Hawaii Doctor Denied New Trial in Attempted Manslaughter Case

A Hawaii doctor found guilty of attempting to kill his wife on a hiking trail has been denied a new trial. Judge Paul B.K. Wong stated Friday that there was no evidence of outside influence on the jurors who convicted Dr. Gerhardt Konig of attempted manslaughter.

Defense attorneys had sought a new trial, citing concerns that a juror may have communicated with an individual watching a livestream of the proceedings. An anonymous comment on the livestream stated, "I've been texting with one of the juror’s [sic] and they’re going for count 3 attempted manslaughter [shocked emoji]."

Judge Wong recalled all jurors for testimony regarding their deliberations. Each juror testified that they did not discuss the case with anyone outside the deliberation room. "There is no evidence that the jury was subjected to outside influence," Wong stated in his decision. "Accordingly, the verdict in this case was unanimous and impartial."

Jurors convicted Konig in April of attempted manslaughter based on extreme mental or emotional disturbance, a lesser charge than the second-degree attempted murder he faced. Prosecutors alleged that Konig attacked his wife, Arielle Konig, on the Pali Puka Trail on Oahu on March 24, 2025, pushing her near a cliff and striking her multiple times with a rock. Arielle Konig testified that her husband intended to knock her unconscious to push her over the cliff. Gerhardt Konig maintained he acted in self-defense.

The jury reached its verdict after several hours of deliberation, having heard nearly three weeks of testimony. Both Gerhardt and Arielle Konig testified during the trial.

Konig, who worked as an anesthesiologist, has been in custody since his arrest. His sentencing, initially scheduled for August, was postponed following the defense's motion for a new trial. His sentencing is now scheduled for January 8, 2027. The attempted manslaughter charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.