Honolulu, HI – Gerhardt Konig, a doctor from Maui, testified in his attempted murder trial on Wednesday that he hit his wife, Arielle Konig, with a rock after she allegedly attempted to push him off a cliff. The incident occurred on March 24, 2025, during a birthday hike near Honolulu.

Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

Konig’s account sharply contrasts with Arielle Konig’s testimony given last week. He stated the altercation began after an argument regarding an emotional affair she had with a co-worker. According to Konig, his wife first tried to shove him from a trail.

Details of the Struggle

Konig described a physical struggle following the alleged attempted shove. He claimed his wife grabbed him and struck him in the head with a rock. He then wrestled the rock away and hit her with it twice. Arielle Konig then reportedly moved towards other hikers, telling them her husband was trying to kill her.

Post-Attack Actions and Testimony

Following the alleged attack, Konig stated he continued hiking and contacted his son via FaceTime. During the call, he admitted to telling his son he was considering taking his own life. The 47-year-old anesthesiologist expressed remorse for injuring his wife but maintained he acted in self-defense.

Prosecution's Claims and Denials

Prosecutors have charged Konig with second-degree attempted murder, alleging he pushed Arielle Konig towards a cliff and then attacked her with a syringe and a rock. Konig denied bringing a syringe on the hike and refuted claims he confessed to attempting to kill his wife during the FaceTime call with his son.

Son's Testimony

Emile Konig, 19, testified on Tuesday that his father had explicitly stated he tried to kill Arielle Konig. Gerhardt Konig acknowledged the word “kill” may have been used but clarified it wasn’t a confession, stating he was likely repeating what his wife had accused him of.

Wife's Account of the Attack

Arielle Konig previously testified that the attack occurred after her husband asked her to pose for a cliffside selfie. She said she felt unsafe and attempted to move away, but he grabbed and pushed her towards the cliff. After falling to the ground, she alleged he attacked her with a syringe and then repeatedly struck her head with a rock, saying, “Nobody’s coming to save you.”

911 Call and Bystander Intervention

Bystanders on the trail helped Arielle Konig and called authorities. A 911 call played in court described hikers witnessing a man attacking a woman with a bloodied face. The alleged attack occurred three months after Gerhardt Konig discovered his wife’s emotional affair.

Underlying Relationship Issues

The couple had attended counseling in an attempt to repair the damage caused by the affair, but Gerhardt Konig testified he was “devastated” by his wife’s actions, feeling she minimized the situation and avoided answering his questions.