Arielle Konig testified that when she refused to climb a steep cliff, her husband tried to persuade her to join him, saying it was “too dangerous” to go alone

As the attempted murder trial for Hawaii anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig continues, his wife’s testimony is revealing what she claims happened during the alleged attack she survived a year ago.

Arielle Konig, a 37-year-old nuclear scientist based in Maui, told a jury this week about the moments before Gerhardt allegedly tried to throw her off a cliff on Oahu on March 25, 2025.

Arielle appeared in court on the anniversary of the attack, which is also her birthday.

She testified that as the couple arrived at the Pali lookout — a scenic spot 1,200 feet high — they came upon two people who appeared lost, and Arielle wanted to help. But Gerhardt told her, “It’d be nicer if it’s just us.”

The beginning of the hiking trail was wooded and rocky, Arielle recalled. “I was just feeling uneasy, I wasn’t enjoying myself,” she said.

“I told Gerhardt, ‘I don’t wanna keep going, I’m not having fun,'” she continued. When asked what made her feel “uneasy,” she said it was the steep cliffs, narrow trail and extremely windy weather.

When she asked Gerhardt to go up the trail, he briefly went ahead before returning to urge her to join him. “It’s really beautiful, you should come up,” he allegedly said, adding: “it’s too dangerous by myself.”

Arielle Konig

Arielle Konig in court.Court TV

As they came down the trail, Gerhardt asked to take a selfie with their backs to the cliff, she recalled, adding that Gerhardt was very “spatially aware” of her position, including noticing where her feet were. They took the selfie and she held on to a tree, because she was still uncomfortable.

After they took the photo, as Arielle began to move away from the edge, Gerhardt — facing the cliff — allegedly grabbed her arm and yelled, “I’m so f—ing done with this s—” and “get back over there,” trying to pull her toward the edge, she alleged in her testimony.

As she fought him, he allegedly got on top of her and tried to inject her with a syringe, she said. When he was unable to do so, she testified that he allegedly began bashing her head.

Gerhardt Konig

Gerhardt Konig.Honolulu Police Department

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During the alleged attack, Gerhardt told her nobody would be coming to save her, and that she was “done,” Arielle testified in court.

She pleaded with him to stop, getting him to briefly pause when she mentioned their kids.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted murder.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.