Doctor charged with attempted murder after alleged poisoning of man in 70s - as well as use of chemical weapon ricin

2 October 2024, 05:12 | Updated: 2 October 2024, 06:27

BRITAIN-CRIME-COURT
Dr Thomas Kwan is going on trial at Newcastle Crown Court. Picture: Getty

By Flaminia Luck

A GP is going on trial on Wednesday charged with attempted murder after allegedly poisoning his mother's partner as well as making and using the chemical weapon ricin.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Dr Thomas Kwan, 52, of Brading Court, Ingleby Barwick, Teesside, is charged with the attempted murder of Patrick O'Hara, who is in his 70s, in Newcastle on January 22 this year.

The Sunderland-based GP, who is going on trial at Newcastle Crown Court, is also charged with production of a chemical weapon - ricin - between January 1 and January 22 this year.

Hong Kong-born Kwan, who is a married father-of-one, is also charged with using a chemical weapon, ricin, on January 22.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A man rides a Lime rental bike across London Bridge from the City of London in the evening sun

First day of spring to be hottest of the year - as UK beats Barcelona and Athens this week to reach 21C

One major question is whether the prince admitted to taking drugs on the form, which he later admitted in his memoir, Spare.

Harry’s US visa records released with heavy redactions - but questions remain about drugs admission

Donald Trump has ordered the release of the last classified files surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy on Thursday, vowing that ‘everything will be revealed’.

'It's a lot of stuff' - Trump releases 80,000 classified pages relating to JFK assassination, honouring campaign promise

A private lunar lander has captured the first high-definition sunset pictures from the Moon.

Lunar lander captures first high-definition picture of sunset on the moon

In this image provided by NASA, a SpaceX capsule splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico, Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

NASA astronauts land on Earth in SpaceX capsule after spending nine unplanned months stranded in space

One of Tesla’s earliest investors has called for Elon Musk to step down as CEO, saying the ‘divisive’ billionaire has ‘destroyed the company’s reputation’.

‘It’s a crisis’ - Top Tesla investor calls for ‘divisive’ Elon Musk to step down as CEO as stocks keep plunging

Liz Kendall has told LBC that the welfare system ‘has to be reformed’ as the government faces a backlash from Labour MPs for their plans to shake up the benefits system.

‘Can’t duck the issue’ of UK’s soaring benefits bill, Liz Kendall tells LBC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's deadly strikes on Gaza will continue in full force.

Netanyahu warns this is 'just the beginning' of 'full force' Gaza strikes after overnight attack kills 400

U.K. GCSE Exams

Teenagers could sit fewer GCSE exams amid concerns of overstress, Government review suggests

DigDat performs at Wireless Festival 2021 at Crystal Palace on September 12, 2021 in London, England.

Drill rapper DigDat guilty of attempted murder over drive-by shooting in which victim ‘lucky not to die’

Nicholas Prosper was caught on CCTV buying a gun in a car park

Moment killer smirks after buying shotgun in car park hours before he murdered family at home

Vladimir Putin laid out demands for a ceasefire in Ukraine following a landmark phone call.

'Don't negotiate without Ukraine', Zelenskyy says after Putin and Trump agree partial ceasefire in landmark phone call

Rebecca Burke

British tourist held in US immigration detention centre for three weeks due to visa mix-up returns to UK

Fresh images of the remote Antarctica base at the centre of an assault allegation have emerged after the crew begged for rescue.

Inside the Antarctic base at centre of assault mystery as crew plead for rescue

Netflix's new show Adolescence explore themes such as misogyny, online radicalisation and the influence of figures such as Andrew Tate

‘There will be more’: Ex-social worker warns of rise of misogyny-fuelled violence following release of Netflix’s Adolescence

"America", a fully-working solid gold toilet, created by artist Maurizio Cattelan at Blenheim Palace

The Great Drain Robbery: Gang guilty of stealing £4.8m gold toilet from Blenheim Palace