Berlin court sentences palliative doctor to life for murdering 15 patients

A Berlin court has sentenced a 41-year-old palliative care doctor, identified only as Johannes M., to life in prison for murdering 15 patients under his care between September 2021 and July 2024. The court found him guilty of killing 12 women and three men by administering lethal drug cocktails without consent during home visits, and ordered preventive detention and a lifetime ban from practicing medicine Source: AP News.

The crimes

• The doctor injected patients with a mixture of an anesthetic and a muscle relaxant, causing respiratory arrest within minutes Source: DW News.
• On at least five occasions, he set fires to victims' apartments to cover up the killings Source: BBC.
• Victims ranged from 25 to 94 years old; all were seriously ill but their deaths were not imminent Source: AP News.

The trial and confession

After nearly a year of silence, Johannes M. confessed to killing 12 of the patients, claiming he believed he was sparing them suffering Source: BBC. He apologized to the families. Despite this, the court convicted him of all 15 murders, citing evidence that included witness testimony and forensic analysis Source: DW News.

Ongoing investigations

Prosecutors are investigating 76 other deaths possibly linked to the doctor, and expect to file further charges . German media report that if proven, this could become one of the worst serial murder cases in the country's history .