Latest news with #ChristophStoll
New York Post
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Berlin doctor goes on trial, accused of murdering 15 patients
A German doctor went on trial in Berlin Monday, accused of murdering 15 of his patients who were under palliative care. The prosecutor's office brought charges against the 40-year-old doctor 'for 15 counts of murder with premeditated malice and other base motives' before a Berlin state court. The prosecutor's office is seeking not only a conviction and a finding of 'particularly serious' guilt, but also a lifetime ban on practicing medicine and subsequent preventive detention. 5 The prosecutor's office brought charges against the doctor 'for 15 counts of murder with premeditated malice and other base motives' before a Berlin state court. AP Advertisement Murder charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. If a court establishes that the defendant bears particularly severe guilt, that means he wouldn't be eligible for release after 15 years as is usually the case in Germany. Parallel to the trial, the prosecutor's office is investigating dozens of other suspected cases in separate proceedings. The man, who has only been identified as Johannes M. in line with Germany 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. Advertisement 5 If a court establishes that the defendant bears particularly severe guilt, that means he wouldn't be eligible for release after 15 years. REUTERS 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. That number has crept higher 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. Advertisement 5 The victims' ages ranged from 25 to 94. Most died in their own homes. AFP via Getty Images The doctor did not agree to an interview with a psychiatric expert ahead of the trial, German news agency dpa reported. The expert will therefore observe the defendant's behavior in court and hear statements from witnesses in order to give an assessment of the man's personality and culpability. 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. The defendant will not make a statement to the court for the time being, his defense lawyer Christoph Stoll said, according to dpa. Advertisement The court has initially scheduled 35 trial dates for the proceedings until January 28, 2026. According to the court, 13 relatives of the deceased are represented as co-plaintiffs. There are several witnesses for each case, and around 150 people in total could be heard in court, dpa reported. 5 The defendant will not make a statement to the court for the time being, his defense lawyer Christoph Stoll said. REUTERS Among the cases now being heard in court is that of a 56-year-old woman who died in September. On Sept. 5, the doctor allegedly administered an anesthetic and a muscle relaxant to the physically weakened woman in her home without any medical need. However, fearing discovery, he then made an emergency call and falsely stated that he had found the woman in a 'condition requiring resuscitation,' according to the indictment. Rescue workers were able to resuscitate the woman and took her to hospital, dpa reported. The indictment said that 'in continuation of his plan of action and in the knowledge of the injured party's living will', according to which the woman did not want any life-prolonging measures, the doctor is said to have called one of her daughters and apologized for violating this will. With the consent of both daughters, artificial respiration was discontinued and the woman died on Sept. 8 in a Berlin hospital. An investigation into further suspected deaths is continuing. 5 Among the cases now being heard in court is that of a 56-year-old woman who died in September. REUTERS 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. In 95 of these cases, initial suspicion was confirmed and preliminary proceedings were initiated. In five cases, the initial suspicion was not substantiated. Advertisement In 75 cases, investigations are still ongoing in separate proceedings. Five exhumations are still planned for this separate procedure, prosecutors said. Among the cases still being investigated is the death of the doctor's mother-in-law, who was suffering from cancer, court spokesman Sebastian Büchner said. Local media reported that she died during a visit by the doctor. In 2019, a German nurse who murdered 87 patients by deliberately bringing about cardiac arrests was given a life sentence. Earlier this month, German investigators in the northern town of Itzehoe said they were examining the case of a doctor who has been suspected of killing several patients.
