A former nurse, Karenjeet Kaur Warburton, has been banned from practicing for four years after she paid a patient $3,000 to mutilate her ex-boyfriend, a senior Queensland police inspector, in a chilling revenge plot that involved cutting off his penis and tongue, burning his face with acid, and paralyzing him, the Daily Mail reports.
Warburton, who had dated Inspector Don McKay between March 2020 and early 2021, was convicted after a disturbing plan came to light. According to findings by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), she solicited a patient named Andrew Bown—whom she believed would be “up for the job”—to carry out the violent attack.
Between April and October 2021, Warburton provided Bown with photographs of McKay and his residence, and paid $3,000 upfront, promising even more upon execution of the assault. Tribunal member Julie Dick noted that Warburton’s elaborate instructions included horrific details:
“She instructed the assailant to cut off Insp. McKay’s penis and tongue, burn his face with acid, sever his spine to paralyze him, or break every bone in his body so he could no longer walk or talk,” the tribunal heard.
Warburton’s efforts were only halted when she was arrested and later pleaded guilty to two charges: attempting to procure grievous bodily harm and attempting to procure a malicious act with intent. She was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended after serving 16 months.
While facing the health tribunal, Warburton did not contest the allegations of professional misconduct, acknowledging her role in the attempted attack. In March, QCAT ruled to disqualify her from healthcare practice for four years, including time already served in custody.
“It is unfortunate that this serious behaviour has led to the respondent being in the difficult circumstances in which she now finds herself,” Ms. Dick stated.
She added that Warburton would need to reapply for registration after her ban expires but would face obstacles such as no recent medical practice and further regulatory conditions.
Meanwhile, Andrew Bown, the man she recruited for the attack, was also convicted. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison by the Cairns District Court in November 2022, after being found guilty of arson, attempting to procure grievous bodily harm, and possessing a dangerous item to aid the crime.
