A GP who disguised himself as a nurse attempted to kill his mother’s partner by administering a fake Covid jab, a court heard. Dr. Thomas Kwan’s 72-year-old victim, Patrick O’Hara, described the vaccination as causing intense pain, making it feel like his arm was on fire, and expressed feeling that he should have died as a result. The incident led Mr. O’Hara to move out of the shared home with Kwan’s mother, Jenny Leung. He has now found love again with his ex-wife, the court was informed.
Kwan, who had an obsession with money and knowledge of poisons, meticulously planned the murder attempt for months. He crafted fake NHS letters offering a home visit to Mr. O’Hara in January this year. The prosecution argued that Kwan’s motive was financially-driven, aiming to remove an obstacle to his inheritance as his mother’s will allowed Mr. O’Hara to stay in their home after her passing.
The court learned that Kwan, a well-paid GP, had offered £2 million for a property in the South of England. The prosecutor revealed that Kwan had installed spyware on his mother’s computer to monitor her financial affairs. Moreover, prison letters written by Kwan indicated his discontent with Mr. O’Hara’s entitlement to compensation.
The gravity of the case was underscored by the prosecutor pointing out that Kwan did not disclose the poison used, took the weapon (a syringe) to the scene, and targeted Mr. O’Hara in his own home. The court also heard that Mr. O’Hara developed post-traumatic stress disorder following the incident.
The sentencing guidelines suggest a jail term between 25 and 35 years, with aggravating factors potentially pushing it to the upper end of the range. Despite pleading guilty after the trial commenced, Kwan’s danger to the public remains a consideration for the court. The defence highlighted Kwan’s previously positive character and the regrettable impact his actions had on his life.
The sentencing of Kwan will occur at a later date as the court deliberates on the appropriate punishment for the GP’s elaborate and chilling murder attempt.