Jonathan Peter Brooks, a 61-year-old plastic surgeon, has been convicted of attempted murder following a violent attack on his former colleague, Graeme Perks. The incident occurred in the early hours of January 14, 2021, at Perks' home in Halam, near Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Brooks was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder, attempted arson with intent to endanger life, and possession of a knife in a public place after a lengthy trial that culminated at Loughborough Courthouse.
The court heard that Brooks had harboured animosity towards Perks, who was a witness in disciplinary hearings against him. On the night of the attack, Brooks approached Perks’ home dressed in camouflage attire, armed with a crowbar, petrol, matches, and a knife. After breaking into the property, he poured a highly flammable liquid across the ground floor before confronting Perks, who had been awoken by the commotion.
During the trial, it was revealed that Perks initially mistook Brooks for his son before being stabbed in the abdomen. Perks, who was 65 at the time, managed to survive the life-threatening attack, largely due to the swift actions of medical personnel when he was rushed to Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he faced a 95% chance of mortality upon arrival, according to a surgeon who treated him.
The prosecution portrayed Brooks' actions as premeditated, indicating that his intention was to eliminate Perks. Tracy Ayling KC, the prosecutor, stated, “His intention was, say the Crown, to break into Mr Perks’s house, set fire to it and if necessary, stab Mr Perks. In short, he intended to kill Mr Perks by either or both those means.”
Despite the severity of the charges, Brooks was not present during his month-long trial, having declared a hunger strike, and remained “voluntarily absent” as the jurors deliberated for over 12 hours before reaching their verdict. Judge Edward Pepperall acknowledged the jury's careful consideration of evidence and instructed them to maintain an unbiased evaluation in light of Brooks' absence.
Brooks, who specialised in burns and plastics, had reportedly wanted Perks "out of the way" due to the latter's involvement in the disciplinary proceedings against him. As noted in the trial, Brooks' actions were driven by his alleged hatred towards Perks.
The outcome of the trial marks a significant legal resolution to an incident that began in the early hours of that January morning, leaving both the medical community and the public reflecting on the serious nature of the events that transpired.
Source: Noah Wire Services