Shock in Schleswig-Holstein: Doctor is said to have killed patients!

Shock in Schleswig-Holstein: Doctor is said to have killed patients!

In Schleswig-Holstein, northern Germany, a doctor is suspected of having killed several, mostly elderly, patients. The investigation was announced by the police and public prosecutor in Itzehoe on Tuesday. The suspect comes from the Pinneberg district. For tactical reasons, no information was given on the number of suspected cases, but a special commission was set up to handle the case.

A number of autopsies and exhumations have already been carried out to check the previous deaths. This suggests that the investigators have serious evidence against the doctor. The public prosecutor's office and the police emphasize that they are investigating based on initial suspicion. This is the weakest level of suspicion under German law and allows investigations to be initiated, whereas an urgent suspicion of a crime would be required for pre-trial detention. The investigation is expected to take “several weeks” until further information can be released. According to vol.at there are currently no details about the possible victims.

Relevance in the context of crime statistics

The case has attracted not only local but also national attention because it is embedded in a broader context of social and legal issues. The development of crime in Germany shows that the police crime statistics (PKS) recorded a decrease in crime by 1.7% to around 5.84 million cases in 2024. However, there is an increase in crimes that affect people's sense of security, which increases the sensitivity of such crimes. According to the statistics, crimes against life, such as murder and manslaughter, are rare in 2024 with 285 victims, 14 fewer than in the previous year, but are gaining public attention through individual cases like this.

According to spiegel.de the situation is accompanied by a general decrease in crime, which amounts to less Cannabis offenses, which have become rarer since partial legalization on April 1, 2024. This creates a contrast to particularly serious crimes and raises questions about how to deal with serious suspected cases like the current one.

The clearance rate in Germany is 58% and has decreased slightly, which underlines the challenges of prosecuting serious crimes. This makes well-founded investigations and transparency all the more important in order to strengthen public trust in the security forces. The case could therefore be of great importance not only for those directly involved, but also for society as a whole, while detailed investigative work has been initiated.