BERLIN

A German court on Wednesday sentenced a former nurse to life in prison for killing 10 patients and attempting to murder 27 others at a palliative care unit.

The court in the western city of Aachen determined that the 44-year-old nurse administered overdoses of painkillers and sedatives to severely ill patients between 2023 and 2024.

Prosecutor Marius Saalmann told the court the accused suffered from a personality disorder and narcissistic traits. "He worked in a profession he never wanted to work in. He could not bear the condition of the patients at the palliative care station. That is why he gave them overdoses of painkillers and sedatives," he said.

The prosecutor argued the defendant knew the overdoses could be fatal and showed no compassion for patients who still had life goals despite their serious illnesses.

The defense presented a sharply different picture, arguing their client never intended to kill patients. Defense attorneys questioned whether patients actually died from overdoses, noting all had serious heart or cancer illnesses.

In his final statement, the defendant maintained his innocence. "I wanted to do something good for the patients. The patients should sleep, because sleep is the best medicine after all," the 44-year-old said.

He claimed he never thought the sedatives would be so dangerous for the severely weakened patients and insisted he never wanted to harm anyone.

The Aachen prosecutor's office announced that another trial may follow, as investigations continued during the current proceedings. A number of deaths from the defendant's previous professional life are currently being examined, prosecutors said.