A man injected with a flesh-eating chemical by his partner’s disgraced GP son has described his harrowing ordeal as going ‘to hell and back’. Thomas Kwan, aged 53, disguised himself as a community nurse to poison Patrick O’Hara, aged 72, in a financially-motivated attempted murder plot, a sentencing hearing revealed.
Kwan, obsessed with money and possessing a deep knowledge of poisons, planned to kill O’Hara after learning that his mother had named him in her will. The initial belief was that Kwan had injected ricin into O’Hara’s arm, but it was later determined that a pesticide was more likely used. The victim spoke about feeling excruciating pain and as if his arm was on fire after the injection.
During the sentencing hearing in Newcastle Crown Court, it was disclosed that Kwan could face up to 35 years in prison for the attempted murder. The prosecution stated that Kwan’s actions were driven by a desire to benefit from his mother’s will, as she had specified that O’Hara could continue living in their home after her passing.
Mr O’Hara, an environmental analyst, received a forged letter in November purporting to be from the NHS, offering a home health check. This letter was part of Kwan’s elaborate plan, which involved impersonating a community nurse named Raj Patel. After administrating the injection, the victim experienced severe symptoms, leading to a diagnosis of necrotising fasciitis and a lengthy hospital stay.
In his victim impact statement, O’Hara highlighted the lasting impact on his life, including a diagnosis of PTSD and significant physical and emotional trauma. He expressed fear of Kwan targeting him or his loved ones in the future. The court heard about the meticulous planning Kwan had undertaken for the murder attempt and his subsequent arrest.
The judge, Mrs Justice Lambert, is set to pass the sentence on Kwan at a later date. The case has shocked many with its chilling details and the calculated nature of the crime. The victim’s recollection of the ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals capable of such callous acts.