A palliative care nurse in Germany has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering 10 patients and attempting to murder 27 others. The offenses, which occurred between December 2023 and May 2024 at the Rhein-Maas hospital in Würselen, involved the injection of sedatives and painkillers. Investigations into additional suspicious cases from the nurse's career are ongoing, with prosecutors reviewing over 100 potential further deaths and conducting numerous exhumations.
Initial Conviction and Sentence
A regional court in Aachen sentenced the unnamed palliative care nurse to life in prison last November. He was convicted of 10 counts of murder and 27 counts of attempted murder. The court found that the crimes carried a "particular severity of guilt," a determination that typically precludes early release after 15 years. The verdict remains subject to appeal.
The convictions stemmed from actions taken at the Rhein-Maas hospital in Würselen between December 2023 and May 2024. The nurse had been employed at the hospital since 2020, having completed his nursing training in 2007.
Method and Alleged Motive
Prosecutors stated that the nurse administered large doses of painkillers, specifically morphine, and the muscle relaxant midazolam, primarily to mostly elderly patients. The prosecution alleged these actions were taken to reduce his workload during overnight shifts. They also described the nurse as exhibiting "irritation" and a "lack of empathy" towards patients requiring extensive care, accusing him of acting as "master of life and death."
The court concluded that the nurse's actions were influenced by personal unease and a desire to maintain order during night shifts. Prosecutors noted that the drugs were sometimes given repeatedly, and the defendant was aware of the potentially fatal consequences.
Defendant's Statement
During the trial in Aachen, the defendant denied the charges. He asserted that his intention was to assist patients with sleep and stated that he did not believe the medication posed a lethal risk due to their underlying illnesses.
Expanded Investigation
Following the initial conviction, investigations have broadened significantly. Katja Schlenkermann-Pitts, the chief public prosecutor in Aachen, indicated that a high number of suspicious cases, potentially exceeding 100 additional deaths, are currently under review. She cautioned that these cases represent preliminary suspicions requiring forensic examination. The newly identified suspected cases largely pertain to periods prior to the offenses addressed in the initial trial.
As part of the expanded inquiry, investigators have ordered approximately 60 exhumations. Of these, 27 have been completed, with around 30 pending. Autopsy results are still outstanding in many of these cases and will be crucial in determining whether additional charges can be filed.
Prosecutors in Cologne are also investigating deaths connected to hospitals where the nurse worked before his transfer to Würselen. Two exhumations have already been conducted in these cases, involving a 94-year-old woman who died in 2018 and a 78-year-old patient who died in 2015. Further exhumations have been ordered in these related inquiries.
Officials from both the Aachen and Cologne prosecutors' offices have confirmed that preparations for potential new charges are in progress. However, they stated that any further proceedings are unlikely to commence before 2027.