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Contrasting Testimonies
Dr. Gerhardt Konig testified he hit his wife in self-defense after she tried to shove him off a cliff.
“He testified this week in his own defense, telling jurors he hit Arielle in the head with a rock in self-defense”
Arielle testified he pushed her toward a cliff, tried to inject her, and bashed her head with a rock.
Their son testified his father confessed and said he was going to kill himself.
Jealousy, Digital Spying, Abuse Allegations
Konig admitted he went into detective mode after suspecting an affair.
He logged into her WhatsApp account for 48 hours and monitored messages as they were sent.
They had stopped being intimate after he called her a lying bitch and whore.
Prosecutorial Pressure and Cross-Examination
Prosecutors pressed Konig on whether he demanded sex or threatened to disclose private information.
“The state argued the defense had opened the door to questions about sexual coercion”
The judge allowed limited questioning about sexual coercion and abuse.
The prosecution portrayed Konig as a jealous husband who escalated control into violence.
Birthday Hike Turns Deadly
The alleged attack occurred on Arielle's 36th birthday during a hike.
She declined to take a selfie near the cliff edge because it wasn't safe.
Gerhardt grabbed her and began shoving her toward the edge.
She threw herself on the ground and bit his forearm.