An Oʻahu judge on Today refused to throw out second-degree attempted murder charges against Maui anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig, keeping the high-profile Pali Puka case on track for a jury trial in early March. Konig remains in custody while prosecutors line up the evidence they plan to present in circuit court.
Judge Denies Dismissal Bids
Oʻahu Circuit Court Judge Paul Wong rejected two key pretrial motions from the defense that sought either to dismiss the indictment outright or force prosecutors to spell out exactly which “substantial step” toward murder they will rely on at trial. Defense attorneys claimed the grand jury was fed “triple-hearsay” and that medical records showed the alleged victim’s injuries did not create a substantial risk of death, according to Star-Advertiser.
Prosecutors' Account Of The Attack
Prosecutors say the confrontation on March 24, 2025, at the Pali Puka trail started when Konig allegedly tried to push his wife off a cliff, then hit her several times with a rock and attempted to use syringes on her. The injuries required surgery, according to the Associated Press. Police arrested Konig later the same day after a short foot chase, and an Oʻahu grand jury subsequently indicted him on second-degree attempted murder, Maui Now reported.
The defense counters that prosecutors held back exculpatory medical records and leaned on hearsay, including statements about what Konig allegedly told his son, when they took the case to the grand jury. They also asked for a bill of particulars to pinpoint which alleged act prosecutors will label the “substantial step” toward murder, according to filings accusing prosecutors of withholding exculpatory records. Defense attorney Thomas Otake argued that without that clarity, it is harder to prepare a tightly focused defense.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joel Garner responded that a bill of particulars is unnecessary because the defense already has access to the grand jury testimony, and prosecutors say those filings describe multiple steps Konig allegedly took to try to kill his wife, according to Star-Advertiser. Court documents cited by prosecutors also state that Konig made admissions to family members about what happened on the trail.
What's Next
Konig’s trial is scheduled to begin March 9. Judge Wong has temporarily sealed certain filings while both sides argue over whether material related to the defendant’s prior conduct should be made public, Hawaii News Now reported. With the main pretrial fights over evidence and notice resolved for now, prosecutors and the defense are gearing up for a contested jury trial next month.
Legal Stakes
The motions zero in on how grand juries are supposed to work and on the government’s Brady obligations to turn over exculpatory material, issues that can sometimes gut or reshape a case before any juror takes a seat. With the indictment still standing, a jury will eventually have to sort through sharply conflicting accounts of what unfolded on the Pali Puka trail last March.
