A GP has confessed to planning to murder his mother’s partner by pretending to be a community nurse and poisoning him with a fake Covid booster shot. Thomas Kwan, 53, was on trial at Newcastle crown court and had originally denied attempted murder, but changed his plea after hearing the prosecution’s case against him. Initially, the police suspected that Kwan had used ricin, a deadly chemical weapon, in an attempt to kill Patrick O’Hara, 72, at his mother’s house in Newcastle on January 22. However, an expert suggested that a pesticide might have been used instead.
Kwan set off a significant emergency response when authorities found hazardous chemicals stored in the garage at his home in Ingleby Barwick, Teesside. The GP had admitted to administering a harmful substance, claiming he intended to cause only mild pain. The prosecution argued that he intended to kill his mother’s partner of more than two decades, who developed a rare flesh-eating disease as a result of the injection.
Described as having an “encyclopaedic knowledge” of poisons, Kwan had researched how to commit murder, as revealed by a police analysis of his computers. The prosecution stated that Kwan, being a respected doctor, devised an intricate plan to eliminate Patrick O’Hara, who had not wronged him in any way but posed a potential obstacle to Kwan’s inheritance of his mother’s estate.
Kwan’s obsession with money became apparent as he was found to have installed spyware on his mother’s laptop to monitor her finances secretly. He went as far as forging NHS documentation, disguising himself, and using false information to carry out the planned murder. Kwan disguised himself as a community nurse named Raj Patel, visited O’Hara’s home, and administered the poison under the guise of a Covid booster shot.
O’Hara, unsuspecting of the deception, welcomed the visit, leading to Kwan successfully injecting him with the harmful substance. O’Hara experienced severe pain and later developed necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease, which required intensive medical treatment. The fake nurse’s movements were tracked through CCTV footage, and Kwan was identified as the suspect.
Searches conducted at Kwan’s residence revealed a variety of chemicals, including arsenic and liquid mercury, along with castor beans that can be used to make ricin. Although a recipe for ricin was found on Kwan’s computer, experts believed iodomethane, commonly used in pesticides, was more likely the poison used in the attempted murder.
Kwan’s elaborate plan to eliminate his mother’s partner in pursuit of his inheritance showcases the extent of his deception and harmful intentions. His actions have not only endangered O’Hara’s life but have also shattered the trust within his family. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with malicious intent and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding against such threats.
