In court, surgeon accused of trying to kill ex-colleague
A PLASTIC surgeon appeared in court yesterday charged with the attempted murder of a former colleague at his £800,000 family home.
Graeme Perks was left fighting for his life after he suffered stab wounds to his stomach and chest in what detectives described as a ‘horrific ordeal’ at around 4.15am last Thursday.
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 Queen’s 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 and the surgeon, who lives in the minster town of Southwell, Nottinghamshire, was remanded in custody to appear at Nottingham Crown Court on February 15.
Mr Perks lives in the nearby village of Halam, where neighbours described him as a ‘pillar of the community’.
He was head of the department of plastic, reconstructive and burns surgery at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust between 2011 and 2016, but retired from full-time 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 every
‘We are praying he pulls through’
one 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.’