Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife KillerNetflix’s latest true crime documentary featuring real people who tell the story of a horrific crime in Germany in 2012.
Posted on April 3rd Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer takes a deep dive into a series of mysterious murders in Berlin, Germany, whose perpetrator became known as the “Coma Killer” when the murders took place in 2012.
This documentary is told through several eyewitnesses and professionals close to the case, including criminal investigators and a survivor of the attacks.
Real People at the Netflix Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer
Nicky M.
The first victim analyzed in the documentary is 32-year-old Nicky M, who died on May 5, 2012 in the Grosse Freiheit 114 bar.
The series follows his death after drinking liquid ecstasy that was poured into his drink at a bar. This happened on the same night as another attempted murder.
According to those who knew her, Nicky was a kind soul loved by all who brought joy and a sense of life wherever she went.
Alexander M.
Alexander M. is the second victim depicted in episode 2 to be found murdered in his apartment, although he is revealed to be the first chronologically killed
Police found her with all her possessions missing as her family and friends tried to figure out how she died, which was especially difficult because her body didn’t appear to have been physically affected.
Dirk P.
Dirk P is a 39-year-old man who was eventually identified as the murderer, even though he was previously a trainee primary school teacher with no criminal record.
He was sentenced to life in prison when he was caught in 2013, but died just a year later after reports said he took his own life in prison.
Katrin Faust
Katrin Faust is a German state prosecutor who starts a documentary describing how dangerous Berlin’s nightlife can be.
He detailed his experience investigating the murder highlighted in this documentary, shared information about his process behind finding the truth, and spoke to people who knew what happened.
Patrick Berg
Patrik Berg is a professional techno DJ who gives an insight into what he sees in the nightlife scene and how the current nightlife scene relates to Berlin’s long history.
He explains how the Berlin Wall divided the Friedrichshain area in East Germany, turning the area into a somewhat lawless party zone after it had long been known for death and destruction.
Lucia Lu
Lucia Liu works as a techno DJ and describes how common drugs and alcohol are in Berlin’s party scene.
He also pulls back the curtain on the dark side of this scene, explaining how revelers get too deep into the fun and put themselves at risk of abuse or worse.
Matthias
Matthias worked as a bar manager at Berlin’s Grosse Freiheit 114, an LGBTQ+-friendly bar, recounting the night he and his team found a body in the bar in May 2012.
Initially believing it to be a sex- or drug-related accident, he recounted how he quickly learned his patron had been murdered and even felt like he was a suspect for a short time.
Andreas Voges
Andreas Voges is a senior homicide detective who in 2012 worked among the murder victim in the Grosse Freiheit 114 bar in Berlin.
He quickly learned what went on in such bars in terms of anonymous sex and drug use, but found it difficult to get any useful evidence of his case at work.
Dr. Sven Hartwig
Dr. Sven Hartwig served as the forensic pathologist who examined the dead victim from the bar, although he initially had challenges in determining the final cause of death.
This was one of the most difficult cases of his career, as he found evidence of strangulation and other signs of suffocation, which left him feeling particularly uneasy because of the many unanswered questions.
Anka Hilgert
Anka Hilgert is introduced as one of the documentary’s main victims, Nicky’s sister, who detailed her reactions when she learned of her brother’s death.
After his death, she learned more about his activities in the city bars he frequented and remembered how he often cross-dressed as he reminisced about their life together as children.
Monika Laschke
Monika Laschke is a homicide investigator who worked closely on the murder case and recalls her experiences interrogating Matthias, the bartender at Grosse Freiheit 114.
He had to answer her questions thoroughly as she was his main eyewitness and asked him to describe all the customers in his bar and explain the late night activities there. He also had a duty to contact the victim’s family and friends.
Miroslaw child
Miroslaw Wawak was the victim of an attack and survived the same night as the first murder depicted in the documentary.
He recounted his experience of a man he met at a train station becoming intoxicated by ingesting liquid ecstasy through a drink he exchanged with that man, believing the man was going to kill him that night.
Daniel Zarte
Danjel Zatte has been the owner of the Grosse Freiheit 114 bar since 2021, and in this documentary he tells how his bar has always been a safe place for gay men.
He regularly faced fear from people in the LGBTQ+ community, and in particular he had to deal with the aftermath of a murder at his bar ten years before he became the owner.
Christian Schultz
Christian Schulz is a senior case analyst who investigated the murder and tells in the documentary how much crime Berlin sees each year.
He explains how 90 percent of these crimes are solved, and later explores the details of criminology and victimology.
Regina, good luck
Regina Luck is the grandmother of the second victim in this documentary called Alexander, which tells the story of the events that led to her finding out about her grandson’s death.
She describes her grandson as happy and willing to help people, recalling their discussions about social issues and politics, calling him a wonderful son and remembering him fondly.
Doreen
Doreen is interviewed because of her close relationship with Alexander, who is her longtime friend.
She heard about his death after a phone call from another friend. He recalled Alexander’s dry sense of humor and recalled how they would rate men’s dating profiles against each other.
Ulrike Pohle
Ulrike Pohle is the criminal investigator who led the charge when investigating Alexander’s tragic death.
He found her lying in bed on her stomach and covered, although she noticed that her body was relatively intact, although many of her personal belongings were missing.
Dr. Nahlah Saimeh
Dr. Nahlah Saimeh is a Forensic Psychiatrist who brings her expertise in the human psyche to how criminals like the one featured in this documentary think.
He explains how some criminals realize what they are doing as crimes increase and begin to wonder if they are really doing something right or wrong.
Birgit
Birgit is Dirk’s aunt, but she noted that her relationship with him was more of a brother/sister relationship as she raised him while he was with her parents.
Birgit admitted that she loved the person she knew Dirk to be, describing him as kind and caring, although she also delved into the physical and emotional abuse she took from her mother after her father died.
Silk
Silke is a nurse who used to work with Dirk and tells how open he was about his sexual orientation as a gay man.
He brooded over her, giving the impression that she lived a normal life and had a normal background, leaving him shocked that she was convicted of such a horrible crime.
All three episodes Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer now streaming on Netflix.
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