Arielle Konig testified in court that she was attacked on a birthday hike a year earlier, accusing her husband, anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig, of trying to kill her.
On the stand, Arielle said she approached her husband when he grabbed her by the upper arms and began pushing her toward a cliff, saying he was ‘so done with this.’ She testified he tried to stab her with a syringe and, when that failed, repeatedly struck her head with a rock. Arielle, identified in reporting as a nuclear engineer, said he told her, ‘You’re done. We’re done with you. We don’t need you anymore.’
Nurse Sarah Bucksbom, who witnessed the episode, told authorities she heard Arielle screaming and that Arielle’s face and head were covered in blood. Bucksbom called 911.
Gerhardt’s attorney, Thomas Otake, told jurors in opening statements that the defense’s account differs: Otake said the couple had argued after Gerhardt confronted Arielle about an affair and that she attacked him, including hitting him in the face with a rock, prompting what he described as a ‘human reaction’ by Gerhardt.
Prosecutors have highlighted a phone call Gerhardt made to his 19-year-old son after the incident. They played part of the call in which Gerhardt allegedly told his son he wanted to kill himself, was ‘saying goodbye’ and apologizing. The son told investigators Gerhardt said, ‘I’m not going to make it back. I tried to kill Ari, but she got away.’ The prosecution has characterized that call as a confession.
As the trial proceeds, it remains uncertain whether the 19-year-old will testify or whether Gerhardt will take the stand. If convicted on the most serious counts, he faces a potential sentence that could include life in prison. Matt Gutman reported for CBS News.