The Shocking Case of Dr. Thomas Kwan
The story of Dr. Thomas Kwan reads like a gripping thriller, complete with a family doctor masquerading as a murderer, a sinister poison plot, and a bitter feud over inheritance. The shocking events surrounding Kwan, a 53-year-old general practitioner, unfolded as he meticulously devised a plan to murder his mother’s long-term partner, Patrick O’Hara, after she altered her will to favor him.
Despite Kwan’s elaborate schemes to carry out the crime without detection, his plans began to unravel when Mr. O’Hara sought medical help following the poisoning. A documentary airing tonight on Channel 5, Inheritance: Murder in the Family – The Thomas Kwan Affair, delves into this chilling case, featuring insights from the Crown Prosecution Service, local residents, and toxicology experts.
Who is Thomas Kwan and What Did He Do?
Originally born in Hong Kong, Thomas Kwan moved to the UK at the age of 13 to pursue his education at a boarding school, eventually studying medicine at Newcastle University. He became a family doctor, working at the Happy House Surgery in Sunderland. Married with one son, Kwan lived with his family in a respectable neighborhood of executive homes in Ingleby Barwick, North Yorkshire. However, beneath this facade lay a man consumed by greed.
Kwan’s relationship with his mother, Jenny Leung, soured significantly after her divorce from his father 27 years ago. The situation escalated when she revised her will to benefit Mr. O’Hara, granting him a life interest in her house in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This prompted a rift between mother and son that deepened over time.
In December 2020, Kwan gifted his mother a laptop preloaded with spyware, allowing him to monitor her financial activities and even observe her home life through a hidden webcam. By November 2022, he had confronted her in a fit of rage, demanding information about her finances, which led to police involvement, although no charges were filed.
In a calculated move in November 2023, Kwan initiated a sinister plan to eliminate Mr. O’Hara, whom he viewed as an obstacle to his inheritance. He forged two letters, deceptively claiming to be from a registered general nurse named Mr. Raj Patel of the Community Associated Nursing Team. The first letter informed Mr. O’Hara of an upcoming community health visit for monitoring and vaccinations, including for Covid-19. The second letter, sent on January 3, 2024, provided the specific date and time for this supposed appointment: Monday, January 22, between 9 AM and 1 PM.
On the day of the appointment, Kwan drove to Newcastle in the early hours while using false license plates on his vehicle and checked into a Premier Inn. After a seemingly ordinary breakfast, he donned a disguise consisting of a long coat, a cap, blue surgical gloves, and a clinical mask to obscure his identity. He then made his way to his mother’s house.
Once there, Kwan pretended to administer a routine health questionnaire to Mr. O’Hara before injecting him with poison, claiming it was a Covid booster shot. When Mr. O’Hara complained of intense pain, Kwan dismissed it as an allergic reaction and left the premises.
By January 24, Mr. O’Hara was hospitalized, suffering from severe inflammation and pain in his arm. Initially, doctors struggled to diagnose the issue. Ultimately, they identified necrotizing fasciitis as the culprit, necessitating multiple surgical procedures to remove dead tissue and a five-day stay in intensive care. Despite undergoing reconstructive surgery, Mr. O’Hara was left with both physical scars and emotional trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
Where is Thomas Kwan Now?
The investigation commenced when medical personnel discovered that the NHS organization that had supposedly sent the letters to Mr. O’Hara did not exist, raising alarm about the poisoning. Surveillance footage led authorities directly to Kwan, who was arrested on February 5 of last year. A search of his home and computer revealed an alarming obsession with poisons and toxic substances.
Law enforcement uncovered various dangerous materials, including liquid mercury, thallium, sulfuric acid, and arsenic, along with the components required to produce ricin. His collection of literature included a document titled Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare and a textbook entitled Poisons, Their Effect and Detection. Additionally, his computer contained a copy of the 2006 National Centre for Policing Excellence guidance on murder investigations.
Kwan’s trial for attempted murder took place at Newcastle Crown Court in October 2024. However, on the second day of the proceedings, he entered a guilty plea. A month later, on November 6, he appeared before the same court for sentencing, receiving a prison term of 31 years and five months. In her sentencing remarks, Mrs. Justice Lambert stated, “I have no doubt that the offense to which you have pleaded guilty is exceptionally serious. You intended to kill Mr. O’Hara, and your actions caused him significant physical and psychological harm. Your morbid obsession with toxic chemicals is deeply concerning.”
Detective Chief Inspector Jason Henry, who led the investigation for Northumbria Police, praised Mr. O’Hara for his cooperation throughout the complex case. He highlighted the meticulous planning Kwan undertook to execute his crime and evade capture. Thanks to the victim’s assistance and the dedication of law enforcement, justice was ultimately served.
How Can I Watch Inheritance: Murder in the Family – The Thomas Kwan Affair?
The documentary is scheduled to air on Channel 5 tonight, Monday, March 3, at 10 PM. It will also be available for streaming on Channel5.com.
