The son of a doctor from Hawaii has delivered a compelling testimony, claiming his father admitted to attempting to murder his stepmother.
Gerhardt Konig, an anesthesiologist, faces charges of second-degree attempted murder. He stands accused of assaulting his wife, Arielle Konig, with a rock along the Pali Puka Trail in Oahu on March 24, 2025. Despite the allegations, he has entered a plea of not guilty.
Emile Konig took the witness stand on Tuesday, recounting a phone call with his father just moments after the alleged incident, during which his father reportedly confessed.
Prosecutor Joel Garner inquired, “Can you recall the defendant’s exact words during that call?”
Emile Konig replied, “He told me he wouldn’t be returning to Maui, asked me to take care of the younger kids, mentioned that Ari, my stepmom, had been unfaithful, and confessed to trying to kill her.”
The prosecution claims that Dr. Konig first attempted to push his wife off a cliff in Hawaii, then tried to inject her with a syringe, and ultimately struck her head with a jagged rock multiple times.
“I asked what was on his shirt, ’cause it looked like I saw splatters of something on his shirt, and he said, oh it’s just her, meaning Ari’s, blood,” Emile Konig testified.
A pair of hikers say they found the couple- with Arielle covered in blood.
RELATED | Wife of doctor takes stand in alleged Hawaii hiking murder plot trial
An hour later – Emile received another video call from his father- who in court Emile only referred to as “the defendant.”
“He asked me if I had told anybody and I said yes and I told him who I had told, and then – he said that he was just gonna jump and said that a couple times,” Emile Konig said.
He said the second call ended with his father saying: “I’m gonna go before the police catch me.”
Dr. Konig’s defense team says Arielle attacked him first after he confronted her about an emotional affair- and they say he hit her with the rock in self-defense.
During Emile’s cross examination, they pointed out there were some parts of the calls that he couldn’t remember.
Prosecutor Joel Garner then asked: “is there any doubt in your mind about the defendant telling you he tried to kill Ariel?”
Emile Konig responded: “no.”
The big question now is whether Dr. Konig will take the stand in his own defense.
ABC News contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
