A shocking incident unfolded in a court as a GP disguised as a community nurse attempted to kill his mother’s partner by injecting him with poison, it was revealed. Dr. Thomas Kwan meticulously planned the murder scheme, covering himself from head to toe to avoid recognition. After administering the poisonous substance, Kwan casually returned to a hotel room, even making a stop at Greggs for food en route, while his unsuspecting victim’s health rapidly deteriorated.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Kwan, a 53-year-old doctor, considered his mother’s long-term partner, Patrick O’Hara, an obstacle to his inheritance. Kwan carefully orchestrated the murder plan at his mother’s home in Newcastle, gathering a collection of poisons, studying police procedures, and using spyware to monitor the couple’s activities. Despite denying attempted murder, Kwan admitted to administering a harmful substance.
Prosecutor Peter Makepeace KC described the elaborate plot as “stranger than fiction,” highlighting Kwan’s manipulation of NHS documentation, personal disguise, and falsified information to carry out the audacious murder attempt in plain sight. The victim fell for a fake NHS letter orchestrated by Kwan, leading to the injection on January 22, resulting in severe pain and subsequent health complications.
Mr. O’Hara’s condition rapidly worsened post-injection, leading to a hospital stay and surgeries to counteract the poison’s effects. Police investigations uncovered Kwan’s extensive interest in poisons and toxins, with hazardous chemicals found in his possession. The court also learned about Kwan’s surveillance of his mother and her partner through spyware, indicating a motive driven by financial gain.
The trial continues as jurors deliberate on Kwan’s intent in poisoning Mr. O’Hara, with Kwan denying charges of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The shocking revelations in court shed light on a meticulously planned and disturbing crime orchestrated by a respected doctor turned alleged murderer.