Doctor Faked Being A Nurse To Inject Mom's Partner With Flesh Eating Toxin
In a shocking case sending shockwaves throughout the medical community and beyond, Thomas Kwan, a 53-year-old family doctor from Sunderland, England, has admitted to disguising himself as a community nurse to gain access to the victim's home, ostensibly to administer a COVID-19 vaccine, but instead injecting him with a toxic substance, likely a pesticide.
About The Case
Kwan's motive for the murder stemmed from his desire to prevent Patrick O'Hara, his mother's partner, from inheriting her house, as stipulated in her will. O'Hara's potential inheritance posed a threat to Kwan's own claim to his mother's estate, fueling his determination to murder him.
The level of planning and attention to detail in Kwan's deception is chilling. He created a convincing disguise, complete with a thick, dark wig, a fake mustache and beard, head-to-toe protective clothing, tinted glasses, and a surgical mask. Further, he forged NHS documents and letters to arrange a home visit under the pretext of administering a fake COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, but also booked a hotel room under an alias and used fake license plates on his vehicle to further conceal his identity.
On the day of the scheduled visit, Kwan went so far as to check O'Hara's blood pressure before administering the poisonous injection, lulling his unsuspecting victim into a false sense of security. O'Hara, believing the visit was legitimate, fell for the ruse completely, unaware of the sinister plot.
Prosecutor Peter Makepeace told jurors: “Sometimes… the truth really is stranger than fiction. Mr. Kwan used his encyclopedic knowledge of, and research into, poisons to carry out his plan.”
The consequences of Kwan's actions were severe and life-threatening. O'Hara developed necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and deadly flesh-eating disease, following the injection. He experienced excruciating pain and blistering in his arm, leading to his hospitalization, where a portion of his arm had to be surgically removed to stop the infection. O'Hara then spent several weeks in intensive care, narrowly escaping death.
About The Arrest
Kwan's scheme began to unravel when he was identified through surveillance camera footage. During a search of his home, police discovered an array of chemicals, including arsenic, liquid mercury, and castor beans (which can be used to make a deadly ricin toxin). Northumbria Police also found that Kwan possessed a "poisoner's handbook" and a book on guidance for murder investigations on his computer, suggesting a premeditated crime.
Initially, Kwan pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, but after the prosecution presented its case at Newcastle Crown Court, he changed his plea to guilty. He is now awaiting sentencing for his crime.
