Thomas Kwan Pleads Guilty to Attempted Murder After Poisoning Attack in Newcastle

A GP has pleaded guilty to attempting to kill his mother’s long-term partner by injecting him with a dangerous substance disguised as a Covid booster jab. Thomas Kwan, 53, admitted to the crime at Newcastle Crown Court after initially denying attempted murder, changing his plea after the prosecution presented their case.

Kwan, a Sunderland-based doctor, had meticulously planned the attack using his extensive knowledge of poisons, which he had studied in-depth. He posed as a community nurse and visited Patrick O’Hara, 72, at his home in Newcastle on January 22, 2023, with the intention of killing him. Kwan administered a toxic substance under the guise of giving O’Hara a routine Covid booster shot, causing the victim to experience severe pain immediately after the injection.

The victim, unaware of the plot, suffered a severe reaction, developing necrotising fasciitis, a rare and life-threatening flesh-eating disease, which required part of his arm to be amputated. Police initially suspected ricin as the poison used, but experts later indicated that iodomethane, a substance commonly found in pesticides, was more likely to have been involved.

Kwan’s actions prompted a major investigation, during which police discovered a stockpile of dangerous chemicals, including arsenic and castor beans, along with a recipe for ricin on his computer. The prosecution described Kwan’s motive as financially driven, suggesting that he believed O’Hara’s presence in his mother’s will, which could affect his inheritance, was a threat to his financial future.

The court heard that Kwan had forged NHS documentation, using a false identity to arrange the home visit, and even went so far as to install spyware on his mother’s computer to monitor her finances. His relationship with his mother had deteriorated over financial matters, including her decision to leave O’Hara part of her estate.

Kwan was arrested after CCTV footage traced his movements and linked him to the crime. His mother, Jenny Leung, had named O’Hara in her will, leading to a strained relationship with Kwan. Despite the horrific nature of the crime, Kwan’s defence lawyer acknowledged that he understood a lengthy custodial sentence was inevitable.

Mrs. Justice Lambert will pass sentence on Kwan next week after further assessments of his dangerousness, warning that a substantial prison term awaits the defendant.

Ruben Gutierrez, convicted of a 1998 murder, argues DNA evidence could clear his name.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of Ruben Gutierrez, a Texas death row inmate who maintains that DNA testing on key evidence could prove his innocence in the 1998 murder of 85-year-old Escolastica Harrison during a home robbery in Brownsville. The court’s decision follows its intervention to halt Gutierrez’s execution just 20 minutes before it was to be carried out earlier this year.

Gutierrez was convicted of fatally stabbing Harrison, a retired teacher and mobile home park manager, during a robbery believed to target more than $600,000 she kept hidden due to a mistrust of banks. Prosecutors argue that Gutierrez’s conviction is based on substantial evidence, including his confession about planning the robbery and being present during the murder. Despite this, Gutierrez’s attorneys have consistently requested DNA testing of evidence such as Harrison’s nail scrapings, a loose hair found on her finger, and blood samples from the crime scene, asserting that none of these physically tie him to the murder.

While prosecutors claim the request for DNA testing is merely a delaying tactic, Gutierrez’s legal team insists the analysis could exonerate him and provide clarity about the crime. Under Texas’ “law of parties,” Gutierrez was found culpable for Harrison’s murder due to his role in planning the robbery, even if he did not directly commit the killing. The case, which has seen several delayed execution dates, raises significant questions about the role of DNA evidence in criminal convictions and the rights of those on death row.

Same-sex flamingo couple thrives as first-time parents, successfully hatching and nurturing a chick

A pair of first-time flamingo foster dads have successfully raised a chick at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, marking a heartwarming achievement for the same-sex couple. The flamingos, both in their 40s, had previously been practicing their parenting skills by incubating a fake egg. After proving their capabilities, they were given a real egg, which they successfully hatched.

The zoo has reported that the chick, which is roughly the size of a tennis ball, is doing well under the care of its foster parents. Footage shared by the zoo shows the small, grey chick being nurtured by the two flamingos. The pair takes turns brooding, ensuring the chick is well-fed with crop milk, a nutrient-rich secretion produced by both male and female flamingos.

The zoo explained that crop milk is produced in response to the chick’s begging calls and is essential for its growth. Flamingo parents even temporarily lose their famous pink colour during this period, as they secrete large volumes of this milk.

This success is part of a growing trend of same-sex flamingo couples thriving as parents. Curtis and Arthur, another male flamingo pair, successfully raised a chick in the UK earlier this year. Similarly, at the Denver Zoo, Freddie Mercury and Lance Bass were previously a popular same-sex couple who helped raise flamingo chicks for breeding pairs who couldn’t do so themselves.

Federal indictment details long-running cyberattacks targeting U.S. officials and 2024 campaigns

A U.S. federal grand jury has indicted three Iranian nationals in connection with a large-scale hacking campaign that targeted U.S. officials, including members of the Trump campaign. The indictment, unsealed on Friday, alleges that Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yasar Balaghi were part of a scheme orchestrated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to undermine U.S. interests and interfere with the democratic process.

Since 2020, the hackers are accused of compromising various U.S. officials, including diplomats, intelligence personnel, and political figures, aiming to cause discord and disrupt the electoral process. One of the key targets was the Trump campaign during the summer of 2023. The indictment details how hackers sent phishing emails to campaign associates, enabling malware to infiltrate their computers and steal sensitive information. This information was then attempted to be shared with individuals connected to the Biden campaign and journalists.

The hackers allegedly also targeted other prominent U.S. officials, including a former CIA deputy director, a homeland security adviser, and a former U.S. ambassador to Israel. Additionally, individuals from the Departments of Justice, Defense, and State were compromised.

The Iranian government has denied involvement in the hack. However, federal agencies, including the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, previously linked Iranian cyber actors to similar activities, including sending stolen Trump campaign materials to members of the Biden campaign.

In the broader context of election interference, Iran has reportedly launched several operations to influence the 2024 U.S. election, including the creation of fake news sites.

Families of crash victims argue Boeing should face tougher penalties as a federal judge reviews the company’s plea agreement

A Texas federal judge has scheduled a hearing for next month to review Boeing’s plea agreement regarding the 737 Max jetliner crashes that killed 346 people. The hearing, set for October 11 in Fort Worth, will involve Boeing’s agreement to plead guilty to conspiracy charges related to misleading regulators about the safety of the 737 Max.

The company is accused of deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to avoid more extensive training requirements for pilots flying the Max. Boeing allegedly downplayed the need for flight simulator training, instead opting for cheaper computer-based training, which ultimately led to the deadly crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 in Indonesia (2018) and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 (2019).

While the Justice Department has argued that the plea deal, which includes a $243.6 million fine and significant investments in safety programs, is the most serious charge it can pursue, relatives of the victims strongly object. They have argued that the settlement, which also includes a three-year probation period for Boeing, is too lenient. Critics contend that Boeing should face a full trial where it could be subject to harsher penalties, accusing the Justice Department of showing favoritism due to Boeing’s significance as a government contractor.

The case remains a point of contention, with families seeking justice for their loved ones and calling for greater accountability from the aerospace giant.