A rapper who lost nearly half his skull after a drug lab explosion while cooking a concoction called “Nazi Gold” faces five years in prison in Germany.
Accused Niko Brenner, known to hip-hop fans as Dr. Knarf, was sent into the street from a recording studio when the mixture of cannabis and butane gas exploded.
Grim photos of his injuries show how surgeons had to remove a huge chunk of his skull in 2017 to protect his massively swollen brain.
Now Brenner, 39, has been charged with causing an explosion and possessing and selling drugs at a court in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, on January 18.
He told judges at the Cologne regional court: “I take full responsibility.”
Niko Brenner (pictured), a rapper who lost nearly half his skull after a drug lab explosion while cooking a concoction called “Nazi Gold,” faces five years in prison in Germany
Brenner, known to hip-hop fans as Dr. Knarf, was sent into the street from a recording studio when the mixture of cannabis and butane gas exploded
According to German news media, prosecutors say Brenner wanted to produce a cannabis concentrate known as “dab.” Butane gas is said to have escaped and probably exploded by a spark from a refrigerator in the Cologne laboratory.
The explosion “knocked windows and parts of the masonry into the courtyard of the building,” the prosecutor said, causing damage of about 15,000 euros.
The blast also injured both Brenner and a friend who is referred to only as Esat B in the documents.
But Brenner, who has a son, said: “I produced the drugs. I was a serious addict and lived in my bubble. I wasn’t worried about any possible risks.
‘This accident caused my world to collapse. It was the biggest mistake I ever made.
‘I suffered burns mainly on my arms and head.
‘Liquid gas is like napalm. It keeps nagging and it won’t stop.
“However, I am deeply sorry for any pain I have caused others.”
He added: ‘What happened ended my relationship and I didn’t get to see my son grow up.’
Brenner’s lawyer Marco Heymann hopes that his candid confession and his serious injuries will influence the judges.
“My client has made a full and comprehensive confession. It’s not just his appearance that is different. He has also changed from within,” he argued.
‘He’s just happy to be alive. Now he wants to focus on what the future holds for him.”
Grim photos of his injuries show how surgeons had to remove a huge chunk of his skull in 2017 to protect his massively swollen brain
Now Brenner, 39, has been charged with causing an explosion and possessing and selling drugs at a court in Cologne, state of North Rhine-Westphalia
However, prosecutors have revealed that they plan to seek a prison sentence of at least five years.
They are also expected to argue that the name “Nazi Gold” glorifies Germany’s fascist past, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Brenner said: “I just wanted to cause a stir, that’s why I chose a controversial name. My plan was to charge 50 euros per gram.’
After the explosion, doctors put the rapper in an induced coma for three months, during which Brenner suffered four strokes.
Medical experts estimate his chances of survival are close to zero.
Parts of his body are still paralyzed despite fifty operations and he walks with a cane, but often needs a wheelchair. In 2022, he said: ‘It hurts a lot that I will never be able to climb a tree with my son.
Brenner claimed at the time that doctors had told him that it is theoretically possible to reconstruct his skull bone with an implant, “but the problem is that because of the burns there is not enough scalp to re-insert a skull bone replacement.”
The musician said doctors initially tried to expand the skin by implanting a balloon filled with saline, but the device had to be removed after Brenner developed severe pain and inflammation.
Prosecutors have said they plan to seek a minimum prison sentence of five years for Brenner (seen before his injuries)
When he saw himself for the first time after parts of his skull had been removed, Brenner said, “It was an absolute shock. I looked like a monster. My son was one year old at the time. I was terrified he wouldn’t even recognize me.’
He said the worst thing after the accident was “not being able to walk anymore, not being able to move properly.” It hurts me that I can no longer play guitar, piano and keyboards.’
A verdict in his trial is expected later this month.
The process continues.