A former general practitioner, Thomas Kwan, 54, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Thursday charged with attempting to murder a 73-year-old man and with causing a second man to be exposed to the poison thallium with intent to injure.
Kwan appeared briefly via videolink from custody and did not enter pleas. District Judge Paul Currer told the court the allegations were so serious they could only be dealt with at the Crown Court and remanded Kwan in custody. He is due to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Oct. 9.
Prosecutors allege Kwan attempted to murder Patrick O’Hara, 73, in Newcastle at some point between September 2022 and January 2024. The charges also allege Kwan caused a man identified as Torquil Gundlack, who is in his 50s, to be exposed to thallium between the same dates. Kwan spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth during the magistrates’ hearing.
Kwan, described in court papers as a married father of one, was born in Hong Kong and moved to the United Kingdom as a teenager. He studied medicine in Newcastle and has previously worked as a general practitioner. The court record provided no further detail about his medical career or the circumstances of his employment.
Thallium is a highly toxic heavy metal that has been implicated in past poisoning cases; exposure can cause serious harm. The criminal charges specify an allegation of exposure with intent to injure in relation to Gundlack and an attempted murder allegation in relation to O’Hara.
No pleas were entered at the magistrates’ hearing because the case will be sent to the Crown Court where the more serious charges will be contested. The judge’s decision to send the matter to Crown Court follows the usual procedure for cases involving potential lengthy prison sentences or complex evidence.
Court documents and local prosecutors did not provide further details about how the alleged poisonings are said to have occurred or the current medical condition of the alleged victims. Police or prosecution statements were not released at the hearing. Kwan remains in custody ahead of the October Crown Court appearance, where formal pleas and pre-trial directions are expected.
The case will proceed through the higher criminal courts, where prosecutors must prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt. Defence representatives did not make submissions at the magistrates’ hearing and no trial date has been set publicly.
Further information may emerge at the next hearing in October or through statements from the Crown Prosecution Service or police investigating the allegations.