In court, surgeon accused of trying to kill ex-colleague
‘We are praying he pulls through’
A in with a £800,000 Graeme PLASTIC former court the attempted family Perks yesterday colleague surgeon was home. left murder appeared charged fighting at his of for wounds in what his life detectives to his after stomach he described suffered and chest stab as a ‘horrific last Thursday. ordeal’ at around 4.15am
Jonathan Peter Brooks, 56, who was arrested later on Thursday, appeared before magistrates charged with the attempted murder of his former NHS colleague and possession of a knife in a public place.
He is also accused of three counts of attempted arson with intent to endanger the lives of Mr Perks, his wife Beverley and their son Henry.
Mr Perks, 65, was attacked at his home, which stands on a hill on the edge of an affluent village, after going to investigate the sound of breaking glass, police said last week. The consultant, who lives in the former vicarage with his 68-year-old wife and one of his four grown-up children, underwent surgery later that day.
He remains in a ‘serious but stable’ condition in intensive care at Nottingham’s Queens Medical Centre. So far, he has been unable to make a statement to detectives.
During a brief appearance at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Brooks spoke only to confirm his name and address.
There was no application for bail in remanded at February village Mr Nottingham the and Perks Nottinghamshire, minster of the 15. Halam, in lives surgeon, custody Crown town in where the of to who Court nearby Southwell, appear neighbours lives was on of He the was of community’. described plastic, head of him reconstructive the as department a ‘pillar and burns University surgery Hospitals at Nottingham NHS Trust but retired between from 2011 full-time and 2016, work at the Trust in November.
Glenys Herbert, 80, who is warden of the 11th century Church of St Michael the Archangel in Halam, said: ‘It is a very neighbourly village where everybody keeps an eye out for everyone else. We are all just praying that Graeme pulls through.’
Detective Inspector Gayle Hart, who is leading the investigation, said the force was not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation, and appealed for anybody with information in relation to the incident to come forward.
Mr Perks is the chairman of the professional standards committee at the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons and a two-times past president of the organisation. The body’s current president, Ruth Waters, said colleagues around the world had been in contact following news of the alleged attack.
She said: ‘All have expressed their shock and their hope for his speedy recovery.’