Berlin physician accused of fifteen homicides
A 40-year-old palliative care physician in Berlin is currently standing trial, charged with the murder of 15 patients between September 2021 and July 2024. The Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office has compiled extensive evidence indicating a systematic approach by the doctor, and the case has raised significant concerns given the nature of the crime by a medical professional tasked with end-of-life care.
Investigations into the case have been ongoing since August 2024, with the suspect in custody. Prosecutors allege that the accused physician secretly administered anesthetic agents and muscle relaxants to his patients, leading to respiratory arrest and subsequent death within minutes. The crimes are said to have taken place in various Berlin districts, including Neukölln, Kreuzberg, and Köpenick.
The Pariser Rundschau reports that prosecutors have framed the motivation as a psychological "lust for killing" rather than typical medical or legal reasons. In Germany, murder charges can carry a life sentence, especially if severe guilt is established. As of July-August 2025, the trial is active, and investigations into evidence and circumstances continue.
The extent of the crimes appears to go far beyond what was previously known, with a total of 395 cases having been reviewed, and an initial suspicion confirmed in 95 cases. Five further exhumations are planned to complete the investigations. However, no specific additional evidence or investigative breakthroughs beyond the official charges and trial status have been made publicly available.
The victims were aged between 25 and 94 years old. Investigations suggest that the doctor may have set fires in the victims' apartments after the crime to destroy evidence. The exact nature of the medical necessity for the patients was not specified in the available sources.
The case is being led by a special commission of the Berlin State Criminal Police Office, and the investigations are ongoing. Further updates and trial outcomes are expected to shed more light on concrete evidence and context in the coming months.
- The horrifying case of the palliative care physician in Berlin, who is on trial for the murder of 15 patients, has raised concerns about health-and-wellness, general news, and crime-and-justice.
- The ongoing investigations into the doctor's actions, which include the secret administration of anesthetic agents and muscle relaxants, have uncovered a shocking 95 medical-conditions cases out of a total review of 395.
- Despite the extensive evidence, the motivations behind these crimes remain unclear, as prosecutors have framed them as a psychological "lust for killing" rather than medical or legal reasons.
