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International Business Times
2 days ago
- Health
- International Business Times
German Doctor Accused of Killing 15 of His Patients, Then Starting Fires in Their Homes to Cover Up the Crime, Goes on Trial
A German doctor went on trial in Berlin Monday, accused of murdering 15 of his patients who were under his care. As reported by the Associated Press, the prosecutor's office brought charges against the 40-year-old doctor "for 15 counts of murder with malice aforethought and other base motives" before a Berlin state court. The prosecutor's office is not only seeking a conviction and a finding of particularly serious guilt, but also a lifetime ban on practicing medicine and subsequent preventive detention. Murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. If a court establishes that a suspect bears particularly severe guilt, that means he wouldn't be eligible for release after 15 years as is usually the case in Germany. While the trial is underway, the prosecutor's office is actively investigating dozens of suspected cases in separate proceedings. Doctor's Co-worker Became Suspicious After Several of His Patients Died in Fires The doctor, identified only as Johannes M. due to Germany's privacy rules, is also accused of trying to cover up evidence of the murders by starting fires in the victims' homes. He has been in custody since Aug. 6. A co-worker first raised the alarm over Johannes M. last July after becoming suspicious that so many of his patients had died in fires, according to local newspaper Die Zeit. Doctor Administered a Deadly Cocktail of Drugs to Cause Respiratory Arrest, Death in Patients The doctor was part of a nursing service's end-of-life care team in the German capital and was initially suspected in the deaths of just four patients. The number of victims has gone up significantly since last summer, and prosecutors are now accusing him of the deaths of 15 people between Sept. 22, 2021, and July 24 last year. The victims' ages ranged from 25 to 94. Most died in their own homes. The doctor allegedly administered an anesthetic and a muscle relaxer to the patients without their knowledge or consent. The drug cocktail then allegedly paralyzed the respiratory muscles. Respiratory arrest and death followed within minutes, prosecutors said. The accused had "visited his patients under the pretext of providing medical care", prosecutor Philipp Meyhoefer said at the opening of the trial at the state court in Berlin. Johannes M. had organized "home visits, already with the intention of killing" and exploited his patients' trust in him as a doctor, Meyhoefer said. Motive Not Yet Known, Patients were All Seriously Ill But Not Close to Death So far, it is unclear what the palliative care physician's motive might have been, dpa reported. The victims named in the indictment were all seriously ill, but their deaths were not imminent. However, prosecutors and police previously said that the accused is said to have had no motive beyond killing, and that the suspect's acts meet the legal definition of "lust for murder." Similar Cases in Germany An investigation into further suspected deaths is ongoing. A specially established investigation team in the homicide department of the Berlin State Criminal Police Office and the Berlin public prosecutor's office investigated a total of 395 cases. The case recalls that of notorious German nurse Niels Hoegel, who was handed a life sentence in 2019 for murdering 85 patients by deliberately bringing about cardiac arrests. More recently, a 27-year-old nurse was given a life sentence in 2023 for murdering two patients by deliberately administering unprescribed drugs. In March, another nurse went on trial in Aachen accused of injecting 26 patients with large doses of sedatives or painkillers, resulting in nine deaths. Last week, German police revealed they are investigating another doctor suspected of killing several mainly elderly patients.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- RTÉ News
German doctor on trial for 15 murders by lethal injection
The trial of a German doctor accused of killing 15 patients with lethal injections and acting as "master of life and death" over those in his care is under way. The 40-year-old palliative care specialist, named by German media as Johannes M, is alleged to have killed 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024 while working in Berlin. The doctor is accused of injecting the victims, aged between 25 and 94, with deadly cocktails of sedatives and in some cases setting fire to their homes in a bid to cover up his crimes. The accused had "visited his patients under the pretext of providing medical care", prosecutor Philipp Meyhoefer said at the opening of the trial at the state court in Berlin. Johannes M had organised "home visits... with the intention of killing" and exploited his patients' trust in him as a doctor, Mr Meyhoefer said. "He acted with disregard for life... and behaved as the master of life and death." A co-worker first raised the alarm over Johannes M last July after becoming suspicious that so many of his patients had died in fires, according to Die Zeit newspaper. The suspect was arrested in August, with prosecutors initially linking him to four deaths. But subsequent investigations uncovered a host of other suspicious cases, and in April prosecutors charged Johannes M with 15 counts of murder. Muscle relaxant A further 96 cases were still being investigated, a prosecution spokesman said, including the death of Johannes M's mother-in-law. She had been suffering from cancer and mysteriously died the same weekend that Johannes M and his wife went to visit her in Poland in early 2024, according to media reports. The suspect reportedly trained as a radiologist and a general practitioner before going on to specialise in palliative care. According to Die Zeit, he submitted a doctoral thesis in 