A Berlin court sentenced 41-year-old palliative care doctor "Johannes M." to life imprisonment after he confessed to murdering 15 patients by injecting lethal doses that caused sudden respiratory arrest, then setting fire to homes to cover up the crimes. The judge stated his actions were driven by a "lust for power over life," not compassion. Prosecutors are expanding investigations into over 76 additional deaths.
The Berlin court in Germany sentenced a 41-year-old palliative care doctor, identified only as "Johannes M." in accordance with German data protection laws, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of murdering 15 patients between September 2021 and July 2024.
The verdict stated the victims included 12 women and 3 men, aged from 25 to 94 years. Although all suffered serious illnesses, none were in a terminal condition.
Prosecutors stated that during home visits, the doctor administered anesthetics and muscle relaxants in life-threatening doses without patient consent, causing paralysis of respiratory muscles, respiratory arrest, and death within minutes. The court also heard evidence that at least five times the defendant set fire to the victims' homes or apartments to destroy evidence and conceal the crimes.
Judge Silvia Busch said the crimes were exceptionally severe, disqualifying the defendant from parole or early release. The court also ordered preventive detention after sentencing and permanently revoked his medical license.
One of the most shocking incidents occurred on 8 July 2024, shortly before the arrest. That morning, the doctor killed a 75-year-old man at his home in Berlin's Kreuzberg district, and just hours later murdered a 76-year-old woman in Neukölln, attempting but failing to set her residence on fire.
Judge Silvia Busch described the case as "beyond imagination" and labeled the defendant a "serial killer," emphasizing that the acts were not motivated by mercy or a misunderstanding of euthanasia but by a desire to control the victims' lives. Prosecutors characterized the defendant as "obsessed with killing" with no other motive than murder.
Throughout the nearly year-long trial, the defendant offered minimal testimony until late in the proceedings when he admitted to the court, "I have killed people," confessing to murdering at least 12 patients. He claimed he believed he was ending their suffering and expressed remorse and despair over his actions.
However, many victims’ relatives rejected his claims. The mother of the youngest victim, a 25-year-old woman, tearfully stated her daughter never expressed a wish to die. The son of a 72-year-old victim said his mother had planned a trip to the Baltic Sea with her sister and wanted to continue living.
Although the court convicted him in 15 cases, officials believe these represent only part of the total crimes. Prosecutors are investigating 76 additional suspicious deaths. If further evidence leads to convictions, this may become one of Germany’s deadliest serial murder cases in history.
Source: AFP /BBC