A judge has denied a request to keep divorce proceedings private in the case of Gerhardt Konig, a Maui anaesthesiologist charged with attempted murder following an alleged attack on his wife during a hike in Honolulu this March.
Konig’s wife filed for divorce last month after he was indicted on the charge, having previously plead not guilty. According to court records and prosecutorial statements, the attack took place on the Pali Puka trail, know of for its scenic views, which is officially closed due to it being an unsafe route. During the hike, prosecutors say Konig pushed his wife toward the edge of a cliff, attempted to inject her with a syringe, and then repeatedly struck her head with a rock.
Following the incident, Konig’s wife filed a petition for a temporary restraining order against him citing assault. She details within the document that the couple were visiting Oahu to celebrate her birthday while their two young sons stayed at home in Maui under the care of a nanny and family members.
“During the hike, I became uneasy and informed Konig that I did not want to continue,” she recounts within the petition. “Konig hiked a little further and then came back to get me.” Her description of the events that followed include Konig grabbing her by the upper arms and pushing her towards the edge of a nearby cliff, shouting that he was “sick of her”. They began to wrestle as she tried to get away from him, fearing for her life and pleading him to stop all the while. Konig then proceeded during the struggle to pull a syringe out of his bag and attempted to inject her with something. In a desperate attempt to defend herself at the sight of the syringe, she bit his arm, after which he appeared to calm down for a moment. However, Konig then promptly picked up a rock and “began bashing me repeatedly on the head with it,” his wife said. Two bystanders who had also been hiking and who witnessed these events called 911 immediately for help.
Konig, 46, has been held without bail since his indictment on March 28. His defense attorneys filed a motion seeking bail, arguing that Konig has no prior criminal convictions and has strong ties to Hawaii, including his home, job, and children. However, his prosecutors opposed bail, noting that Konig faces a potential life sentence and that he allegedly attempted to evade law enforcement after the attack. According to court filings, he called his adult son, admitted to attempting to kill his wife, and planned to turn off his phone to avoid being located. He was later found hiding in bushes until nightfall, despite the attack occurring earlier in the day, reportedly exclaiming, “Wait, she’s not dead?” when he was apprehended. The victim had thankfully survived the attack, suffering significant head injuries which had to be treated with surgery.
Konig’s wife’s petition also stated that Konig had accused her of infidelity in December 2024, and that they had been undergoing therapy and counselling prior to the incident. She also included claims of sexual abuse within the petition, highlighting that the relationship was already under severe strain due to Konig’s problematic behaviour.
At Grayfords, our family law solicitors are highly skilled at dealing with contentious divorces, domestic abuse, financial settlemenst, and all other areas of family law. We understand the importance of enabling our clients to take protective measures to ensure their safety and a stable economic future during and after divorce proceedings or related family conflicts. If you need to speak to a solicitor about your family matter, don’t hesitate to contact us today to book your free initial consultation and find out more about how our team of lawyers can help you.