Hawaii doctor’s request for new trial denied after judge finds no juror misconduct

A Honolulu judge on Friday denied Dr. Gerhardt Konig’s request for a new trial, finding no proof that jurors were influenced by outside parties during deliberations that led to his conviction for attempted manslaughter. The judge, Paul B.K. Wong, recalled all jurors and asked whether any had discussed the case with anyone outside the jury room; each juror said no.

"There is no evidence that the jury was subjected to outside influence," Wong said, adding that the verdict was unanimous and impartial.

Konig, an anesthesiologist, was found guilty of attempted manslaughter after a jury determined he had acted under extreme mental or emotional disturbance during an altercation with his wife on Oahu’s Pali Puka Trail in March 2025. Prosecutors alleged he pushed his wife, Arielle Konig, toward a cliff and beat her with a rock. Arielle testified that she believed he intended to knock her unconscious and push her over the edge, while Konig claimed he acted in self-defense and never intended to harm her.

The defense had argued that a juror might have been exposed to a livestream comment suggesting outside communication, and that jurors may have misunderstood court instructions. However, Hawaii law bars jurors from testifying about the internal thought processes of other jurors, and the judge concluded the jury’s decision was based on the evidence presented.

Konig’s sentencing, originally set for August, has been rescheduled for January 8, 2027. The attempted manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. He remains in custody pending sentencing, and his estranged wife filed for divorce in May 2025, seeking full custody of their two children.