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Doctor accused of trying to kill wife on hike found guilty of attempted manslaughter
Jurors rejected the murder charge after hearing conflicting testimony about whether he acted in self-defense or planned the assault, prosecutors said.
On Thursday, a Honolulu jury found Dr. Gerhardt Konig guilty of attempted manslaughter based on extreme mental or emotional disturbance, rejecting the second-degree attempted murder charge after two days of deliberations.
Prosecutors alleged that on March 24, 2025, Konig pushed his wife, Arielle Konig, near a cliff on Oahu's Pali Puka Trail and beat her with a rock multiple times to avoid a costly divorce.
Defense attorney Thomas Otake argued there is "reasonable doubt all over this case," while Deputy Prosecutor Joel Garner presented evidence of her injuries and testimony from Konig's son admitting his father tried to kill her.
Maui Health suspended Konig's medical staff privileges at Maui Memorial Medical Center pending investigation, creating immediate professional repercussions for the anesthesiologist following the guilty verdict.
Arielle filed for divorce in May 2025 seeking full custody of their two children after the couple attempted to repair their marriage following an "emotional affair" involving WhatsApp messages discovered in December 2024.