The OAP who ‘killed’ a fellow COVID patient when she turned off her oxygen machine because it was keeping her awake is innocent, as she cannot speak German and did not understand the nurses, her son has claimed.

He also blamed the hospital for the actions of his mother, whom he described as a “victim” and added that she “had no idea what she was doing”.

Accused Hatun C., 73, is reported to have twice turned off the oxygen machine used by 79-year-old Hilal K. because the noise was keeping her awake.

Both patients were in the COVID-19 ward of Theresien Hospital in Mannheim, Germany, and placed in adjacent beds.

After noticing her oxygen machine was turned off a second time, medics revived Hilal, but she later reportedly died from complications due to oxygen starvation.

Now, the accused’s son – 41-year-old Aydin C. – has spoken to German media to excuse his mother’s actions.

He said: “My mother couldn’t close her eyes there because the oxygen device of her bed neighbour made such a loud noise, like a tractor.

“She was exhausted and high on medication. But she didn’t want to harm the woman. It was an act of desperation.”

He added: “My mother worked as a toilet attendant for over 30 years, raised five children, and was never at fault.

“Now she is in prison as an old, frail woman with a serious heart condition. I’m afraid she’ll die there. She had no idea what she was doing.”

He further said: “My mother caught corona while on holiday in Turkey, she had been in the Mannheim clinic for seven days after her return, and was also in a very miserable mental state.”

Following her actions on 30th November, Hatun C. was arrested and remanded in custody for attempted manslaughter.

Victim Hilal had been hospitalised for atrial fibrillation – a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate.

But she had then contracted COVID-19 in the hospital and had needed to be put on an oxygen machine.

Staff at the hospital had reportedly given Hatun C. a stern warning after she turned off her ward mate’s oxygen the first time.

But her son excused her subsequent attempt, implying it was the nurse’s fault for not speaking Turkish.

He said: “My mother can neither read nor write, she only understands Turkish, how should she have understood this announcement by the German nurse?

“In addition, she has no idea about machines. Otherwise, she would never have done something like this.”

He added: “My mother should have been moved to another room, and at the very least, we should have been informed immediately, then it would never have come to this.”

But he also took the opportunity to apologise to the victim’s family, saying: “I would like to apologise for all the suffering my mother brought to the 79-year-old’s family.”

He then added: “My mother herself was a victim of these intolerable circumstances in the clinic.

“She deeply regrets everything and asks for forgiveness.”

The deceased’s daughter – 48-year-old Sadet Oe. – has no time for Aydin’s excuses for his mother.

She told German media: “That woman probably killed my mother. I can’t forgive her for that.”

Hilal was buried without her brain as post-mortem examinations on the organ continue.

The tests hope to clarify whether Hatun C.’s actions really did cause her death.