A 61-year-old plastic surgeon has been convicted of attempted murder following a violent attack on a former colleague in Halam, near Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Jonathan Peter Brooks was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder, alongside charges of attempted arson with intent to endanger life and possession of a knife in a public place, after a terrifying incident that occurred in the early hours of January 14, 2021.
The court heard that Brooks, who had specialised in burns and plastics, cycled to the home of Graeme Perks, a consultant surgeon and his former colleague, dressed in camouflage gear. Upon arriving, he allegedly poured petrol across the ground floor of Mr Perks' property before attacking him with a knife, stabbing him in the abdomen.
During the trial, prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC recounted the events leading up to the assault, suggesting that Brooks' motive was linked to his anger towards Perks, who was expected to give evidence against him in a workplace disciplinary hearing. Jurors were informed that Brooks intended to have Perks "out of the way."
Guarding against the horrific circumstances of the attack, Mr. Perks described how he was awoken by a loud bang and confronted the intruder. In a video interview for the court, he recalled, “Nothing was said, and the next thing I remember was feeling a blow to my body,” subsequently realising he had been stabbed. Medical professionals who attended to him later conveyed that he had a 95% chance of dying upon arrival at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
Brooks, who had denied all charges, was notably absent throughout the month-long trial as he undertook a hunger strike, which raised further questions about his state of mind during the proceedings. The jury deliberated for over 12 hours before reaching their verdict at Loughborough Courthouse, confirming Brooks' culpability in the serious charges presented against him.
Mr Perks, then 65 and recently retired, survived the assault, but the details of the case have raised significant concerns regarding workplace conflicts escalating into violence. The proceedings surrounding this case underscore the complexities and potential dangers that can arise in professional relationships within the medical field.
Source: Noah Wire Services