100 hospital patients are said to have killed Niels Högel in Oldenburg and Delmenhorst between 2000 and 2005. Now the former caretaker has testified before the Oldenburg district court. He confessed to killing and denied another one in July 2000. "This is one of the few patients that I can say I did not manipulate."

According to his own information, Högel could not remember his alleged first act - the murder of a patient in the intensive care unit in Oldenburg in February 2000.

The accused said in court that he had been empathic and cold at the time of the crime. The death of patients had not touched him then. "I did not feel grief in that sense," said the 41-year-old.

Today, in the face of his actions, he feels shame and disgust for himself. Previously, he had studied the patient records to help his memory leap. "Every single case I read, whether I remember it or not, I'm so sorry."

On the first trial three weeks ago Högel had granted the new allegations against him by a majority. Between the accused acts are sometimes several months. "I have no memory that I took a break," said Högel. But also more resuscitation succeeded than failed.

According to the investigators, Högel injected his victims with drugs in a lethal dose in order to revive them. He wanted to impress his colleagues with his reanimation arts.

He was concerned solely with the thrill and the recognition, not with targeting killing patients - or redeeming them from their grief, Högel said. The exact number of his actions can not be clarified. In some patients, he provoked several times almost fatal incidents. Many of those who did not survive were cremated so that the investigators could no longer detect residues of the deadly drugs.

How difficult the search for truth in the largest murder series in German post-war history will become was clear. The judges questioned Högel for the first time in detail about the individual acts. He remembered a few of his victims exactly, not others at all. But he could not rule out that he could have killed them. "I can not imagine anyone else doing that."

This contradicts, however, that experts found residues of a drug used in other acts in the body of the man. In addition, Högel was present at the resuscitation, although he had no service. On the other hand, he admitted to another act, even though the toxicologists were unable to prove any medication to the victim.

"It is important that we unbiased enlighten what has been," said the chairman Judge Sebastian Bührmann. In the end, the court would have to decide in each individual case whether the defendant was guilty or innocent. Therefore, the Chamber has scheduled three additional days for the defendant alone.

Chronology: The case Högel

1999 - 2002

Niels Högel works in the Klinikum Oldenburg.

2002 - 2005

The carer works in the intensive care unit at Klinikum Delmenhorst.

June 2005

A nurse caught Högel in the clinic Delmenhorst in the act, as he wants to administer a drug to a patient, this should not get.

2006

The district court Oldenburg sentenced Niels Högel for attempted manslaughter to five years imprisonment. The Federal Court of Justice overturns the verdict.

June 2008

In the new edition of the trial, the district court Oldenburg Högel sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment for attempted murder.

January 2014

The prosecution again charges Högel, the trial begins in September.

November 2014

A special commission of the police determined. She is now following more than 200 suspected cases.

January 2015

Högel admits in court about 90 acts. Up to 30 patients are said to have died.

February 2015

The district court of Oldenburg sentenced Högel to life imprisonment for two murders, twice attempted murder and dangerous bodily injury to patients in Delmenhorst.

June 2016

Investigators announce that Niels Högel is responsible for dozens of deaths at the Klinikum Delmenhorst. Högel confessed to the police, even at the Klinikum Oldenburg to have killed patients.

August 2017

Niels Högel has, according to new information from the investigators 84 more people on the conscience. The number of deaths is probably even higher; however, many patients have been cremated and can not be examined.

October 2018

In Oldenburg begins again a lawsuit against Högel. The man, who has already been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, is charged with 99 other acts, a 100th alleged murder is brought to trial and could later be brought into the process.