LONDON (AP) — A British doctor admitted Monday that he tried to kill his mother’s longtime partner by injecting her with a poison disguised as a COVID-19 vaccine as she stood between him and her inheritance. .
Prosecutors allege Thomas Kwan posed as a community nurse administering booster shots and injected Patrick O’Hara with a toxic substance, possibly a pesticide. Mr O’Hara, 72, developed a rare flesh-eating disease and was admitted to intensive care.
Mr Kwan, 53, initially denied attempted murder, but changed his plea to guilty after prosecutors laid out their case at Newcastle Crown Court in northeast England.
Prosecutor Thomas Makepeace told the court Mr Kwan was a “respected and experienced” family doctor based in Sunderland, about 25 miles from Newcastle. The attorney said Mr. Kwan used his “encyclopedic knowledge” of poisons in the plot to kill O’Hara, adding that Mr. O’Hara was a “potential obstacle to Mr. Kwan inheriting his mother’s estate after her death.” said that he had done so.
Makepeace revealed that Kwan forged documents, used a car with fake license plates and disguised himself from head to toe in hazmat suits, tinted glasses and a surgical mask, which O’Hara shared with Kwan’s mother Jenny Leung. He said he visited his home in Newcastle where he was working. January.
“Like all of us, Mr. O’Hara was hooked, line and sinker,” the prosecutor said.
Authorities said Thomas Kwan disguised himself when he injected his mother’s partner.
The next day, O’Hara went to the hospital with blisters and pain on his arm, where he was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. Part of her arm was removed to prevent the spread of infection, and O’Hara spent several weeks in intensive care.
Kwan was identified from surveillance camera footage. When police searched his home, they found a range of chemicals, including arsenic, liquid mercury and castor beans, which are used to make the chemical weapon ricin.
Police have not been able to confirm what substance was used.
Christopher Atkinson, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said Mr Kwan’s refusal to identify the poison “further deteriorated the victim’s health”.
Support free journalism
Consider supporting HuffPost for as little as $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.
Can’t afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while reading.
Thank you for your contributions to HuffPost. We’re grateful to readers like you who help keep our journalism free for all.
The stakes are high this year and coverage in 2024 may require continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your contributions to HuffPost. We’re grateful to readers like you who help keep our journalism free for all.
The stakes are high this year and coverage in 2024 may require continued support. We hope you will consider contributing to HuffPost again.
Support HuffPost
Already a contributor? Please log in to hide these messages.
“While the attempt on the victim’s life thankfully failed, the impact remains devastating,” he said.
Mr. Kwan will be sentenced later.
Dive deep into true crime stories and track the latest headlines with HuffPost’s Suspicious Circumstances newsletter. Sign up here.
