Foreign

Prosecutors Accuse German Doctor of Murdering 15 Patients

By Web News 109

A German palliative care doctor has been charged with murdering 15 of his patients using a cocktail of lethal drugs.

Prosecutors in Berlin have accused the 40-year-old of setting fire to the homes of some of his suspected victims to cover his tracks.

He allegedly killed 12 women and three men between September 2021 and July 2024, though prosecutors have said they believe that total could rise.

The doctor, who has not been named due to strict privacy laws in Germany, has not admitted to the charges, prosecutors said.

He is accused of administering an anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to his patients without their knowledge or consent.

The relaxant “paralysed the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory arrest and death within minutes”, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.

He worked in several German states, and the ages of those whose deaths are being treated as suspicious range from 25 to 94.

It is also alleged that the suspect set fire to the apartments of his alleged victims to cover up the killings on five different occasions.

The suspect is accused of killing two patients in a single day in July 2024 – a 75-year-old man at his home in central Berlin, and a 76-year-old woman in a neighbouring district “a few hours later”.

Prosecutors said the doctor tried to set fire to the woman’s house but failed, adding: “When he noticed this, he reportedly informed a relative of the woman, claiming that he was standing in front of her apartment and that no one had responded to his ringing.”

The doctor was initially suspected of having killed four people in his care when he was arrested in August 2024 but investigations have uncovered other suspicious deaths, with more exhumations on potential victims planned.

A “lifelong professional ban” and “preventative detention” is being sought for the 40-year-old suspect. He remains in custody.

BBC/Adebukola Aluko

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Judiciary

OAU Student’s Death: Adedoyin, Six Others Have Case To Answer – Court

By Web News 495

An Osun State High Court, Osogbo presided over by the Chief Justice of Osun, Justice Oyebola Ojo has ruled that the owner of Hilton Hotel Ile Ife, Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin, and six staff of the Hotel  have case to answer over the death of a Master degree’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke. 

In a ruling on the No Case Submission made  by Counsels to the defendants, Justice Ojo said a prima facie case had been established against all the defendants.

She said, “Evidence before the court states that Timothy Lodged in the hotel owned by Adedoyin. Adesola who is the 7th defendant, the receptionist received the lodger.”

The court also held that wife of the deceased spoke to him while in the facility but he could not be reached afterward by the wife.

The judge consequently directed the defendants to enter their defence.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr Kehinde Eleja, SAN said in view of the ruling, his clients would enter their defense but asked for time to prepare for the necessary processes.

The case was adjourned till the 25th of April, 2022 for opening of defense. 

It would be recalled that the defendants’ counsel led by Yusuf Alli, SAN had told the court at the last sitting that the defendants had no case to answer because the prosecution failed to establish any case against them, while the prosecutor, M O Omosun opposed the claim. 

Adenitan Akinola

Judiciary

OAU Student Murder Case: Court Denies Hotelier, Six others Bail

By Web News 871 Post a comment

An Osun State High Court, Osogbo presided over by Chief Justice of Osun State, Adepele Ojo has denied the bail application of the owner of Hilton Hotel and Resort, Dr Rahmon Adedoyin and six staff over the alleged murder of a Master student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. 

The defendants; Dr Rahmon Adedoyin, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola are facing trial on eleven counts bothering on murder, conspiracy, felony amongst others. 

Justice Ojo refused the bail application of the defendants stating that their health condition are not critical. 

Upon arraignment, the counsel to the defendants, Messers Adekunle Adegoke (SAN), K. K Eleja (SAN) and Okon Ita had moved the bail application for seven defendants which was opposed by the prosecutor, M O Omosun. The bail was argued by both the counsel and prosecutor and Justice Adepele Ojo reserved ruling till today. 

The trial Judge maintained that the defendants had not placed anything before the court that suggested that the Ilesa correctional center could take care of the health needs of the suspects.

Trial subsequently resumed after the ruling on bail application.

Akinola Adenitan