British Doctor Sentenced to 31 Years for Attempting to Kill Mother's Partner Over Inheritance

 

Dr. Thomas Kwan, a 53-year-old British doctor, has been sentenced to 31 years and five months in prison after attempting to murder his mother’s partner, Patrick O'Hara, with a fake Covid-19 booster shot in a bid to secure an inheritance. Kwan, who initially denied the charge of attempted murder, changed his plea after hearing the prosecution’s case at Newcastle Crown Court last month.

The incident took place earlier this year when Kwan, disguised as a nurse, injected 72-year-old O'Hara with a toxic substance that led to a rare and painful flesh-eating disease. O'Hara endured weeks of hospital treatment, including plastic surgery, and described the pain as so severe it felt like his arm was "on fire." He said that the experience left him feeling as though he should have died.

Judge Mrs. Justice Lambert, who sentenced Kwan on Wednesday, described the plot as “audacious” and noted how close the defendant came to succeeding in his goal of murder. She emphasized the premeditation involved in Kwan’s scheme, which was driven by a desire to remove O'Hara as an obstacle to his inheritance. Kwan had learned that his mother, Jenny Leung, had made a will allowing O'Hara to stay in her home if she died before him, a situation Kwan found unacceptable.

The court revealed that Kwan had been planning the murder for months, even going so far as to forge fake letters from the NHS offering a home visit. Investigators later discovered that Kwan had a collection of dangerous chemicals, including instructions for making ricin, though experts believe he used iodomethane, a pesticide ingredient, in the attack.

Despite the horrific nature of the crime, Kwan’s defense lawyer described him as previously having a positive character but acknowledged that the doctor had “ruined his life.” Kwan’s actions have left O'Hara physically and emotionally scarred, with the victim now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The case has shocked many, with Kwan's obsession with wealth and his knowledge of poisons emerging as central factors in his attempt to remove O'Hara from his mother’s will. The couple has since split up following the attack.