A 26-year-old man who was poisoned by a colleague at a German metal fittings company has died after spending nearly four years in a coma, according to German media reports. The victim ingested lead acetate and mercury sprinkled on his sandwiches, causing severe brain damage.
The perpetrator, identified only as Klaus O, was convicted of attempted murder in March 2019 and sentenced to life in prison. Two other colleagues were also poisoned and suffered kidney damage.
State prosecutor Veit Walter told Bild newspaper that Germany's Supreme Court could now order a new trial following the victim's death. The death was confirmed by a court in Bielefeld, about 350km west of Berlin.
The case emerged in 2018 when a colleague noticed a white powder on his lunch. Video surveillance later captured Klaus O placing the substance on sandwiches. Tests identified the powder as lead acetate and mercury, almost tasteless substances that can cause serious organ damage. A search of Klaus O's home also uncovered mercury, lead, and cadmium.
During the trial, a judge ruled that Klaus O was a 'danger to the general public' and thus ineligible for sentence reduction. A psychologist testified that Klaus O 'came across like a researcher who was trying to see how different substances affected rabbits'.
