A former anaesthetist has gone on trial in the city of Besançon, in eastern France, accused of intentionally poisoning 30 people, including 12 patients who died.
Frédéric Péchier, 53, considered by colleagues to be a highly-talented practitioner, was first placed under investigation eight years ago, when he was suspected of poisoning patients at two clinics in the city between 2008 and 2017.
Despite the serious charges against him, Mr Péchier has remained at liberty under judicial supervision and told French radio on Monday there was no proof of any poisoning.
The trial is set to last more than three months and involves more than 150 civil parties representing the 30 alleged victims.
Allegations of poisoning emerged in January 2017, when a 36-year-old patient called Sandra Simard, who was otherwise healthy, had surgery on her spine and her heart stopped beating.
After an intensive care physician failed to revive her, Frédéric Péchier gave her an injection and the patient went into a coma and survived. Intravenous drugs used to treat her then showed concentrations of potassium 100 times the expected dose, raising alarms with local prosecutors.
Another "serious adverse event", involving a 70-year-old man, happened shortly after, when Mr Péchier claimed to have found three bags of paracetamol that had been tampered with after he administered anaesthesia.
Mr Péchier maintained he was being framed. A few weeks later, he was formally investigated.
One of Mr Péchier's lawyers expressed hope that after eight years, his client would finally have the opportunity to prove his innocence, and the former anaesthetist framed the trial as a chance to lay out all the cards on the table.
Investigators examined serious adverse events dating back to 2008, involving patients aged four to 89, at the two healthcare centers where he worked.
The case includes multiple instances of patients who suffered cardiac arrests without prior heart issues during relatively minor operations, and numerous unexplained fatalities.
Prosecutors allege that he tampered with intravenous medications to induce cardiac arrests, mainly targeting colleagues he wanted to intimidate. They assert he was the common denominator in these poisoning cases.
If found guilty, Mr Péchier could face life imprisonment. He remains under judicial supervision as the trial continues, with hearings expected to last until December.
