An anaesthesiologist in Hawaii has been convicted of attempted manslaughter over an attack on his wife during a cliffside hike, avoiding a more serious charge of attempted murder.
Gerhardt Konig, 47, was found guilty by a Honolulu jury on Wednesday after a day of deliberations. Prosecutors had alleged that he planned to kill Arielle Konig during a birthday trip to the island in March 2025, attempting to push her from a cliff and then attacking her with a syringe and a rock.
The court heard that the attack was interrupted by two hikers who heard Arielle’s cries for help. Deputy prosecutor Joel Garner told jurors that Konig had “a plan and backup plans” for murdering his wife, each ending in her death. However, the defence argued that Konig acted in self-defence, claiming his wife struck him first with a rock.
During the trial, which was livestreamed by Court TV, the couple’s marital difficulties were examined. Konig testified that he discovered his wife had been having an emotional affair with a co-worker, while Arielle said her husband grabbed her near the cliff’s edge, straddled her and produced a syringe. She described biting his forearm and squeezing his testicles to escape. Konig denied pushing her and said he only hit her after she attacked him.
After the assault, Konig spent hours hiding on the mountain and later called his adult son, allegedly saying he had tried to kill his stepmother. The jury accepted the lesser charge of attempted manslaughter, and sentencing is expected to follow.
