GP admits donning a disguise to inject mother's partner with deadly poison

A GP who disguised himself as a nurse before trying to kill his estranged mother's partner by injecting him with poison has admitted attempting to murder the pensioner.

- Paul Jeeves

Dr Thomas Kwan planned to kill Patrick O'Hara because he feared losing his inheritance, a court heard. He pretended that a jab of pesticide was a Covid booster.

The medic, who spied on the couple via their computer, became "obsessed" with poisons he experimented with castor beans to try to make ricin and also researched arsenic, cyanide and nerve agents. Police discovered "10 poisons used to kill people" among downloaded guides at his home Kwan, 53, put fake licence plates on his car then headed to a Newcastle hotel where CCTV caught him in a hat, tinted glasses and mask. He walked to his mother's house to give the potentially lethal injection in a disguise so effective she did not recognise him.

Within seconds of receiving the jab, Mr O'Hara, now 72, yelled out and fell seriously ill with agonising arm pain. He was saved by surgeons who cut out areas of poisoned flesh.

Kwan had previously admitted administering a noxious substance but had denied attempted murder plus an alternative charge of grievous bodily harm with intent.

After he listened to the prosecution at Newcastle Crown Court last week, defence lawyers requested an adjournment.

As the case resumed yesterday, Hong Kongborn Kwan said he accepted his guilt. He was warned that he faces a "substantial time in jail" when he is sentenced next week.