A doctor who disguised himself and injected his mother’s boyfriend with poison during an inheritance dispute has admitted to attempted murder.
Thomas Kwan, 53, previously denied the charge against Patrick O’Hara, who was given a toxin that caused a “rare and life-threatening flesh-eating disease,” Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Prosecutors said Kwan went to “extraordinary” efforts to conceal himself and plan the attack at the victim’s Newcastle home on January 22nd.
Kwan, who resided in Ingleby Barwick, Teesside, and worked in Sunderland, is set to be sentenced on October 17, with Judge Mrs Justice Lambert predicting a “substantial” prison time.
Kwan acknowledged to delivering a toxic drug to Mr O’Hara, 71, but claimed at first that he just wanted to create “pain and discomfort,” the trial heard.
However, after prosecutors launched the case on October 3, Kwan altered his plea to the more serious allegation on Monday, prompting jurors to formally return a guilty judgment.
Prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC described the scheme as “audacious” and “stranger than fiction” during his opening statement.
He stated that Kwan’s mother, Wai King, also known as Jenny Leung, had drafted a will leaving her Newcastle home to her 20-year-old companion, Mr O’Hara, with only her children inheriting it in the case of his death.
Mr Makepeace claimed Kwan, a well-known GP, was “obsessed” with money and his inheritance, so he devised a “intricate” scheme to remove the “impediment” posed by Mr O’Hara.
Kwan emailed his victim letters claiming to be from the NHS, stating that he was qualified for a home visit from a community nurse for a medical checkup.
The doctor disguised himself with a mask and glasses and performed the visit personally, offering the victim a Covid-19 booster jab.
Mr O’Hara felt “terrible pain” as soon as the injection was administered, and the visitor quickly left, according to the court.
The victim got suspicious when Ms Leung stated that the nurse was the same height as her kid and then wanted
Seek medical attention. Mr O’Hara was treated for necrotising fasciitis at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and had sections of his arm amputated, Mr Makepeace added. Kwan, who the court heard had a borderline “obsession” with poisons and killing techniques, never revealed what he injected his victim with.
However, searches of his residence on Brading Court turned up several chemicals and toxins, as well as literature and guides on how to make and use poisons.
Scientists decided that the insecticide iodomethane, found in a syringe, was most likely responsible for Mr O’Hara’s symptoms, despite the fact that it had never been used on a human before.
The court heard Kwan went to Newcastle the night before.
The attacker had put fraudulent registration plates on his automobile and checked into a hotel under a fictitious name. Kwan had also placed spyware on his mother’s computer, allowing him to watch the couple’s internet activities and photograph them using the built-in camera without their knowledge.
He had also developed a backup plan, including a letter from a fictitious organization giving Mr O’Hara free drinks and food, the court heard.
His barrister, Paul Greaney KC, said Kwan “entirely” acknowledged that prison was “inevitable” and wanted to be sentenced as soon as possible.
Mrs Justice Lambert stated that “a substantial custodial term” will be imposed.
He is scheduled to be sentenced after the probation service has completed its report.
Det Ch Insp Jason Henry of Northumbria Police spoke outside court after Kwan altered his plea, calling the doctor’s actions “despicable”.
He said “scheming” Kwan utilized his skills as a general practitioner to “deceive” the victim and bring him “unimaginable pain and suffering.”
Mr Henry said Kwan “thought he had covered his tracks,” but officers were able to apprehend him within two days of the incident, and the evidence against him was “overwhelming.”
The investigator also complimented Mr O’Hara, stating that he had valiantly survived a “horrendous ordeal” that had impacted his life “forever”.
Kwan has been suspended by the General Medical Council since February.
Happy House surgery, where he had worked, stated that he had left following his arrest, and an audit of practice records was conducted.
“We are satisfied that this was an unrelated, personal matter and at no point did Dr Kwan pose a threat to any of our patients,” says a spokesperson.
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