Topline: Emile Konig testified his father accused his wife of infidelity before stating he tried to kill her.
Published: April 3, 2026 6:00 am ET
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Left: Gerhardt Konig, Right: Emile Konig (via Court TV)
HONOLULU, HI — The 19-year-old son of a Maui doctor accused of trying to kill his wife testified March 31 that his father confessed to the attack during a FaceTime call from Oahu.
Emile Konig told jurors that his father, 47-year-old Gerhardt Konig, said his wife had been cheating on him and that he “tried to kill her,” as per CNN. The testimony came during the trial of the elder Konig, an anesthesiologist charged with second-degree attempted murder.
The younger Konig said he received two video calls from his father on the morning of March 24, 2025. Prosecutors allege Gerhardt Konig attacked his wife, Arielle Konig, 37, that same day during a birthday trip to the Pali Puka trail.
The witness testified that his father told him he would not be returning home to Maui. According to the testimony, the father instructed his son to take care of his younger half-siblings.
Emile Konig told the court his father stated his next plan was to jump off the cliff. The witness said he responded by telling his father not to do it.
The son testified for less than one hour. As NBC News reported, he did not make eye contact with the defendant as he entered the courtroom.
Prosecutors allege the defendant pushed his wife toward a cliff’s edge and attempted to use a syringe on her. They also allege he struck the woman in the head multiple times with a rock.
Gerhardt Konig pleaded not guilty to the charges. His defense attorneys argue he acted in self-defense after his wife attacked him first during an unplanned scuffle.
Defense attorney Thomas Otake said during opening statements that the incident was an unanticipated physical altercation between a couple, according to CNN. The defense denied that the doctor attempted to push his wife off a cliff or that he possessed a syringe.
Emile Konig testified that his father never mentioned acting in self-defense during their phone conversations.
Arielle Konig testified last week that the encounter began after her husband asked her to pose for a photo near the edge of the trail. She told jurors she did not want to get close to the edge.
According to her testimony, her husband grabbed her and used profanity while forcing her toward the drop-off. She said she initially thought he was joking before realizing he was using force.
The woman told the court the pair wrestled and she threw herself to the ground. She testified that her husband got on top of her and produced a syringe, which she knocked from his hand.
She said the defendant then used a rock to hit her in the face and head. She testified that she screamed because she believed he was trying to knock her unconscious to drag her over the cliff.
The witness said the attack ended when nearby hikers announced they were calling 911. She testified that her husband froze and knelt away from her, allowing her to crawl to safety.
Two women who were hiking in the area previously testified they heard screaming and saw a man striking a woman with a rock. They assisted the woman down the trail.
Arielle Konig told the court her husband had discovered months earlier that she was having an emotional affair with a colleague. She said the couple had been attending counseling to address the issue before the trip.
If convicted of the attempted murder charge, Gerhardt Konig faces a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. The trial is expected to continue this week in Honolulu.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Son Says Hawaii Doctor Admitted to Cliffside Attack Over Cheating Claims
Emile Konig testified his father accused his wife of infidelity before stating he tried to kill her.
By Kate Byrd
Published: April 3, 2026 6:00 am ET
Left: Gerhardt Konig, Right: Emile Konig (via Court TV)
HONOLULU, HI — The 19-year-old son of a Maui doctor accused of trying to kill his wife testified March 31 that his father confessed to the attack during a FaceTime call from Oahu.
Emile Konig told jurors that his father, 47-year-old Gerhardt Konig, said his wife had been cheating on him and that he “tried to kill her,” as per CNN. The testimony came during the trial of the elder Konig, an anesthesiologist charged with second-degree attempted murder.
The younger Konig said he received two video calls from his father on the morning of March 24, 2025. Prosecutors allege Gerhardt Konig attacked his wife, Arielle Konig, 37, that same day during a birthday trip to the Pali Puka trail.
The witness testified that his father told him he would not be returning home to Maui. According to the testimony, the father instructed his son to take care of his younger half-siblings.
Emile Konig told the court his father stated his next plan was to jump off the cliff. The witness said he responded by telling his father not to do it.
The son testified for less than one hour. As NBC News reported, he did not make eye contact with the defendant as he entered the courtroom.
Prosecutors allege the defendant pushed his wife toward a cliff’s edge and attempted to use a syringe on her. They also allege he struck the woman in the head multiple times with a rock.
Gerhardt Konig pleaded not guilty to the charges. His defense attorneys argue he acted in self-defense after his wife attacked him first during an unplanned scuffle.
