Dr. Gerhardt Konig, a 47-year-old anesthesiologist, has been convicted of attempted manslaughter following an incident involving his wife, Arielle Konig, on Oahu's Pali Puka Trail on March 24, 2025. A Honolulu jury returned the verdict after one day of deliberations, finding Konig guilty of the lesser charge of attempted manslaughter based on extreme mental or emotional disturbance, rather than the initial charge of second-degree attempted murder.
Sentencing for Konig is scheduled for August 13, and his attorney has stated intentions to appeal the verdict.
Verdict Reached in Konig Trial
Gerhardt Konig, who had pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and claimed self-defense, was found guilty of attempted manslaughter. This charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
The jury's foreperson indicated that deliberations considered the severity of Arielle Konig's head injuries. They also determined that the relationship Arielle Konig had with a coworker constituted sufficient cause for an "extreme mental or emotional disturbance" in Gerhardt Konig.
Under Hawaii law, an attempted murder charge can be reduced to attempted manslaughter if the defendant was under the influence of such a disturbance, provided a reasonable explanation exists.
Konig's defense attorney, Thomas Otake, expressed gratitude that his client was not convicted of attempted murder, which carries a life sentence, but stated plans to appeal the current verdict.
Incident on Pali Puka Trail
The incident occurred on March 24, 2025, on Oahu's Pali Puka Trail. The couple had traveled to Oahu for Arielle Konig's birthday, reportedly attempting to address marital issues.
Testimony revealed that Gerhardt Konig had discovered "flirty" WhatsApp messages, described as an "emotional affair," between Arielle Konig and a colleague in December 2024.
Conflicting Accounts of the Incident
Arielle Konig's Testimony
Arielle Konig testified that during the hike, her husband grabbed her arms and pushed her towards a cliff edge, stating, "I'm so f------ sick of this s---. Get back over there." She stated she resisted by throwing herself to the ground.
She further testified that her husband then climbed on top of her, produced a syringe, and told her to "Hold still," which she deflected. She claimed to have fought back by biting his forearm and squeezing his testicles.
Arielle Konig stated her husband then looked in his backpack, making statements such as, "F--- you, you're done. I'm so, so sick of your s---, so done with you," and displayed a vial. She testified that she screamed, and he responded, "Shut the f--- up. Nobody's gonna hear you out here, nobody's coming to save you," and repeated, "You're done. We're done with you. We don't need you anymore."
She stated he subsequently began striking her face and head with a rock multiple times, up to 10 times, causing severe head and facial bleeding. She testified to believing he intended to render her unconscious to push her over the cliff. She recalled yelling, "Please help, he's trying to kill me."
Gerhardt Konig's Testimony
Gerhardt Konig offered a different account, testifying that his wife initiated a physical altercation by pushing him first during an argument about the affair, causing him to nearly fall from the edge. He claimed they struggled on the ground, and she initiated the attack by striking him with a rock. He stated he then took the rock from her and struck her twice in self-defense.
Gerhardt Konig denied possessing any syringes or vials, attempting to pull her toward the cliff edge, or planning to harm her that day.
Bystander Intervention and Arrest
Two women who encountered the couple during the incident called 911.
One caller reported, "Someone's currently being attacked on the top of Pali Puka. There's a man trying to kill her."
Arielle Konig testified that her husband "froze" when he heard help was coming, allowing her to crawl away and seek assistance from the women. After bystanders intervened, Gerhardt Konig left the scene, reportedly spending approximately eight hours hiding on the mountain. He was arrested following an hours-long search and reportedly attempted to flee when confronted by police.
Post-Incident Phone Call
Gerhardt Konig stated that after the incident, he experienced suicidal thoughts, expressing remorse for his actions and feeling hopelessness regarding his relationship. He made a FaceTime call to his 20-year-old son from a prior marriage, Emile Konig.
Emile Konig's Testimony
Emile Konig testified that during this call, his father stated he would not be returning to Maui, instructed him to care for his younger siblings, mentioned Arielle's alleged infidelity, and admitted to trying to kill his stepmother. Emile Konig also stated his father expressed an intent to jump off a cliff.
Gerhardt Konig's Rebuttal
Gerhardt Konig denied confessing to attempted murder during the call. He claimed he told his son, "She said I tried to kill her," and that he had called to say goodbye as he intended to jump to his death. Prosecutors noted that during this call, Gerhardt Konig made no mention of self-defense.
Ongoing Consequences
Arielle Konig received hospital treatment for severe complex scalp lacerations and displayed scarring to the court during the trial. She filed for divorce in May 2025, seeking full custody of their two children.
Gerhardt Konig has remained in jail since his arrest. His medical staff privileges as an anesthesiologist at Maui Memorial Medical Center were suspended pending investigation by Maui Health. A judge previously denied his motion to dismiss the indictment.