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German nurse jailed for killings German nurse jailed for killings
(10 minutes later)
A German male nurse has been sentenced to life in prison for administering lethal injections to 28 mostly elderly patients at a hospital in Bavaria.A German male nurse has been sentenced to life in prison for administering lethal injections to 28 mostly elderly patients at a hospital in Bavaria.
Stephan Letter, 28, is said to be Germany's biggest serial killer since World War II.Stephan Letter, 28, is said to be Germany's biggest serial killer since World War II.
The court in Kempten found him guilty of manslaughter in 15 other cases and of illegal euthanasia in another.The court in Kempten found him guilty of manslaughter in 15 other cases and of illegal euthanasia in another.
Suspicious deaths at the hospital in Sonthofen began in February 2003, a month after he began working there.Suspicious deaths at the hospital in Sonthofen began in February 2003, a month after he began working there.
The deaths continued until his arrest in July 2004.The deaths continued until his arrest in July 2004.
The court heard that most of the victims were elderly, but some were in their forties, and not all were seriously ill.The court heard that most of the victims were elderly, but some were in their forties, and not all were seriously ill.
He will have to serve at least 15 years before being considered for parole.He will have to serve at least 15 years before being considered for parole.
Judge Harry Rechner said Letter believed in assisted suicide and appeared to want to end what he regarded as patients' senseless suffering.
But the evidence showed he "was interested at best superficially in the state of health of the patients," the judge said.
Letter's defence lawyer had argued that his client had acted out of pity for his patients.
Police started investigating after hearing reports that drugs had gone missing from the hospital.
He stole quantities of a tranquilliser drug and a muscle relaxant which, when used in combination, cause death, Reuters reports.