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 days ago
- Health
- Yomiuri Shimbun
A Berlin Doctor Goes on Trial, Accused of Murdering 15 Patients
BERLIN (AP) — A German doctor went on trial in Berlin Monday, accused of murdering 15 of his patients who were under palliative care. The prosecutor's office brought charges against the 40-year-old doctor 'for 15 counts of murder with premeditated malice and other base motives' before a Berlin state court. The prosecutor's office is seeking not only 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 the defendant bears particularly severe guilt, that means he wouldn't be eligible for release after 15 years as is usually the case in Germany. Parallel to the trial, the prosecutor's office is investigating dozens of other suspected cases in separate proceedings. The man, who has only been identified as Johannes M. in line with Germany 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. 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. That number has crept higher 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 doctor did not agree to an interview with a psychiatric expert ahead of the trial, German news agency dpa reported. The expert will therefore observe the defendant's behavior in court and hear statements from witnesses in order to give an assessment of the man's personality and culpability. 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. The defendant will not make a statement to the court for the time being, his defense lawyer Christoph Stoll said, according to dpa. The court has initially scheduled 35 trial dates for the proceedings until January 28, 2026. According to the court, 13 relatives of the deceased are represented as co-plaintiffs. There are several witnesses for each case, and around 150 people in total could be heard in court, dpa reported. Among the cases now being heard in court is that of a 56-year-old woman who died in September. On Sept. 5, the doctor allegedly administered an anesthetic and a muscle relaxant to the physically weakened woman in her home without any medical need. However, fearing discovery, he then made an emergency call and falsely stated that he had found the woman in a 'condition requiring resuscitation,' according to the indictment. Rescue workers were able to resuscitate the woman and took her to hospital, dpa reported. The indictment said that 'in continuation of his plan of action and in the knowledge of the injured party's living will', according to which the woman did not want any life-prolonging measures, the doctor is said to have called one of her daughters and apologized for violating this will. With the consent of both daughters, artificial respiration was discontinued and the woman died on Sept. 8 in a Berlin hospital. An investigation into further suspected deaths is continuing. 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. In 95 of these cases, initial suspicion was confirmed and preliminary proceedings were initiated. In five cases, the initial suspicion was not substantiated. In 75 cases, investigations are still ongoing in separate proceedings. Five exhumations are still planned for this separate procedure, prosecutors said. Among the cases still being investigated is the death of the doctor's mother-in-law, who was suffering from cancer, court spokesman Sebastian Büchner said. Local media reported that she died during a visit by the doctor. In 2019, a German nurse who murdered 87 patients by deliberately bringing about cardiac arrests was given a life sentence. Earlier this month, German investigators in the northern town of Itzehoe said they were examining the case of a doctor who has been suspected of killing several patients.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
German palliative care doctor goes on trial for murder of 15 patients
A German doctor went on trial in Berlin Monday (July 14, 2025), accused of murdering 15 of his patients who were under palliative care. The prosecutor's office brought charges against the 40-year-old doctor 'for 15 counts of murder with premeditated malice and other base motives' before a Berlin state court. The prosecutor's office is seeking not only 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 the defendant bears particularly severe guilt, that means he wouldn't be eligible for release after 15 years as is usually the case in Germany. Parallel to the trial, the prosecutor's office is investigating dozens of other suspected cases in separate proceedings. The man, who has only been identified as Johannes M. in line with German 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 August 6, 2025. 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. That number has crept higher since last summer, and prosecutors are now accusing him of the deaths of 15 people between September 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 doctor did not agree to an interview with a psychiatric expert ahead of the trial, German news agency dpa reported. The expert will therefore observe the defendant's behaviour in court and hear statements from witnesses in order to give an assessment of the man's personality and culpability. 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. The defendant will not make a statement to the court for the time being, his defence lawyer Christoph Stoll said, according to dpa. The Court has initially scheduled 35 trial dates for the proceedings until January 28, 2026. According to the Court, 13 relatives of the deceased are represented as co-plaintiffs. There are several witnesses for each case, and around 150 people in total could be heard in court, dpa reported. Among the cases now being heard in court is that of a 56-year-old woman who died in September. On September 5, the doctor allegedly administered an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to the physically weakened woman in her home without any medical need. However, fearing discovery, he then made an emergency call and falsely stated that he had found the woman in a 'condition requiring resuscitation', according to the indictment. Rescue workers were able to resuscitate the woman and took her to hospital, dpa reported. The indictment said that 'in continuation of his plan of action and in the knowledge of the injured party's living will', according to which the woman did not want any life-prolonging measures, the doctor is said to have called one of her daughters and apologized for violating this will. With the consent of both daughters, artificial respiration was discontinued and the woman died on Sept. 8 in a Berlin hospital. An investigation into further suspected deaths is continuing. 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. In 95 of these cases, initial suspicion was confirmed and preliminary proceedings were initiated. In five cases, the initial suspicion was not substantiated. In 75 cases, investigations are still ongoing in separate proceedings. Five exhumations are still planned for this separate procedure, prosecutors said. Among the cases still being investigated is the death of the doctor's mother-in-law, who was suffering from cancer, court spokesman Sebastian Büchner said. Local media reported that she died during a visit by the doctor. In 2019, a German nurse who murdered 87 patients by deliberately bringing about cardiac arrests was given a life sentence. Earlier this month, German investigators in the northern town of Itzehoe said they were examining the case of a doctor who has been suspected of killing several patients.
