LONDON (AP) — Dr. Thomas Kwan, a British physician dissatisfied with his inheritance, was sentenced to 31 years in prison on Wednesday for attempting to murder his mother’s boyfriend by injecting him with poison disguised as a COVID-19 vaccine.
The 53-year-old doctor carried out his sinister plan in January while impersonating a nurse during a home visit. He targeted Patrick O’Hara, 72, believing that O’Hara was obstructing his potential inheritance of his mother’s house.
Kwan’s actions were described by Justice Christina Lambert as “an audacious plan to murder a man in plain sight,” highlighting his obsession with financial gain. “You were certainly obsessed by money and particularly, the money to which you considered yourself entitled,” she stated during the sentencing.
O’Hara was hospitalized in intensive care for several weeks and underwent surgery to remove part of his arm to stop the spread of necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection caused by the poison. Reflecting on his ordeal, he described himself as “a shell of an individual,” and he has since separated from Kwan’s mother, Jenny Leung.
Police investigation revealed Kwan had meticulously orchestrated the crime, even sending fake letters featuring NHS logos, hyperlinks, and QR codes that appeared legitimate. On the day of the incident, he donned full protective gear, including tinted glasses and a surgical mask, and drove a vehicle with fraudulent license plates to the appointment.
Additionally, authorities discovered an alarming array of toxic substances in Kwan’s home. This included arsenic, liquid mercury, and castor beans, which could be used to produce the deadly chemical weapon ricin. Kwan had also stored instructions for making ricin on his computer, indicating a deep morbid fascination with poisons.
Following the death of his father, Kwan was reportedly upset about receiving a smaller portion of the inheritance compared to what he believed he deserved. His resentment was exacerbated by learning that his mother’s will included a clause that would allow O’Hara to remain in the house if she died before him.
Justice Lambert remarked, “Your resentment and bitterness towards your mother and Mr. O’Hara were driven by your feelings about money and your belief you were not receiving what you felt entitled to.” After the sentencing, O’Hara expressed his contentment with the justice served in this case.
