An anesthesiologist is standing trial after he allegedly tried to kill his wife while they were on a hiking trail in Hawaii.

Gerhardt Konig listens to opening statements on the first day of his trial. (Court TV)

Gerhardt Konig is charged with second-degree attempted murder for the alleged assault on his wife, Arielle Konig, at the Pali Lookout on March 24, 2025.

Arielle Konig told officers that the couple was walking on the trail when Gerhardt Konig asked her to take a selfie along the edge of the trail, along a steep mountain. After saying she didn’t feel comfortable, Arielle Konig began to walk away. Gerhardt Konig then allegedly yelled for her to come back before pushing her into the bushes.

Arielle Konig managed to get away again; Gerhardt Konig then allegedly picked up a rock and used it to hit her head approximately 10 times, “while also grabbing the back of her hair and smashing her face into the ground.” Arielle Konig also told the police that she saw her husband take two syringes from his bag and attempt to use them on her.

Two women witnessed the attack after running toward the sound of Arielle Konig screaming, “Help! Help me!” They told officers they saw the victim on her back with Gerhart Konig on top of her, hitting her in the head.

After the alleged attack, Arielle Konig filed for divorce and obtained a restraining order against the defendant. In her petition for divorce, Arielle Konig said her husband had accused her of having an affair and that he had sexually abused and assaulted her.

At the time of his arrest, Gerhardt Konig worked as an anesthesiologist at Maui Health; he was suspended at the outset of the investigation.

DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 6 – 3/31/26

LIVESTREAM: HI v. Gerhardt Konig – Day 6 | Trouble in Paradise Trial

HEARING OUTSIDE THE JURY’S PRESENCE – 3/30/26

LIVESTREAM: LIVE HEARING | HI v. Gerhardt Konig | Trouble in Paradise Trial

DAY 5 – 3/27/26

LIVESTREAM: HI v. Gerhardt Konig – Day 5 | Trouble in Paradise Trial
Michelle Amorin, Criminalist, Honolulu Police Department

Explained how DNA and blood testing work, emphasizing that the lab follows strict, accredited procedures to ensure reliable results.
Detailed the testing on multiple pieces of evidence, including a rock, swabs from the scene and clothing.

Many samples tested positive for human blood and DNA, often from a single female contributor, while some were mixtures from multiple people.

When the samples were compared to Gerhardt Konig’s known DNA sample, he was excluded as a contributor for many key items.

Scott Henderson, Criminalist, Honolulu Police Department

Conducted DNA analysis, including forensic DNA testing and probabilistic genotyping, to compare evidence samples to known reference samples.

Results are measured with likelihood ratios, which show strong statistical support for inclusion or exclusion.

Comparisons in the case included samples from Arielle and Gerhardt Konig.

DAY 4 – 3/25/26

LIVESTREAM: HI v. Gerhardt Konig – Day 4 | Trouble in Paradise Trial
Kevin Chun, Honolulu Police Department

Testified to bodycamera footage from the incident and described his arrival at the trail and actions while assessing the scene.
Observed the alleged victim, Arielle Konig, appearing weak, out of breath and disoriented and noticed other hikers were assisting her.
Collected details about the suspect and the environment as he worked to determine whether a crime had occurred.
WATCH: Doctor’s Wife Seen Disoriented After Alleged Assault By Husband: Bodycam

Brittany Copp, evidence specialist, Honolulu Police Department

Walked the jury through photos she took of the trail, which showed the layout of the scene, including the main trail, side trail, a “hole in the bush,” and a nearby cliff area.
Identified multiple areas with what appeared to be blood-like stains on leaves, branches and the ground, documenting them with close-up images.
Collected key evidence, including a rock believed to be connected to the attack, a piece of clothing and several swabs from the suspected blood stains.
During cross-examination, she acknowledged that the rock that she photographed may have been moved before she documented it.

Mohammed Salameh, evidence specialist, Honolulu Police Department

Assigned to photograph Gerhardt Konig and collect a DNA reference sample using a buccal swab from the inside of his cheeks.
Identified photographs he took of the defendant at the time of the swab.
During cross-examination, he confirmed the photos were taken approximately 31 hours after an earlier reference point highlighted by the defense.

Officer Chauncey Nicola, Honolulu Police Department

Testified to his role in locating and apprehending Gerhardt Konig.
While driving back from a mountain lookout in an unmarked van, he spotted the defendant, who appeared to have blood on his shirt, and chased him into a grassy area where a struggle ensued before Gerhardt Konig was arrested.
Documented the arrest with photographs and secured the suspect’s backpack as evidence.

Officer Riley Borges, Honolulu Police Department

Assisted in the search for Gerhart Konig on the Pali Puka trail on March 24, 2024.
Observed the defendant fleeing from brush onto the road and joined in the pursuit with other officers; he helped to subdue the defendant after he resisted arrest, using muscle and pain-compliance techniques.

Officer Asten Koki, Honolulu Police Department

Lead investigator in the case.
Detailed evidence collection and documentation of the evidence from the trail, including a blood-stained rock and a black backpack containing personal items and an iPhone.
Testified to the chain of custody for all evidence, including a second bag recovered from Maui that contained medical supplies linked to the defendant.
Oversaw multiple search warrants, delegated investigative tasks and coordinated with other agencies.