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First Post
2 days ago
- Health
- First Post
German doctor who ‘killed his patients, set their homes on fire' goes on trial for 15 murders
The prosecutor's office charged him with 15 counts of premeditated murder driven by 'base motives,' seeking a life sentence, a permanent ban from practising medicine read more The Regional Courtroom in Berlin, Germany, on Monday. Source: AFP A 40-year-old doctor, identified only as Johannes M. due to German privacy laws, went on trial in Berlin on Monday (July 14) for the murder of 15 palliative care patients. The prosecutor's office charged him with 15 counts of premeditated murder driven by 'base motives,' seeking a life sentence, a permanent ban from practising medicine, and preventive detention. If found guilty of 'particularly severe guilt,' he would not be eligible for release after 15 years, as is typical in Germany. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Allegations against doctor The doctor, part of a nursing service's end-of-life care team, is accused of killing patients aged 25 to 94 between September 2021 and July 2024 by administering a lethal mix of anaesthetic and muscle relaxant without their consent. This drug cocktail allegedly caused respiratory failure and death within minutes. Most victims died in their homes. Prosecutors also allege he attempted to cover up the murders by setting fires at the victims' residences. He has been in custody since August 6. One case involves a 56-year-old woman who died in September 2021. The doctor allegedly gave her the lethal drugs without medical necessity, then made a false emergency call claiming she needed resuscitation. Although rescue workers revived her and took her to a hospital, the doctor reportedly contacted one of her daughters, apologising for violating the woman's living will against life-prolonging measures. With the daughters' consent, artificial respiration was stopped, and she died on September 8. Motive The motive remains unclear, as the seriously ill victims were not facing imminent death. Johannes M. refused a pre-trial psychiatric interview, so an expert will assess his behaviour in court. His lawyer, Christoph Stoll, said he will not yet make a statement. The trial, with 35 scheduled dates until January 2026, includes 13 relatives as co-plaintiffs and up to 150 witnesses. Parallel investigations into dozens of other suspected deaths continue, with 395 cases reviewed by a special homicide team. Initial suspicion was confirmed in 95 cases, with 75 still under investigation, including the death of the doctor's cancer-stricken mother-in-law. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Five exhumations are planned. This case echoes a 2019 conviction of a German nurse sentenced to life for murdering 87 patients.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- NBC News
Doctor accused of murdering 15 patients goes on trial in Germany
A German doctor went on trial in Berlin Monday, accused of murdering 15 of his patients who were under palliative care. The prosecutor's office brought charges against the 40-year-old doctor 'for 15 counts of murder with premeditated malice and other base motives' before a Berlin state court. The prosecutor's office is seeking not only 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 the defendant bears particularly severe guilt, that means he wouldn't be eligible for release after 15 years as is usually the case in Germany. Parallel to the trial, the prosecutor's office is investigating dozens of other suspected cases in separate proceedings. The man, who has only been identified as Johannes M. in line with Germany 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. 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. That number has crept higher 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 doctor did not agree to an interview with a psychiatric expert ahead of the trial, German news agency dpa reported. The expert will therefore observe the defendant's behavior in court and hear statements from witnesses in order to give an assessment of the man's personality and culpability. 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. The defendant will not make a statement to the court for the time being, his defense lawyer Christoph Stoll said, according to dpa. The court has initially scheduled 35 trial dates for the proceedings until January 28, 2026. According to the court, 13 relatives of the deceased are represented as co-plaintiffs. There are several witnesses for each case, and around 150 people in total could be heard in court, dpa reported. Among the cases now being heard in court is that of a 56-year-old woman who died in September. On Sept. 5, the doctor allegedly administered an anesthetic and a muscle relaxant to the physically weakened woman in her home without any medical need. However, fearing discovery, he then made an emergency call and falsely stated that he had found the woman in a 'condition requiring resuscitation,' according to the indictment. Rescue workers were able to resuscitate the woman and took her to hospital, dpa reported. The indictment said that 'in continuation of his plan of action and in the knowledge of the injured party's living will', according to which the woman did not want any life-prolonging measures, the doctor is said to have called one of her daughters and apologized for violating this will. With the consent of both daughters, artificial respiration was discontinued and the woman died on Sept. 8 in a Berlin hospital. An investigation into further suspected deaths is continuing. 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. In 95 of these cases, initial suspicion was confirmed and preliminary proceedings were initiated. In five cases, the initial suspicion was not substantiated. In 75 cases, investigations are still ongoing in separate proceedings. Five exhumations are still planned for this separate procedure, prosecutors said. Among the cases still being investigated is the death of the doctor's mother-in-law, who was suffering from cancer, court spokesman Sebastian B�chner said. Local media reported that she died during a visit by the doctor. In 2019, a German nurse who murdered 87 patients by deliberately bringing about cardiac arrests was given a life sentence. Earlier this month, German investigators in the northern town of Itzehoe said they were examining the case of a doctor who has been suspected of killing several patients.
