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In a shocking case, British doctor Thomas Kwan, 53, has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his mother’s long-term partner, Patrick O’Hara. Kwan, disguised in a wig, fake facial hair, and a medical mask, injected O’Hara with a toxin disguised as a COVID-19 vaccine, reportedly over an inheritance dispute.
The Disturbing Plot to Poison Patrick O’Hara
Kwan, who worked as a family doctor in Sunderland, allegedly plotted to kill O’Hara, his mother’s partner of 20 years. Motivated by anger over his mother’s will—which left her house to O’Hara—Kwan took drastic measures. He forged letters to O’Hara, pretending they were from a medical authority, stating that O’Hara was overdue for a check-up.
On the morning of January 22, 2024, Kwan drove from his home in Ingleby Barwick to Newcastle, donning his disguise as a nurse. Under the guise of administering a COVID-19 booster, he injected O’Hara with a poisonous substance. Soon after the injection, O’Hara fell seriously ill and was rushed to the hospital.
A Flesh-Eating Bacterial Infection and A Close Call
O’Hara was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare but life-threatening flesh-eating bacterial infection. The poison caused extensive damage, requiring multiple surgeries and skin grafts. While in the hospital, O’Hara handed over the forged letters, leading medical staff to realize the medical check-up had been fraudulent. They quickly contacted the police.
The Investigation and Arrest
Northumbria Police soon identified Kwan as a suspect. Investigators found that Kwan had driven to Newcastle with fake license plates in an attempt to hide his identity. Upon searching his home, police discovered incriminating evidence, including a “poisoner’s handbook” and extensive research on lethal toxins and how to evade detection. Additionally, investigators found files on Kwan’s computer related to murder investigations.
Kwan’s Guilty Plea and Motive
Kwan initially admitted to administering a noxious substance but has now also pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Detective Chief Inspector Jason Henry called Kwan’s actions “utterly despicable,” citing his abuse of medical knowledge to deceive and harm O’Hara.
Prosecutors revealed that the dispute over Kwan’s mother’s will was the likely motive behind the crime. Instead of Kwan inheriting the house, O’Hara was the intended beneficiary, a fact that reportedly fueled Kwan’s rage. Despite confessing to the crime, Kwan has refused to disclose the specific toxin he used, complicating efforts to treat O’Hara’s condition.
UK Doctor Disguises Himself as Nurse to Poison Mother’s Partner with Fake COVID Shot
In a shocking case, British doctor Thomas Kwan, 53, has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his mother’s long-term partner, Patrick O’Hara. Kwan, disguised in a wig, fake facial hair, and a medical mask, injected O’Hara with a toxin disguised as a COVID-19 vaccine, reportedly over an inheritance dispute.
The Disturbing Plot to Poison Patrick O’Hara
Kwan, who worked as a family doctor in Sunderland, allegedly plotted to kill O’Hara, his mother’s partner of 20 years. Motivated by anger over his mother’s will—which left her house to O’Hara—Kwan took drastic measures. He forged letters to O’Hara, pretending they were from a medical authority, stating that O’Hara was overdue for a check-up.
On the morning of January 22, 2024, Kwan drove from his home in Ingleby Barwick to Newcastle, donning his disguise as a nurse. Under the guise of administering a COVID-19 booster, he injected O’Hara with a poisonous substance. Soon after the injection, O’Hara fell seriously ill and was rushed to the hospital.
A Flesh-Eating Bacterial Infection and A Close Call
O’Hara was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare but life-threatening flesh-eating bacterial infection. The poison caused extensive damage, requiring multiple surgeries and skin grafts. While in the hospital, O’Hara handed over the forged letters, leading medical staff to realize the medical check-up had been fraudulent. They quickly contacted the police.
The Investigation and Arrest
Northumbria Police soon identified Kwan as a suspect. Investigators found that Kwan had driven to Newcastle with fake license plates in an attempt to hide his identity. Upon searching his home, police discovered incriminating evidence, including a “poisoner’s handbook” and extensive research on lethal toxins and how to evade detection. Additionally, investigators found files on Kwan’s computer related to murder investigations.
Kwan’s Guilty Plea and Motive
Kwan initially admitted to administering a noxious substance but has now also pleaded guilty to attempted murder. Detective Chief Inspector Jason Henry called Kwan’s actions “utterly despicable,” citing his abuse of medical knowledge to deceive and harm O’Hara.
Prosecutors revealed that the dispute over Kwan’s mother’s will was the likely motive behind the crime. Instead of Kwan inheriting the house, O’Hara was the intended beneficiary, a fact that reportedly fueled Kwan’s rage. Despite confessing to the crime, Kwan has refused to disclose the specific toxin he used, complicating efforts to treat O’Hara’s condition.
The Fallout of Kwan’s Actions
Christopher Atkinson, head of the Complex Casework Unit for CPS North East, noted that Kwan’s refusal to reveal the poison prolonged O’Hara’s suffering and hampered his medical treatment. “The effects were catastrophic,” Atkinson stated, adding that Kwan’s betrayal of his medical duty made the crime even more disturbing.
As Kwan awaits sentencing, the case has shocked the public and underscored the disturbing lengths to which some will go in pursuit of personal gain. As prosecutor Peter Makepeace put it, “Sometimes… the truth really is stranger than fiction.”
