Hawaii doctor found guilty of trying to kill wife on hike
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- Gerhardt Konig, a 47-year-old anesthesiologist from Maui, Hawaii, was found guilty of attempted manslaughter for trying to kill his wife during a birthday hike on Oahu, but was acquitted of the more serious charge of attempted murder.
- Prosecutors accused Konig of pushing his wife near a cliff edge, attempting to stab her with a syringe, and beating her with a rock during the March 2025 incident on the Pali Puka Trail.
- The victim, Arielle Konig, testified that her husband tried to render her unconscious before pushing her off the cliff, while hikers witnessed the assault and Konig fled the scene, leading to an hours-long manhunt.
- Konig's son reported that his father admitted during a FaceTime call that he tried to kill his wife, claiming she had been unfaithful; the jury convicted Konig of attempted manslaughter due to extreme emotional disturbance rather than intent to murder.
- Konig faces up to 20 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on August 13, with his legal team planning to appeal the verdict.
