Doctor called murder bid 'isolated mistake'

KWAN STRUCK OFF AFTER TRYING TO POISON MAN, 73

- By DAVID HUNTLEY AND SAM VOLLPE

A NORTH East doctor convicted of attempted murder - and who has now admitted a second murder attempt - has been struck off the medical register.

Thomas Kwan is serving a life sentence after being convicted of making an audacious plan to murder his mum's partner.

On Thursday, Kwan appeared back at Newcastle Crown Court on a video link from HMP Frankland, where he admitted an earlier attempt to murder Patrick O’Hara - who he saw as an obstacle to receiving inheritance should anything happen to his mum.

Kwan, 54, contacted the victim via a fake wine and drinks club and sent the 73-year-old bottles of alcohol laced with thallium.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Mr O'Hara between September 15, 2022, and January 21, 2024, and administering a poison or noxious substance with intent to another man, to whom Mr O’Hara had given a bottle, with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy Mr O'Hara, between the same dates.

The court heard between 18 and 21 packages were sent to Mr O'Hara and one was passed to the other man, who consumed some of the poisoned drink.

Following his guilty plea, it can now be revealed that Kwan was struck off the medical register in September and had told a tribunal he felt he should retain his medical licence. Dr Kwan's murder bid was described as a case “stranger than fiction” in court.