German nurse jailed for life for murdering patients
A German nurse toyed with the lives of four people in an intensive care ward just so he could stand out from his peers.
Niels H. injected critically ill patients with lethal doses of heart medicine so he could then show off his skills in resuscitating them.
His motive? To shine as a saviour before other medical personnel.
The 38-year-old told the court he felt euphoric when he managed to bring a patient back to life, and devastated when he failed.
Each time he would then vow to himself to end his deadly game, he said, only to strike again soon after.
The court sentenced him on Thursday to life in prison for the two murders and two attempted murders committed at Delmenhorst hospital in the city of Bremen a decade ago.
More cases?
But there are fears that these four cases are only the tip of the iceberg.
The man claimed during his trial that he played his deadly game on 90 patients, leading to 30 deaths.
If so, he would be one of the worst serial killers in German post-war history.
Authorities plan to exhume the bodies of more former patients to test them for traces of the lethal doses of heart medicine.
The investigation is looking into about 200 fatalities recorded at the hospital where he worked and at his previous places of employment.
Source: Reuters
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