Defense attorney Thomas Otake said during opening statements that the incident was an unanticipated physical altercation between a couple, according to CNN. The defense denied that the doctor attempted to push his wife off a cliff or that he possessed a syringe.
Emile Konig testified that his father never mentioned acting in self-defense during their phone conversations.
Arielle Konig testified last week that the encounter began after her husband asked her to pose for a photo near the edge of the trail. She told jurors she did not want to get close to the edge.
According to her testimony, her husband grabbed her and used profanity while forcing her toward the drop-off. She said she initially thought he was joking before realizing he was using force.
The woman told the court the pair wrestled and she threw herself to the ground. She testified that her husband got on top of her and produced a syringe, which she knocked from his hand.
She said the defendant then used a rock to hit her in the face and head. She testified that she screamed because she believed he was trying to knock her unconscious to drag her over the cliff.
The witness said the attack ended when nearby hikers announced they were calling 911. She testified that her husband froze and knelt away from her, allowing her to crawl to safety.
Two women who were hiking in the area previously testified they heard screaming and saw a man striking a woman with a rock. They assisted the woman down the trail.
Arielle Konig told the court her husband had discovered months earlier that she was having an emotional affair with a colleague. She said the couple had been attending counseling to address the issue before the trip.
If convicted of the attempted murder charge, Gerhardt Konig faces a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. The trial is expected to continue this week in Honolulu.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Son Says Hawaii Doctor Admitted to Cliffside Attack Over Cheating Claims
Emile Konig testified his father accused his wife of infidelity before stating he tried to kill her.
By Kate Byrd
Published: April 3, 2026 6:00 am ET
Left: Gerhardt Konig, Right: Emile Konig (via Court TV)
HONOLULU, HI — The 19-year-old son of a Maui doctor accused of trying to kill his wife testified March 31 that his father confessed to the attack during a FaceTime call from Oahu.
Emile Konig told jurors that his father, 47-year-old Gerhardt Konig, said his wife had been cheating on him and that he “tried to kill her,” as per CNN. The testimony came during the trial of the elder Konig, an anesthesiologist charged with second-degree attempted murder.
The younger Konig said he received two video calls from his father on the morning of March 24, 2025. Prosecutors allege Gerhardt Konig attacked his wife, Arielle Konig, 37, that same day during a birthday trip to the Pali Puka trail.
The witness testified that his father told him he would not be returning home to Maui. According to the testimony, the father instructed his son to take care of his younger half-siblings.
Emile Konig told the court his father stated his next plan was to jump off the cliff. The witness said he responded by telling his father not to do it.
The son testified for less than one hour. As NBC News reported, he did not make eye contact with the defendant as he entered the courtroom.
Prosecutors allege the defendant pushed his wife toward a cliff’s edge and attempted to use a syringe on her. They also allege he struck the woman in the head multiple times with a rock.
Gerhardt Konig pleaded not guilty to the charges. His defense attorneys argue he acted in self-defense after his wife attacked him first during an unplanned scuffle.
Defense attorney Thomas Otake said during opening statements that the incident was an unanticipated physical altercation between a couple, according to CNN. The defense denied that the doctor attempted to push his wife off a cliff or that he possessed a syringe.
Emile Konig testified that his father never mentioned acting in self-defense during their phone conversations.
Arielle Konig testified last week that the encounter began after her husband asked her to pose for a photo near the edge of the trail. She told jurors she did not want to get close to the edge.
According to her testimony, her husband grabbed her and used profanity while forcing her toward the drop-off. She said she initially thought he was joking before realizing he was using force.
The woman told the court the pair wrestled and she threw herself to the ground. She testified that her husband got on top of her and produced a syringe, which she knocked from his hand.
She said the defendant then used a rock to hit her in the face and head. She testified that she screamed because she believed he was trying to knock her unconscious to drag her over the cliff.
The witness said the attack ended when nearby hikers announced they were calling 911. She testified that her husband froze and knelt away from her, allowing her to crawl to safety.
Two women who were hiking in the area previously testified they heard screaming and saw a man striking a woman with a rock. They assisted the woman down the trail.
Arielle Konig told the court her husband had discovered months earlier that she was having an emotional affair with a colleague. She said the couple had been attending counseling to address the issue before the trip.
If convicted of the attempted murder charge, Gerhardt Konig faces a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole. The trial is expected to continue this week in Honolulu.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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