Emile Konig took the stand against his father Gerhard Konig, who is on trial for a charge of the alleged attempted murder of Arielle Konig

Emile Konig in court; Gerhardt and Arielle Konig

Emile Konig in court; Gerhardt and Arielle Konig.Credit : COURT TV/YouTube; Gerhardt Konig/Facebook

The son of Hawaii anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig took the stand this week to testify against his father, who is on trial for an attempted murder charge in connection with an alleged attempt to kill his wife last year. Gerhardt has argued that he acted in self defense.

Emile Konig, 19, appeared in a Hawaii courtroom on Tuesday, March 31 and testified about what he says Gerhardt told him on a FaceTime call shortly after allegedly trying to push Arielle Konig off a cliff in March 2025.

Arielle, who is Emile’s stepmother, survived the alleged attack on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where she was with Gerhardt for a trip to celebrate her birthday. She was rescued after two hikers heard her screams for help, police previously said in a probable cause affidavit.

Emile told a jury during his testimony this week that Gerhardt called him on FaceTime from Oahu twice on March 24, 2025, and allegedly told him he had just “tried to kill” Arielle.

“I asked what was on his shirt ’cause it looked like I saw splatters of something on his shirt,” Emile said in court, “and he said ‘oh it’s just her, meaning Ari’s, blood.'” Arielle has been referred to as “Ari” at several points during the trial.

During cross-examination, Emile said Gerhardt told him the blood was from Arielle’s head. Emile also confirmed the defense’s claim that during his interview with detectives, he had said “the part about pushing her off the cliff was what [Emile] assumed [Gerhardt] meant, not what [Gerhardt] had actually said.”

Gerhardt also indicated he was planning to jump off a cliff and told Emile to take care of the kids, referring to his two younger sons, Emile told the court.

Gerhardt allegedly told him that after the alleged attack on Arielle, she “had gotten away,” testified Emile, who referred to Gerhardt only as the “defendant” throughout his appearance in front of the jury.

Gerhardt further said police was looking for him and he didn’t want to be found, Emile claimed in his testimony.

Arielle Konig trial; Gerhardt Konig Mugshot

Arielle Konig testifies in court; Gerhardt Konig Mugshot.Court TV; Honolulu Police Department

Arielle, a nuclear engineer, took the stand last week and told the jury Gerhardt allegedly tried to push her off a cliff and inject her with a syringe before bashing her head with a rock during the hike atop the 1,200-foot-high lookout.

She testified Gerhardt told her “nobody’s coming to save you” as she pleaded with him to stop.

Gerhardt took the stand on Wednesday and told the court he attacked Arielle in self-defense. Emile told the court Gerhardt made no claims of self-defense during either of the two FaceTime calls made in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
Gerhardt took the stand on Wednesday and told the court he attacked Arielle in self-defense. Emile told the court Gerhardt made no claims of self-defense during either of the two FaceTime calls made in the immediate aftermath of the attack.