British Doctor Admits to Attempted Murder After Injecting Mother’s Partner with Toxic Substance in Inheritance Dispute

 

A British doctor, Thomas Kwan, 53, has admitted to attempted murder after disguising himself and injecting his mother’s partner, Patrick O'Hara, with a toxic substance in a calculated plot over an inheritance dispute. The attack led to a "rare and life-threatening flesh-eating disease," according to Newcastle Crown Court.

Kwan, who had previously denied the charge, changed his plea after prosecutors detailed the intricate lengths he went to in carrying out the attack. The incident took place at O’Hara’s home in Newcastle on January 22, where Kwan posed as a community nurse and administered what he claimed was a Covid-19 booster shot. Soon after the injection, O'Hara, 71, experienced extreme pain, prompting Kwan to flee the scene.

Prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC described the plan as "stranger than fiction," revealing that Kwan, a well-respected GP, was motivated by an obsession with his inheritance. Kwan's mother, Wai King (also known as Jenny Leung), had left her house to her partner, Mr. O'Hara, in her will, with the property only passing to her children if O'Hara were to die.

To eliminate O'Hara, Kwan sent him fake NHS letters offering a home visit for a medical check-up. Kwan, disguised in a mask and glasses, personally carried out the visit and injected O'Hara with a substance later believed to be iodomethane, a pesticide. The substance caused necrotizing fasciitis, leading to severe injuries that required parts of O'Hara's arm to be surgically removed.

Investigations into Kwan's home revealed a stash of chemicals, toxins, and manuals on poisons, as well as spyware installed on his mother’s computer to monitor the couple's activities. Kwan’s extensive planning included using false license plates and a fake name when checking into a hotel before the attack.

Following Kwan's guilty plea, Detective Chief Inspector Jason Henry of Northumbria Police condemned the doctor's actions as "despicable," highlighting the pain and suffering Kwan caused using his knowledge as a GP to deceive O'Hara. The detective praised O'Hara's bravery in enduring the horrific ordeal.

Kwan will be sentenced on October 17, with the court indicating a "substantial" prison term is likely.