-bound head nurse, but Swit’s influence on the scriptwriters helped to develop the character into a more nuanced and realistic person. “Around the second or third year, I decided to try to play her as a real person, in an intelligent fashion, even if it meant hurting the jokes,” Swit told Suzy Kalter, author of “The Complete Book of ‘M.A.S.H.'”
Alan Alda, Swit’s co-star and friend, praised her talent and dedication to the show. “She worked hard in showing the writing staff how they could turn the character from a one-joke sexist stereotype into a real person — with real feelings and ambitions,” Alda said in a post on X.
Swit’s legacy extends beyond her iconic role in “M.A.S.H.” She was a vocal animal welfare activist and sold SwitHeart perfume and her memoir through her official website, with proceeds benefiting various animal-related nonprofit groups. “Loretta Swit’s portrayal of Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan was groundbreaking — bringing heart, humor, and strength to one of television comedy’s most enduring roles,” National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson said in a statement.
A man in New York has been released from prison after spending nearly two decades behind bars for a robbery he did not commit, marking yet another case of wrongful conviction in the United States justice system.
Sheldon Thomas, now in his late 30s, was exonerated after serving 19 years in prison for a 2004 fatal robbery in Brooklyn. He had been convicted as a teenager, largely based on eyewitness misidentification and inconsistent police records, according to court documents and reports from legal advocacy groups.
Thomas consistently maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration. His case was later taken up by the Innocence Project and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office Conviction Review Unit, which re-examined the evidence.
The review uncovered significant flaws in the original investigation, including errors in witness identification procedures and discrepancies in police reports that raised doubts about the integrity of the conviction. Authorities concluded that Thomas had been wrongfully convicted, leading to his release and the dismissal of his conviction.
Speaking after his release, Thomas expressed relief and a sense of lost time, noting that he had spent his formative years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Advocates say his case highlights longstanding issues within the criminal justice system, particularly around the reliability of eyewitness testimony and the handling of evidence.
Wrongful convictions remain a persistent issue in the United States, with organizations like the Innocence Project documenting hundreds of cases where individuals have been exonerated after years; sometimes decades, of imprisonment.
Thomas’ legal team is expected to pursue compensation for the years he lost, while calls for systemic reform continue to grow.
A Utah-based children’s author who wrote about grief following her husband’s death has been found guilty of murdering him in a case that has shocked the United States.
Kouri Richins, a 35-year-old mother of three, was convicted of aggravated murder for poisoning her husband, Eric Richins, with a lethal dose of fentanyl in March 2022, according to court proceedings.
Prosecutors told the court that Richins spiked her husband’s drink with a fatal amount of the synthetic opioid, allegedly administering up to five times the lethal dose. The jury reached its verdict after roughly three hours of deliberation, bringing an end to a high-profile trial that drew national attention.
The case gained widespread publicity due to the defendant’s actions after the killing. Following her husband’s death, Richins authored and promoted a children’s book on coping with grief, titled Are You With Me?, presenting herself as a grieving widow.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that the murder was financially motivated. They alleged that Richins was deeply in debt; reportedly owing about $4.5 million, and believed she would benefit from her husband’s estate and insurance payouts.
Further evidence presented in court included internet searches related to lethal drug doses, testimony from witnesses, and claims that she had previously attempted to poison her husband weeks earlier.
In addition to aggravated murder, Richins was found guilty of attempted murder, insurance fraud, and forgery.
Her defence team argued that investigators failed to adequately explore the possibility of accidental overdose, but they did not call any witnesses, and Richins did not testify in her own defence.
She now faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 2026.
The case has sparked widespread debate about deception, financial desperation, and the disturbing contrast between public image and alleged criminal intent.
Four people have been confirmed dead and four others injured after a truck collided with a commercial bus along the busy Lekki–Epe Expressway in the Ajah area of Lagos.
The accident occurred over the weekend and involved a truck with registration number KNN 313 YL and a fully loaded Suzuki commercial mini bus popularly known as “Korope,” according to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.
LASTMA spokesman Adebayo Taofiq said the impact of the crash resulted in the immediate death of four male passengers in the commercial bus, while four other occupants—two men and two women—sustained serious injuries after becoming trapped in the wreckage.
“The four critically injured victims who were rescued from the wreckage were immediately conveyed to Hamon Royal Hospital for urgent medical treatment, while the remains of the four passengers who tragically lost their lives were evacuated and deposited at Shency Hospital morgue,” Taofiq said.
Preliminary findings indicated that the driver of the articulated truck reportedly lost control while the vehicle was in motion, causing it to veer across the carriageway and crash into the oncoming commercial bus.
Officials of LASTMA who arrived at the scene rescued the trapped victims with the support of other emergency responders and passersby. The injured victims were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Authorities said an ambulance belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps transported the bodies of the deceased to the morgue.
Security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Elemoro Police Division were also deployed to the scene to maintain order and ensure the safety of rescue workers and motorists.
Meanwhile, the driver of the truck and his assistant reportedly fled the scene shortly after the crash. Police say an investigation has commenced to determine the exact cause of the accident.