Hawaii Doctor Convicted After Wife Says He Tried To Kill Her During Cliffside Hike

A Hawaii anesthesiologist accused of trying to murder his wife during a scenic birthday hike has been convicted after a disturbing trial that exposed the couple’s collapsing marriage, alleged infidelity, and shocking violence on a remote mountainside.

Dr. Gerhardt Konig, 47, was originally charged with attempted murder after prosecutors said he attacked his wife, Arielle Konig, while the pair were hiking along Oahu’s dangerous Pali Puka trail in March 2025. During the trial, jurors heard claims that the doctor tried multiple methods to kill her after confronting her about an alleged emotional affair with a co-worker.

According to prosecutors, Konig first attempted to push his wife off a cliff overlooking the trail. When that failed, he allegedly tried to stab her with a syringe containing an unknown substance before smashing her in the head with a rock so violently that fragments reportedly broke off into her scalp.

Arielle Konig testified that she feared she was going to die during the terrifying attack. She told jurors she fought back desperately, biting her husband and grabbing at him while trying to stay away from the cliff edge. Her screams eventually attracted nearby hikers, whose intervention prosecutors say likely saved her life.

Bodycam footage shown during the trial captured the aftermath of the alleged assault, with Arielle seen bloodied, disoriented, and struggling to breathe while hikers and first responders tried to help her on the trail.

Konig denied trying to kill his wife and claimed he acted in self-defense after she allegedly attacked him first with a rock. His attorneys argued there was no evidence of a detailed murder plan and insisted no syringe was ever recovered at the scene.

But prosecutors pointed to testimony from the couple’s 19-year-old son, Emile Konig, who told the court his father called him shortly after the incident and confessed he had “tried to kill” his stepmother. The son also testified that his father said he planned to jump off a cliff afterward.

The trial also revealed deeply personal details about the marriage. Gerhardt Konig admitted he secretly monitored his wife’s messages after suspecting she was emotionally involved with another man. Arielle described the relationship as increasingly controlling and emotionally volatile in the months before the attack.

After more than eight hours of deliberation, jurors rejected the attempted murder charge but found Konig guilty of the lesser offense of attempted manslaughter. He now faces up to 20 years in prison.