A GP has been convicted of attempted murder after he admitted to injecting his mother's partner with a poisoned fake Covid booster jab.
Dr Thomas Kwan allegedly devised an elaborate plan to disguise himself as a nurse and administer the injection to Patrick O'Hara at his mother's home in Newcastle.
Kwan initially denied attempted murder, but changed his plea after he heard the prosecution open the case.
The court heard that his motive was linked to an inheritance dispute. He had fallen out with his mother over her plans to leave her home to O'Hara.
A GP from Sunderland has been accused of attempting to murder his mother's partner by injecting him with a poisoned fake Covid booster jabPAOfficers thought the chemical weapon ricin was used to try to kill O'Hara on January 22, but an expert believed a pesticide was more likely.
Prosecutors stated that he intended to kill his mother's partner of over 20 years, who contracted a rare flesh-eating disease following the injection in his arm.
Police searches of Kwan's home uncovered a selfie of him wearing a wig, fake beard and moustache. A fake ID badge for a "Raj Patel" was also found on his computer.
The Sunderland-based GP had already pleaded guilty to administering a noxious substance, claiming he meant to cause no more than mild pain.
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The Hong Kong-born doctor had developed an "encyclopaedic knowledge" of poisons, the court heard.
CCTV footage showed Kwan arriving at a Premier Inn in Newcastle on January 22, wearing a hat, tinted spectacles, gloves and a mask.
After checking in under a false name, Kwan walked to his mother's house to administer the injection to O'Hara. The 71-year-old became gravely ill but survived following emergency surgery.
O'Hara had developed the flesh-eating disease necrotising fasciitis and needed to have part of his arm cut away to stop it spreading, and spent several weeks in intensive care.
CCTV footage showed Kwan arriving at a Premier Inn in Newcastle on January 22, wearing a hat, tinted spectacles, gloves and a mask
PAJustice Lambert said she will sentence Kwan once the issue of his dangerousness has been considered by the Probation Service.
She will sentence him on October 17.
The prosecution said their position remained that the case was financially motivated.
Justice Lambert warned: "There will be a substantial custodial term."
