Hawaii doctor accused of trying to kill wife on hiking trail testifies he was defending himself
ABC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Dr. Gerhardt Konig, accused of attempting to murder his wife Arielle on a Hawaii hiking trail in March 2025, denied the charges and claimed he acted in self-defense during their altercation.
- Arielle Konig testified that her husband attacked her with a rock multiple times, causing severe injuries and attempting to push her off a cliff, while Gerhardt contended she was the aggressor and that he only struck her twice in response.
- Gerhardt Konig expressed feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts after the incident, including a farewell FaceTime call to his son, who testified that Gerhardt admitted to trying to kill Arielle and planned to jump off the cliff.
- Two witnesses intervened during the attack and alerted authorities, leading to Gerhardt Konig's arrest after a manhunt; Arielle suffered serious scalp injuries and has since filed for divorce seeking full custody of their children.
- Gerhardt Konig, formerly an anesthesiologist at Maui Memorial Medical Center, has had his medical privileges suspended and remains in jail pending trial.
