A French anaesthetist has been sentenced to life in prison after a court ruled that he deliberately poisoned patients during routine surgeries, leading to the deaths of 12 people.
The Doubs Assize Court in eastern France handed down the sentence on Thursday after convicting Frederic Pechier, 53, of poisoning 30 patients while working at two private clinics in the city of Besançon. The crimes occurred over nearly a decade, between 2008 and 2017, and involved victims aged from four to 89.
Prosecutors told the court that Pechier used his position in the operating theatre to inject toxic substances into patients, often selecting cases handled by colleagues he was in conflict with. They argued that his actions were driven by a desire to undermine those doctors and assert control within the hospital environment.
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During the trial, prosecutors described Pechier as “one of the greatest criminals in history” and accused him of having “used medicine to kill”. They said he sometimes took part in resuscitating patients he had poisoned, not out of concern, but to conceal his involvement and cast himself as a saviour.
Christine de Curraize, one of the prosecuting lawyers, said Pechier sought to “witness the downfall” of colleagues he targeted, adding that he wanted to be seen as the “doctor everyone admired”.
Pechier denied all charges throughout the proceedings. Addressing the court in his final statement, he said, “I am not a poisoner.”
His lawyers said they would appeal the verdict. Under French law, Pechier has 10 days to lodge an appeal against the life sentence.