Roderick Gadson showed no remorse after beating a man to death. As Alabama advances him to lieutenant, the case lays bare a culture of violence the state has long failed to control

The most dramatic moment in the deposition came when Roderick Gadson, an Alabama prison guard, was questioned under oath about an incident in which he and other officers used such devastating force against a prisoner that the man had to be airlifted to hospital to treat his injuries.

Gadson was shown a photograph of the man, Steven Davis. He was lying in an ICU bed breathing through a tube, his cadaverous face bruised and covered with blood, his eyes black and sunken.

Roderick Gadson showed no remorse after beating a man to death. As Alabama advances him to lieutenant, the case lays bare a culture of violence the state has long failed to control

The most dramatic moment in the deposition came when Roderick Gadson, an Alabama prison guard, was questioned under oath about an incident in which he and other officers used such devastating force against a prisoner that the man had to be airlifted to hospital to treat his injuries.

Gadson was shown a photograph of the man, Steven Davis. He was lying in an ICU bed breathing through a tube, his cadaverous face bruised and covered with blood, his eyes black and sunken.

Roderick Gadson showed no remorse after beating a man to death. As Alabama advances him to lieutenant, the case lays bare a culture of violence the state has long failed to control

The most dramatic moment in the deposition came when Roderick Gadson, an Alabama prison guard, was questioned under oath about an incident in which he and other officers used such devastating force against a prisoner that the man had to be airlifted to hospital to treat his injuries.

Gadson was shown a photograph of the man, Steven Davis. He was lying in an ICU bed breathing through a tube, his cadaverous face bruised and covered with blood, his eyes black and sunken.

Charlie Cox and Zooey Deschanel co-parent a depressed dog in a serviceable attempt to appeal to animal lovers during the festive period

It is a truth universally acknowledged, at least in my social circles, that co-parenting a dog is a bad idea. Most will tell you: shared canine custody arrangements prevent exes from moving on. It’s a logistical headache. It causes fights. It’s annoying for all involved (and then some). And apparently, in a revelation worthy of a straight-to-streaming movie, it makes dogs depressed.

Not to minimize the mental health of dogs – I’ve listened to my mother boast about our family chihuahua’s “EQ” enough to know that man’s best friend has the capacity for great emotional sensitivity. (And the ability to convey it on command – for a truly outstanding performance of doggie depression, please see Bing the bereft great dane in 2024’s The Friend .) I have no doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier sort played by Gus the Dog in Merv’s eponymous Amazon movie, would struggle to adjust from life in a single family unit to split homes. Whether or not the ill-advised dog-sharing arrangement can sustain a whole Christmas romcom, however, is a dubious proposition.

Charlie Cox and Zooey Deschanel co-parent a depressed dog in a serviceable attempt to appeal to animal lovers during the festive period

It is a truth universally acknowledged, at least in my social circles, that co-parenting a dog is a bad idea. Most will tell you: shared canine custody arrangements prevent exes from moving on. It’s a logistical headache. It causes fights. It’s annoying for all involved (and then some). And apparently, in a revelation worthy of a straight-to-streaming movie, it makes dogs depressed.

Not to minimize the mental health of dogs – I’ve listened to my mother boast about our family chihuahua’s “EQ” enough to know that man’s best friend has the capacity for great emotional sensitivity. (And the ability to convey it on command – for a truly outstanding performance of doggie depression, please see Bing the bereft great dane in 2024’s The Friend .) I have no doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier sort played by Gus the Dog in Merv’s eponymous Amazon movie, would struggle to adjust from life in a single family unit to split homes. Whether or not the ill-advised dog-sharing arrangement can sustain a whole Christmas romcom, however, is a dubious proposition.

Charlie Cox and Zooey Deschanel co-parent a depressed dog in a serviceable attempt to appeal to animal lovers during the festive period

It is a truth universally acknowledged, at least in my social circles, that co-parenting a dog is a bad idea. Most will tell you: shared canine custody arrangements prevent exes from moving on. It’s a logistical headache. It causes fights. It’s annoying for all involved (and then some). And apparently, in a revelation worthy of a straight-to-streaming movie, it makes dogs depressed.

Not to minimize the mental health of dogs – I’ve listened to my mother boast about our family chihuahua’s “EQ” enough to know that man’s best friend has the capacity for great emotional sensitivity. (And the ability to convey it on command – for a truly outstanding performance of doggie depression, please see Bing the bereft great dane in 2024’s The Friend .) I have no doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier sort played by Gus the Dog in Merv’s eponymous Amazon movie, would struggle to adjust from life in a single family unit to split homes. Whether or not the ill-advised dog-sharing arrangement can sustain a whole Christmas romcom, however, is a dubious proposition.

Elevate your sleepwear with our menswear expert’s pick of the best PJs, from sustainably sourced sets and independent brands to classic flannel and checks

• The best women’s pyjamas for cosy nights and lazy mornings

Most men treat sleepwear as an afterthought – a beaten-up T-shirt and some old boxer shorts come to mind. It might be because wearing a full set of pyjamas seems a little twee, but choose well and a proper two-piece will not only look stylish but feel like a treat, too. If you’re not clued up on PJ brands, though, how do you know where to find your next pair?

That’s where I come in – I’m a menswear writer and stylist, and I’m also a big pyjama stan who has tried a lot of sets over the years – so I know a thing or two about the best men’s sleepwear.

Elevate your sleepwear with our menswear expert’s pick of the best PJs, from sustainably sourced sets and independent brands to classic flannel and checks

• The best women’s pyjamas for cosy nights and lazy mornings

Most men treat sleepwear as an afterthought – a beaten-up T-shirt and some old boxer shorts come to mind. It might be because wearing a full set of pyjamas seems a little twee, but choose well and a proper two-piece will not only look stylish but feel like a treat, too. If you’re not clued up on PJ brands, though, how do you know where to find your next pair?

That’s where I come in – I’m a menswear writer and stylist, and I’m also a big pyjama stan who has tried a lot of sets over the years – so I know a thing or two about the best men’s sleepwear.

Elevate your sleepwear with our menswear expert’s pick of the best PJs, from sustainably sourced sets and independent brands to classic flannel and checks

• The best women’s pyjamas for cosy nights and lazy mornings

Most men treat sleepwear as an afterthought – a beaten-up T-shirt and some old boxer shorts come to mind. It might be because wearing a full set of pyjamas seems a little twee, but choose well and a proper two-piece will not only look stylish but feel like a treat, too. If you’re not clued up on PJ brands, though, how do you know where to find your next pair?

That’s where I come in – I’m a menswear writer and stylist, and I’m also a big pyjama stan who has tried a lot of sets over the years – so I know a thing or two about the best men’s sleepwear.