Burns specialist who tried to set fire to colleague’s home is sentenced

WorldPolitics
10 Jun 2025 • 2:11 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Peter Brooks, a 61-year-old burns specialist, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 22 years for attempting to murder his colleague, Graeme Perks, and set fire to his home in Halam, Nottinghamshire.
  • Brooks attacked Perks at his home in January 2021, stabbing him and dousing the property in petrol; Perks, who had provided evidence in disciplinary proceedings against Brooks, suffered life-threatening injuries.
  • The prosecution argued that Brooks hated Perks and wanted him "out of the way," while the defence claimed the attack was a "single act of violence" with no extensive pre-planning.
  • Perks described the attack as an "unimaginable catastrophe" for his family but expressed no hatred towards Brooks, while his son, Henry Perks, called Brooks a "highly dangerous and remorseless individual."
  • Brooks, who was voluntarily absent from his trial due to a hunger strike, did not attend the sentencing hearing; the judge described his crimes as "appalling" and noted his history of using hunger strikes to manipulate the legal process.

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