A Maui doctor is now facing second-degree attempted murder charges after a violent encounter at the Pali Lookout, where he allegedly tried to kill his wife. Gerhardt Konig, 46, was charged on Wednesday, as reported by Island News, following the incident that took place on Monday morning. Konig, an anesthesiologist, is accused of attempting to push his wife off the Pali Puka hiking trail and then striking her on the head with a rock multiple times. Set at $5 million, his bail is reflective of the gravity of his accused crime.
The Honolulu Police Department initiated a search after Konig fled the scene, and he was arrested Monday evening, roughly six hours later, after a brief foot chase near Nuuanu Pali Drive. Described as wearing a light gray shirt and blue shorts and carrying a black bag. The victim, who is 36 years old, was transported to the hospital in critical condition, per information from Hawaii News Now.
Gerhardt Konig, who was employed by an independent contractor and provided services at Maui Memorial Medical Center, has since been suspended from working at the hospital. The lack of a criminal history in his record, as reported by his attorney Myles Breiner in an interview obtained by Island News, contributes to the enigmatic nature of the motive behind his actions. "Why he did this? That's a mystery," Breiner said.
Meanwhile, the community has been grappling with the distressing nature of the incident, perplexed by the revelation that a caregiver charged with the preservation of life now stands accused of attempting to end one. While some hikers expressed their unease, as captured by Island News, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to aid Konig’s wife with her medical expenses, as noted by Hawaii News Now. "It's crazy and I'm like, now I'm afraid, but I don't know, tried to kill his wife. That's horrible, that's horrible," one hiker added.
The outcome of this case may hinge on the testimony of Konig's wife. The progression of the legal proceedings will be closely followed as Konig is expected to make his first court appearance, scheduled for Thursday morning. According to Breiner, factors influencing the case's approach will include potential eyewitness accounts and the wife’s own words. "It depends on a lot of factors. Depends on eyewitnesses. If they have eyewitnesses. It depends on the complaining witness. She may turn around and say, 'Never mind.' We don't know, this happens," Breiner commented in a statement obtained by Island News.
