Nurse Convicted of Murdering Patients for Thrill of Their Resuscitation

Benjamin Geen, a 25-year-old nurse, was convicted of murdering two male pensioners and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on 15 others after secretly injecting them with muscle relaxants to cause sudden respiratory failures. Geen, who worked in the accident and emergency department of Horton Hospital in Banbury, Oxon, would stand back and revel in the drama of their resuscitation, having taken them to the "brink of death." The jury was told that had he not been arrested, he would "undoubtedly" have continued drugging patients.

Key Takeaways:

• Benjamin Geen, a 25-year-old nurse, was convicted of murdering two male pensioners and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent on 15 others.
• Geen secretly injected patients with muscle relaxants, causing them to suffer sudden respiratory failures, and then stood back to watch their resuscitation.
• Geen's motive was to satisfy his "perverse needs" and be the center of attention, described by police as a "self-centered narcissist."
• The prosecution described the syringe found in Geen's pocket as the "smoking gun" that proved his guilt beyond doubt.
• Geen was said to have used various methods to administer the drugs, including injection and tampering with drips.
• 18 patients suffered sudden respiratory collapses over a period of nine weeks around Christmas 2003, with 16 recovering and two dying.
• Geen was reprimanded for ignoring instructions and wearing a nurse's epaulettes before he was qualified to do so.
• A psychiatric report was ordered to determine Geen's mental state and motive.

Statistics:

• 18 patients suffered sudden respiratory collapses over a period of nine weeks around Christmas 2003.
• 16 of the 18 patients recovered after being resuscitated, while two died.
• 15 patients received grievous bodily harm with intent, while two were murdered.
• 1 syringe was found in Geen's pocket, containing traces of vecuronium and midazolam, muscle relaxants commonly used in surgery.
• 9 weeks were the duration of Geen's drugging spree around Christmas 2003.

Sources:

• "Nurse, 25, 'drugged patients to death'" by the Daily Mail on June 16, 2005. [1]
• "Nurse Convicted of Murdering Patients for Thrill of Their Resuscitation" by the Evening Standard on June 16, 2005.
• The UK Crown Prosecution Service.
• The trial transcripts at Oxford Crown Court.