McGown eventually developed a deep interest in post operative pain relief, and decided to begin experimenting with new drugs and anaesthetics in 1981 on his predominantly underage black patients.
Among his victims were 10-year-old Kenyan-born girl Lavender Khaminwa (who died following a supposed appendectomy) and two and a half years old Kalpesh Nagindas, a Zimbabwean boy of Indian origin.
[5][4][3] McGown is also suspected of murdering 4-year-old Tsitsi Chidodo, a Zimbabwean girl, Irene Papatheocharous, a mother of Greek descent, and 62-year-old Nigerian woman Rose Apinke Osazuwa.
When the news broke, a group of students led by Obey Mudzingwa, began protesting, even threatening to attack white people if the doctor wasn't sentenced.
Charles Khaminwa, lawyer and father of the murdered girl, criticised the prosecutors for failing to explain why they dropped the charges against McGown carrying out experiments on black people.
[5] He admitted to breaching his duty to ensure safe recovery, but denied any serious professional misconduct and failure to properly care in the death of Lavender Khaminwa.