Berlin palliative care doctor confesses to 12 patient killings on 54th trial day

Confession in court

On the 54th day of his trial at the Berlin Regional Court, the 41-year-old palliative care doctor Johannes M. admitted to killing 12 of the 15 patients he is charged with murdering. In a statement lasting around 30 minutes he said he was now capable of explaining his actions. The defendant had remained silent throughout the proceedings until this point.

“I am only now able to explain my actions and I take responsibility for my deeds.”

Addressing relatives, his own family and colleagues he added an apology for the suffering he had caused. The trial began in July 2025 after the doctor was first arrested in early August 2024 and has been in pre-trial detention ever since.

Investigation and scope of the case

The Berlin public prosecutor’s office initially charged 15 murders committed between September 2021 and July 2024 while the accused worked for a palliative care service. On the stand he admitted 12 of those, contesting three. Alongside the current trial a special investigative unit from the state criminal police and the prosecutor’s office is pursuing a further 76 cases, having reviewed a total of 395 suspicious deaths. Exhumations, including one in late April, have already been carried out in twelve cases with more planned.

Method and concealment

According to the indictment the doctor administered an anaesthetic induction agent followed by a muscle relaxant to each victim without medical indication or the patient’s knowledge or consent. The muscle relaxant quickly paralysed the respiratory muscles, causing death within minutes. To cover his tracks he allegedly set fires in several victims’ apartments. The victims ranged in age from 25 to 94.

“Ninety-year-old woman, somehow that is not bad.”

That remark was captured during a phone call from prison with his wife, which investigators intercepted without his knowledge. In another taped conversation the accused spoke to his wife of assisting suffering and referred to euthanasia.

Inner conflict and motive

Before the court Johannes M. described a personal struggle, saying he had convinced himself his actions were right and that he wanted to spare patients “suffering and infirmity”. The palliative care team he worked with rejected active euthanasia, a stance the accused privately called “rubbish” according to witnesses. He told the court he hated himself after each act and knew that he would receive a life sentence.

“After every act I thought: this must stop. I know I will be sentenced to life imprisonment. Perhaps that is some comfort for the relatives.”

Next legal steps

The court on Tuesday indicated it might close taking of evidence after hearing the psychiatric expert’s assessment on the accused’s personality and criminal responsibility. Closing arguments could then begin on Monday 29 June. The prosecution is seeking a conviction for murder by stealth and base motives, a finding of particular gravity of guilt, a lifetime professional ban and subsequent preventive detention. Meanwhile the parallel investigation into the 76 other cases continues.

Total files reviewed395

Under further investigation76

Charged in current trial15

Confessed to in court12

Total files reviewed

395 cases

Under further investigation

76 cases

Charged in current trial

15 cases

Confessed to in court

12 cases

Data from the article text