'Angel Of Death' Nurse Charged With 97 More Murders

The German nurse nicknamed the 'Angel of Death' after he was found guilty of killing two people, has now been charged with killing 97 more victims.

Niels Hoegel is already serving a life sentence for two murders and two attempted murders, now prosecutors are saying he killed almost 100 more over several years at two different hospitals.

According to prosecutors, Hoegel may have killed 97 other patients while working in Oldenburg from 1999 to 2002 and at a second clinic in Delmenhorst from 2003 to 2005.

During his trial in 2015, Hoegel said he had intentionally caused cardiac crises in around 90 patients in Delmenhorst, because he 'enjoyed' the feeling of resuscitating them, the Daily Mail reports.

He then later told investigators he had killed while working in nearby Oldenburg.

As a result of his confessions, investigators carried out toxicological exams on dozens of patients who had died at the hospitals during the periods Hoegel's worked there - the results of these exams have led to the new charges being brought.

In total, 134 bodies were exhumed from almost 70 cemeteries. Police also interviewed Hoegel six times to try and get more information while building the case.

Prosecutor Martin Koziolek said that 62 of the cases are from Delmenhorst and 35 in Oldenburg. There are three further cases that are 'suspicious', but the test didn't provide enough evidence for charges to be brought.

As yet, there is no date set for his new trial. If found guilty of these additional charges.

Germany does not allow consecutive sentences, but, if found guilty, the new charges could affect Hoegel's chance of parole in the future.

Koziolek said that a 'variety of drugs' were used in the killings. Adding that the accused 'in all cases at least accepted the death of the patients as a result of the effect of the drugs.'

Speaking last year, Oldenburg police chief Johann Kuehme said that he believes many of the killings could have been prevented had people been willing to speak out.

He said: "If the people responsible at the time, particularly at the Oldenburg clinic but also later in Delmenhorst, hadn't hesitated to alert authorities - for example police, prosecutors."

Criminal charges are also being brought against other former members of staff who worked at the clinics during the time.