• Berlin doctor charged with the murder of 15 palliative care patients.
• Accused of using lethal drugs and attempting to cover up deaths.
• Investigations may link him to over 75 additional suspicious deaths.
• He has been held in custody since August 2024.
• Prosecutors allege he acted out of a "lust for killing".

Prosecutors in Berlin have charged a 40-year-old palliative care physician with the murder of 15 patients, alleging he administered lethal drugs without consent. The accused, whose name has not been disclosed due to German privacy laws, is suspected of using a combination of a powerful narcotic and a muscle relaxant, leading to rapid respiratory failure and death within minutes, according to Reuters.

The victims, aging between 25 to 94, primarily died in their homes. Initially investigated for four deaths, the number of potential victims has now increased significantly, and authorities are reviewing a total of 75 additional suspicious cases, reports South China Morning Post.

Prosecutors allege the doctor might have attempted to conceal his actions by setting fires in the homes of his victims to destroy evidence. In one incident, he even called for an ambulance while reportedly misleading investigators, according to a statement from the Berlin prosecutor's office, as noted by BBC.

This case has garnered attention due to the chilling nature of the allegations. Prosecutors have indicated that they may seek a longer sentence, as the suspect's actions meet certain legal definitions of "lust for murder”, which suggests a particularly heinous motivation. The maximum penalty for murder in Germany is life imprisonment, with current proceedings ongoing in the Berlin state court, as mentioned by CBS News.

The investigation remains active, with plans for additional exhumations to confirm the circumstances surrounding more deaths. The suspect has been held in Moabit Prison since August 2024, following his arrest, and has yet to respond to the allegations in court, stated The New York Times.