2013 looking into the motives behind a series of killings in Frankfurt, which opened with the words "Why do people kill?" In the charges brought against Johannes M, prosecutors said the doctor had "administered an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to his patients... without their knowledge or consent". The relaxant "paralysed the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and death within minutes". In five cases, Johannes M allegedly set fire to the victims' apartments after administering the injections. On one occasion, he is accused of murdering two patients on the same day. On the morning of 8 July, 2024, he allegedly killed a 75-year-old man at his home in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg. "A few hours later" he is said to have struck again, killing a 76-year-old woman in the neighbouring Neukoelln district. Prosecutors say he started a fire in the woman's apartment, but it went out. "When he realised this, he allegedly informed a relative of the woman and claimed that he was standing in front of her flat and that nobody was answering the doorbell," prosecutors said. In another case, Johannes M "falsely claimed to have already begun resuscitation efforts" on a 56-year-old victim, who was initially kept alive by rescuers but died three days later in hospital. No motive beyond killing Prosecutors said he had "no motive beyond killing" and are seeking a life sentence. Some 35 hearings have been scheduled through to early 2026. The case recalls that of notorious German nurse Niels Hoegel, who was handed a life sentence in 2019 for murdering 85 patients. Hoegel, believed to be modern Germany's most prolific serial killer, murdered hospital patients with lethal injections between 2000 and 2005. More recently, a 27-year-old nurse was given a life sentence in 2023 for murdering two patients by deliberately administering unprescribed drugs. In March, another nurse went on trial in Aachen accused of injecting 26 patients with large doses of sedatives or painkillers, resulting in nine deaths. Last week, German police revealed they are investigating another doctor suspected of killing several mainly elderly patients. Investigators are "reviewing" deaths linked to the doctor from the town of Pinneberg in northern Germany, just outside Hamburg, police and prosecutors said.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
German doctor on trial for killing 15 patients with lethal injections
BERLIN, July 14 — A German doctor went on trial today accused of killing 15 patients with lethal injections and acting as 'master of life and death' over those in his care. The 40-year-old palliative care specialist, named by German media as Johannes M., is alleged to have killed 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024 while working in Berlin. The doctor is accused of injecting the victims, aged between 25 and 94, with deadly cocktails of sedatives and in some cases setting fire to their homes in a bid to cover up his crimes. The accused had 'visited his patients under the pretext of providing medical care', prosecutor Philipp Meyhoefer said at the opening of the trial at the state court in Berlin. Johannes M. had organised 'home visits, already with the intention of killing' and exploited his patients' trust in him as a doctor, Meyhoefer said. 'He acted with disregard for life... and behaved as the master of life and death.' A co-worker first raised the alarm over Johannes M. last July after becoming suspicious that so many of his patients had died in fires, according to Die Zeit newspaper. He was arrested in August, with prosecutors initially linking him to four deaths. But subsequent investigations uncovered a host of other suspicious cases, and in April prosecutors charged Johannes M. with 15 counts of murder. Muscle relaxant A further 96 cases were still being investigated, a prosecution spokesman told AFP, including the death of Johannes M.'s mother-in-law. She had been suffering from cancer and mysteriously died the same weekend that Johannes M. and his wife went to visit her in Poland in early 2024, according to media reports. The suspect reportedly trained as a radiologist and a general practitioner before going on to specialise in palliative care. According to Die Zeit, he submitted a doctoral thesis in 2013 looking into the motives behind a series of killings in Frankfurt, which opened with the words 'Why do people kill?' In the charges brought against Johannes M., prosecutors said the doctor had 'administered an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to his patients... without their knowledge or consent'. The relaxant 'paralysed the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and death within minutes'. In five cases, Johannes M. allegedly set fire to the victims' apartments after administering the injections. On one occasion, he is accused of murdering two patients on the same day. On the morning of July 8, 2024, he allegedly killed a 75-year-old man at his home in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg. 'A few hours later' he is said to have struck again, killing a 76-year-old woman in the neighbouring Neukoelln district. Prosecutors say he started a fire in the woman's apartment, but it went out. 'When he realised this, he allegedly informed a relative of the woman and claimed that he was standing in front of her flat and that nobody was answering the doorbell,' prosecutors said. In another case, Johannes M. 'falsely claimed to have already begun resuscitation efforts' on a 56-year-old victim, who was initially kept alive by rescuers but died three days later in hospital. 'No motive beyond killing' Prosecutors said he had 'no motive beyond killing' and are seeking a life sentence. The case recalls that of notorious German nurse Niels Hoegel, who was handed a life sentence in 2019 for murdering 85 patients. Hoegel, believed to be modern Germany's most prolific serial killer, murdered hospital patients with lethal injections between 2000 and 2005, before he was eventually caught in the act. More recently, a 27-year-old nurse was given a life sentence in 2023 for murdering two patients by deliberately administering unprescribed drugs. In March, another nurse went on trial in Aachen accused of injecting 26 patients with large doses of sedatives or painkillers, resulting in nine deaths. Last week, German police revealed they are investigating another doctor suspected of killing several mainly elderly patients. Investigators are 'reviewing' deaths linked to the doctor from the town of Pinneberg in northern Germany, just outside Hamburg, police and prosecutors said. — AFP
