While the four
deaths noted in prosecution took place on only two separate dates, the case
seems to be appropriately classified as a serial killer case, based on the
following: “The court heard more than 70 witnesses, several of which said they
had suspected Hansen of trying to harm patients long before she was detained in
March last year and that they believed she had done so in search of drama and
attention.”
***
CHRONOLOGY
2012 – Arne
Herskov dies; other patient deaths, suspected murder.
Feb. 28, 2015 –
three deaths during her night shift.
Mar. 1, 2015 – Hansen
arrested.
Aug. 2015 –
charged for 2012 death.
Date? – trial in
the city court extended over 27 days.
Jun. 2016 –
sentenced for three murders and attempted murder.
May 18, 2017 – on
appeal 11th District Court, conviction was altered to “guilty of attempted
manslaughter in four cases.”
***
Wikipedia: Christina
Aistrup Hansen (born 1984) is a former Danish nurse who was charged with the
murder of three patients and attempted manslaughter at the Nykøbing Falster
Hospital.
In June 2016, the nurse was sentenced for three murders and
attempted murder, according to section 237 of the Danish Penal Code. In addition, she was deprived of her
authorization as a nurse. The court in Nykøbing found it proven that Hansen had
given her sick and weak patients lethal doses of morphine and diazepam. The trial
in the city court extended over 27 days and involved more than 70 witnesses. At
the time of the judgment, the nurse appealed to the national court for a
declaration of dismissal.
In May 2017, she
was convicted of a single jury trial by the Østre Landsret for three murders
and was instead found guilty of attempted manslaughter in four cases. On this
basis, the court changed Hansen's punishment from life to 12 years in prison. The
reason for the change was, in particular, a forensic and evidence-specific
detail: although it was found that Hansen's medical abuse on patients did not
occur “in treatment or pain relievers by mistake,” the technical evidence was
not strong enough to confirm the verdict. The Legal Service Council reviewed
the medical information and concluded that it was not possible to be fully sure
that the morphine and diazepam injections were the direct causes of death.
In addition to
these charges, Hansen was found guilty of giving her own 7-year-old daughter
strong and prescribed sleeping medicine that is dangerous for children and only
suitable for adults.
In a legal
psychiatric personality survey, it was determined that Hansen suffered from a histrionic
personality disorder. When you suffer from a histrionic personality disorder -
what was previously called a 'hysterical neurosis' - you have a pressing urge
to be at the heart of dramatic events. Many manipulate, both with their
feelings and sexuality, for the purpose of obtaining recognition from others. A
person suffering from this disorder is capable of going to extreme lengths for
positive attention. All this and violent self-absorption, which includes
narcissism, often makes the person conduct acts towards others so they can be
in the center of attention.
The nurse's
personality disorder was seen by the prosecution as one of the main motives
behind the killings. Prosecutor Michael Boelsen stated to the court that "the
defendant has arranged herself as the main role character in a bizarre play
where the patients are her extras". Although she was described as
proficient, the psychiatric report showed that the she had average
intelligence. Boelsen stated in this context that "she [Hansen] has used
her professional insight in a deeply perverted way, which was driven by her
histrionic personality disorder".
***
A DANISH NURSE,
dubbed a “devil of death” by prosecutors, was sentenced to life in prison for
murdering three patients and trying to kill a fourth.
Christina Hansen,
31, was found guilty of administering overdoses of morphine and the sedative
diazepam to three elderly patients at a hospital in the southern town of
Nykobing Falster between 2012 and 2015.
A fourth patient,
who survived, was also found to have traces of the substances in her blood.
Her life sentence
was handed down in Nykobing Falster district court yesterday. Under Danish law,
a parole hearing is allowed after 12 years.
The Nykobing
Falster district court found that the patients had been given, among other
things “morphine in lethal doses, and that the perpetrator was the nurse,” a
statement said.
“The accused was
not an angel of death. She was a devil of death,” prosecutor Michael Boolsen
said while calling for her to get a life sentence.
Lawyer Jorgen
Lange appealed the verdict, telling Danish media the court’s decision
was “shocking” given that some of the patients had been terminally ill.
The court heard
more than 70 witnesses, several of which said they had suspected Hansen of
trying to harm patients long before she was detained in March last year and
that they believed she had done so in search of drama and attention.
A psychological
evaluation found that the nurse was not mentally ill but that she
suffered from a personality disorder characterized by “egocentricity” and a
“persistent quest for excitement.”
Hansen, who
denied all charges, was also ordered to pay 425,000 kroner (€57,100) in damages
to family members of one victim.
She was also to
pay 25,000 kroner (€3,362) to the 74-year-old woman who survived the
attempt on her life.
Preliminary
charges filed against Hansen in August last year over a fourth suspicious death
were later dropped.
[“Nurse gets life sentence for murdering three patients in Denmark,”
The Journal (ie), Jun 25, 2016]
***
FULL TEXT: On May
17, 2017, an unanimous statement in the 11th District Court found a nurse
guilty of attempted manslaughter of four patients at Nykøbing Falster Hospital.
The defendant was
found guilty by an unanimous remand at the court in Nykøbing Falster of i.a. three
killings and one attempted murder of patients, and defendants were sentenced to
life imprisonment.
The High Court
has, to a very large extent, upheld the district court's evidence and the
rationale for this, including that the defendants have filed the patients in
question morphine and Stesolid (diazepam) and that this has not been done in a
treatment or pain relief or in error. The case has been submitted to the
National Court of Appeal for the national court. According to the Declaration
of the Medical Council, the cause of death of the three deceased patients
cannot be considered unambiguously clear. After a comprehensive assessment of
the medical information and the evidence, the High Court did not find
sufficient evidence to establish that the three deceased patients had died as a
result of the defendant's administration of morphine and diazepam, but that the
defendant's submitted amount of morphine in in any case, may have been a
contributing cause of death. The defendant is therefore acquitted of
manslaughter under section 237 of the Criminal Code in relation to these three
patients.
Considering the
amount of morphine, the defendant's knowledge of the patients' frail condition
and the defendant's nursing knowledge of the effect, dosage and the danger of
morphine, all the references and judges have found that the defendants have
realized the possibility that the patients in question would die as a result of
her actions, and that the defendant, when she did the actions, has accepted
this possible consequence. The defendant is therefore found guilty of attempted
manslaughter, cf. section 237 of the Criminal Code, cf. section 21, in respect
of these three patients.
The County Court
has also upheld the district court's order on the guilt issue, including as
regards a further case of attempted manslaughter of a patient.
The High Court
must then decide in particular on the sentencing. Judgment is expected in the
case on May 18, 2017.
The case is being
dealt with in the 11th District Court under case number S-1867-16.
Further
information can be obtained from the Press Contact Judge, Magistrate Katja
Høegh (99 68 65 34 or 41 25 90 31).
Request for
transcript of the decision of the national court must be sent to accounting@oestrelandsret.dk
. Printout costs DKK 175 Read more at www.oestrelandsret.dk.
Nurse found guilty of i.a. attempted manslaughter of
four patients,” 17, 2017]
***
***
***
For more cases, see Sicko Nurses
***
[273-1/15/21; 4069-5/14/23]
***
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