Doctor allegedly posed as nurse, administered deadly poison to protect inheritance, court hears
In a shocking case that seems straight out of a crime thriller, a general practitioner (GP) is accused of disguising himself as a nurse to administer a lethal injection of poison to his mother's partner under the guise of providing a COVID-19 booster shot. The alleged motive? A plot to secure his inheritance.
Dr. Thomas Kwan, a 53-year-old GP, stands accused of attempting to murder 71-year-old Patrick O’Hara, his mother’s long-term partner, with a rare and deadly chemical that caused a severe flesh-eating infection. According to prosecutors, O'Hara, who believed he was receiving a COVID-19 vaccination, was instead injected with a dangerous poison intended to kill him.
During the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, lead prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC told the jury, “Sometimes, truth really is stranger than fiction.” He described how Kwan’s elaborate scheme involved disguising himself as a community nurse to get close to his victim and administer the deadly chemical in plain sight.
A Sinister Plot to Protect His Inheritance
Kwan, who had a successful career as a GP in Sunderland, allegedly viewed O’Hara as an obstacle to his inheritance from his mother. The court heard that Kwan concocted an intricate plan to eliminate O’Hara, including forging NHS documents, using fake number plates, and booking a hotel room under a false name.
Prosecutors revealed that Kwan went as far as to wear a wig, beard, and moustache to disguise himself. Police recovered a photo from his computer showing him in full disguise. Makepeace described the plot as "audacious," remarking that it was a plan to murder someone “in plain sight,” even in front of Kwan’s own mother.
The case details how Kwan forged a letter from the NHS, notifying O’Hara that he was eligible for a priority COVID-19 booster shot due to his age. Another letter offered O’Hara a home visit on January 22, a date that Kwan had carefully planned for his attack.
Deadly Deception
On the morning of the appointment, Kwan checked into a Premier Inn under a false name and left the hotel wearing a long coat, hat, blue surgical gloves, and a face mask. The prosecution noted how Kwan needed to disguise himself because what he was about to do would take place in front of his mother and someone who knew him well.
When Kwan arrived at O'Hara's home, O’Hara, believing the disguised man to be an NHS nurse, welcomed him without question. After a brief health check that included a blood pressure test, Kwan injected O’Hara with what was supposed to be a COVID-19 vaccine. However, the shot caused excruciating pain, with O'Hara exclaiming, "Bloody hell," but Kwan reassured him that discomfort was normal for such injections. O'Hara's suspicions were not raised, even though Kwan's mother later remarked that the nurse was the same height as her son.
A Flesh-Eating Infection and a Life Saved
Later that day, O’Hara began to experience intense pain in his arm, which soon blistered and became discolored. He visited the hospital, where medical staff initially believed that the COVID-19 booster had been administered improperly. The following day, however, O’Hara’s condition worsened, and he was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and life-threatening flesh-eating disease.
Doctors were forced to remove large portions of tissue from O’Hara’s arm to save his life, and he spent weeks in intensive care. His survival is seen as miraculous, given the severity of the infection.
The GP's Deadly Fascination with Poisons
As part of their investigation, police searched Kwan's home and discovered a disturbing collection of chemicals, including liquid mercury, arsenic, thallium, and sulfuric acid. They also found castor beans and coffee filters—ingredients used to manufacture the deadly poison ricin. Additionally, a recipe for making ricin was discovered, leading authorities to initially suspect that ricin was the toxin used. However, experts from the Ministry of Defence concluded that the more likely poison was iodomethane, a fumigant pesticide that had never been recorded as being injected into a human before.
Kwan has admitted to administering a noxious substance but denies charges of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He claims that he only intended to cause "mild pain or discomfort" to O’Hara, a defense the prosecution strongly refutes. According to Makepeace, Kwan used his extensive knowledge of poisons to attempt to kill his mother’s partner.
A Chilling Obsession
The court heard that Kwan lived in an affluent estate in Teesside with his wife and young son. Prosecutors also presented evidence of Kwan’s "disturbing, long-term interest" in poisons and chemical toxins, which they described as bordering on obsession.
The trial, which continues, has captured public attention due to the shocking nature of the allegations and the elaborate measures Kwan is accused of taking in his attempt to murder O’Hara. The court must now decide whether this was indeed a cold-blooded murder plot or, as Kwan claims, a misjudged act intended only to cause minor harm.