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
German doctor goes on trial for 15 murders
14 July 2025 14:12 BERLIN (AFP)A German doctor went on trial Monday accused of killing 15 patients with lethal injections and acting as "master of life and death" over those in his 40-year-old palliative care specialist, named by German media as Johannes M., is alleged to have killed 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024 while working in doctor is accused of injecting the victims, aged between 25 and 94, with deadly cocktails of sedatives, and in some cases setting fire to their homes in a bid to cover up his accused had "visited his patients under the pretext of providing medical care", prosecutor Philipp Meyhoefer said at the opening of the trial at the state court in Berlin.A co-worker first raised the alarm over Johannes M. last July after becoming suspicious that so many of his patients had died in fires, according to Die Zeit was arrested in August, with prosecutors initially linking him to four deaths. But subsequent investigations uncovered a host of other suspicious cases, and in April prosecutors charged Johannes M. with 15 counts of suspect reportedly trained as a radiologist and a general practitioner before going on to specialise in palliative care. Prosecutors said he had "no motive beyond killing" and are seeking a life sentence.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
German 'doctor death' goes on trial for 15 murders
BERLIN: A German doctor will go on trial Monday for killing 15 patients with lethal injections, in what investigators fear may just be the tip of a deadly iceberg. The 40-year-old palliative care specialist, named by German media as Johannes M., is accused of killing 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024 while working in Berlin. He allegedly injected the victims, aged between 25 and 94, with a deadly cocktail of sedatives and in some cases set fire to their homes in a bid to cover up his crimes. A co-worker first raised the alarm about Johannes M. last July after becoming suspicious that so many of his patients had died in fires, according to Die Zeit newspaper. He was arrested in August, with prosecutors initially linking him to four deaths. But investigations threw up a host of other suspicious cases, and in April prosecutors charged Johannes M. with 15 counts of murder. A further 96 cases are still being investigated, a prosecution spokesman told AFP, including the death of Johannes M.'s mother-in-law. She had been suffering from cancer and mysteriously died the same weekend that Johannes M. and his wife went to visit her in Poland in early 2024, according to media reports. The suspect, dubbed "doctor death" by German media, reportedly trained as a radiologist and a general practitioner before going on to specialise in palliative care. According to Die Zeit, he submitted a doctoral thesis in 2013 looking into the motives behind a series of killings in Frankfurt, which opened with the words "Why do people kill?" Prosecutors say that in all 15 cases, Johannes M. "administered an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to his patients... without their knowledge or consent." The relaxant "paralysed the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and death within minutes." In five cases, Johannes M. allegedly set fire to the victims' apartments after administering the injections. On one occasion, he is accused of murdering two patients on the same day. On the morning of July 8, 2024, he allegedly killed a 75-year-old man at his home in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg. "A few hours later" he is said to have struck again, killing a 76-year-old woman in the neighbouring Neukoelln district. Prosecutors say he started a fire in the woman's apartment, but it went out. "When he realised this, he allegedly informed a relative of the woman and claimed that he was standing in front of her flat and that nobody was answering the doorbell," prosecutors said. In another case, Johannes M. "falsely claimed to have already begun resuscitation efforts" on a 56-year-old victim, who was initially kept alive by rescuers but died three days later in hospital. Johannes M. has not commented on the accusations against him. Prosecutors say he had "no motive beyond killing" and are seeking a life sentence. The case recalls that of notorious German nurse Niels Hoegel, who was handed a life sentence in 2019 for murdering 85 patients. Hoegel, believed to be Germany's most prolific serial killer, murdered hospital patients with lethal injections between 2000 and 2005, before he was eventually caught in the act. More recently, a 27-year-old nurse was given a life sentence in 2023 for murdering two patients by deliberately administering unprescribed drugs. In March, another nurse went on trial in Aachen accused of injecting 26 patients with large doses of sedatives or painkillers, resulting in nine deaths. Last week, German police revealed they are investigating another doctor suspected of killing several mainly elderly patients. Investigators are "reviewing" deaths linked to the doctor from the town of Pinneberg in northern Germany, just outside Hamburg, police and prosecutors said.--AFP
