Disguised GP admits attempted murder poisoning

A doctor has pleaded guilty to attempted murder after he injected his mother’s partner with a poison during a bitter inheritance dispute. Thomas Kwan, 53, who previously denied the charges, admitted to the crime in Newcastle Crown Court. The victim, 71-year-old Patrick O’Hara, suffered from a rare and life-threatening flesh-eating disease as a result of the attack.

Kwan, a general practitioner from Ingleby Barwick, Teesside, went to extraordinary lengths to carry out the assault at O’Hara’s Newcastle home on January 22. Prosecutors described his actions as “audacious,” involving a meticulously planned disguise and deceptive tactics to gain access to the victim.

Initially, Kwan claimed he only intended to cause “pain and discomfort” to O’Hara. However, after hearing the prosecution’s case on October 3, he changed his plea to the more serious charge of attempted murder. Jurors were subsequently asked to deliver a formal guilty verdict.

Prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC explained that Kwan was obsessed with his inheritance, as his mother, Wai King (known as Jenny Leung), had made a will that left her Newcastle home to O’Hara, with the property only reverting to Kwan and his siblings in the event of O’Hara’s death. Fueled by financial motives, Kwan devised an elaborate plan to eliminate what he saw as an “impediment.”

To execute his plan, Kwan sent O’Hara letters that falsely claimed he was eligible for a home visit from a community nurse. Disguised in a mask and glasses, Kwan arrived at the home, posing as the nurse and even offering a Covid-19 booster jab. Following the injection, O’Hara immediately experienced excruciating pain, prompting him to seek medical assistance.

O’Hara’s suspicions were raised when a family member noted that the nurse resembled Kwan, leading him to seek help at a medical facility. He was later treated for necrotizing fasciitis at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, where he had to undergo surgery that resulted in the amputation of parts of his arm.

Authorities discovered that Kwan had a borderline obsession with poisons and had researched various toxic substances. Upon searching his home, investigators found numerous chemicals and manuals related to poisons. A scientist concluded that the poison was likely iodomethane, a pesticide found in a syringe, which had never before been documented as a poison used on a human.

The night before the attack, Kwan had taken considerable measures to avoid detection. He switched license plates on his vehicle and checked into a hotel under a fake name. Additionally, he had installed spyware on his mother’s computer to monitor the couple’s activities and take unauthorized photos using the computer’s camera.

Kwan even devised a backup plan, creating a letter from a fictitious charity offering free drinks and meals to O’Hara. His defense attorney, Paul Greaney KC, acknowledged that Kwan recognized the inevitability of a prison sentence and expressed a desire for a swift resolution.

Judge Mrs. Justice Lambert stated that Kwan could expect a “substantial” custodial term. A probation report is set to be prepared before sentencing, scheduled for October 17.

Following Kwan’s change of plea, Det Ch Insp Jason Henry of Northumbria Police criticized the doctor’s actions as “despicable.” He emphasized that Kwan had manipulated his medical background to inflict “unimaginable pain and suffering” on the victim. Detective Henry also commended O’Hara for his resilience in surviving what he termed a “horrendous ordeal,” which has irrevocably changed his life.

As this disturbing case unfolds, the legal and moral implications of Kwan’s actions continue to resonate, raising questions about trust and betrayal in familial relationships.