Det. Tracy Spacek, Honolulu Police Department

Testified to the collection and documentation of physical evidence on the trail, including a blood-stained rock and a black backpack containing personal items and an iPhone.
Explained the chain of custody for all evidence, including a second bag recovered from Maui that contained medical supplies linked to the defendant.
Oversaw multiple search warrants, delegated investigative tasks to other officers and coordinated with other agencies.
Confirmed follow-ups with hospital staff and reviewed reports from assisting detectives.

DAY 3 – 3/24/26

LIVESTREAM: HI v. Gerhardt Konig – Day 3 | Trouble in Paradise Trial
Arielle Konig, Defendant’s wife and alleged victim

Shares two children with the defendant, ages 3 and 5.
Went for a hike in March 2025 to celebrate her birthday. Gerhardt planned it and she had never been on the hike.

WATCH: Emotional Moment: Doctor’s Wife Reads Birthday Card From Defendant Husband

They did not hike the entire trail; she was uncomfortable and didn’t want to keep going.
Gerhardt wanted to take a selfie with the cliff in the background; she was uncomfortable.
Gerhardt grabbed her by the arm and began pushing her towards the cliff. They wound up struggling on the ground, and at one point she saw he had a syringe in his hand.
Gerhardt attacked her with a rock.

WATCH: Victim Recounts Alleged Hawaii Cliff Attack by Husband: ‘We Don’t Need You Anymore’

Conceded that she had been having an emotional affair with a coworker and that Gehardt had found out about it, calling her a “lying bitch” and a “whore.”

WATCH: Doctor’s Wife Details Alleged ‘Emotional Affair’ She Had Prior To Murder Attempt

Moved money from the couple’s joint account to a new one with only her name four days before asking her doctor to add traumatic brain injury to the list of injuries she suffered.
MORE: Arielle Konig testifies defendant told her, ‘Nobody’s coming to save you’

Dr. Whitney Carlton, Acute care surgeon

On duty in March 2025 and part of the trauma team that treated Arielle Konig.
No skull or face fracture; her thumb was fractured.

Katrina Comeau, Honolulu Police Department

Used drone at the scene to look for the assault suspect, but did not find anyone.

Kevin Chung, Honolulu Police Department

Saw three women coming down the trail: Sarah, Amanda and Arielle.
Took statements from Amanda and Sarah.
One of the women (Arielle) had injuries to her head.
The jury saw bloody photos of Arielle.

DAY 2 – 3/20/26

LIVESTREAM: HI v. Gerhardt Konig – Day 2 | Trouble in Paradise Trial
Veronica Demelo, police evidence specialist, Honolulu Police Department

Collected clothing from Gerhardt Konig; held up the items to show the jury in court.

WATCH: Doctor’s Clothes From Alleged Hiking Trail Attack Shown in Court

Photos shown to the jury showed Gerhardt Konig with injuries to his face.

WATCH: Doctor Had Facial Bruising After Alleged Attempted Murder: Photos

Garrick Baligad, evidence specialist, Honolulu Police Department

The jury saw photos of Arielle Konig’s injuries.

Vance Lime, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement

Searched the area, described the terrain along the trail.
Stopped the search around 4, planned to restart at 8
The tree canopy was thick; conditions were muddy, wet and slippery.

DAY 1 – 3/19/26

LIVESTREAM: HI v. Gerhardt Konig – Day 1 | Trouble in Paradise Trial
Joel Garner delivered opening statements for the state.

Witnesses saw Gerhardt Konig holding a rock and hitting his wife in the head with it.
Gerhardt Konig and his wife were traveling for her birthday, which he had planned out.
He tried to bash his wife in the head multiple times with the rock after she refused to stand at the edge of a cliff with him.
Phone, syringe and other items were never recovered.
Gerhardt Konig told his son that he tried to kill Arielle Konig but that she got away; Gerhardt Konig said that his wife had been cheating on him for months.
WATCH: Defendant Said ‘I’m Sick Of This S***’ Before Attempting to Kill Wife: State

Thomas Otake delivered opening statements for the defense.

Gerhardt Konig is falsely accused and never confessed to his son on the phone.
Arielle Konig was having an affair with a married man she worked with, Gerhardt Konig wanted her to quit her job so she wouldn’t be around him.
Arielle Konig hit Gerhardt Konig with a rock, and he hit her back in retaliation.
There was no premeditated plan, and there were no syringes.
WATCH: ‘Unfaithful, Unwilling, Untrue’: Defense Points to Wife in Cliffside Attempted Murder
Gerhardt Konig could be seen crying during opening statements.
WATCH: Doctor Accused of Trying to Kill Wife Breaks Down in Court

Amanda Morris, Eyewitness

Was on a hike with her friend, Sarah, when she heard a woman screaming ‘Help me.” She saw a woman on her back and a man on top of her, hitting her with a rock.
The woman was covered in blood and had big gashes on her head.
She did not see any syringes at the scene.
MORE: Blood-covered Arielle Konig screamed ‘He’s trying to kill me’: Eyewitnesses

Sarah Buchsbaum, Eyewitness

Heard a woman screaming for help and started running in the direction of the screams.
Saw a man standing near the edge of the cliff and a woman crawling towards them. The man had a rock in his hand.
Placed 911 call.
Described the man as having a cold look in his eyes.
WATCH: ‘Cold Look in His Eyes’ Witness Recalls Alleged Attempted Murder of Wife

Officer Alan Oku, Jr., Honolulu Police Department, homicide enforcement

Canvassed the area for a suspect and made diagrams of the hiking area.
Did not find phone, wallet, purse, vials or syringe.
WATCH: Bodycam Footage Shows Cliff Where Wife Allegedly Attacked