German Climber on Trial in Austria Over Girlfriend's Fatal Mountain Ascent
A German mountaineer has commenced trial proceedings in Austria, facing serious allegations of abandoning his girlfriend during a perilous winter climb on the nation's highest peak. The 33-year-old woman, identified as Kerstin G, tragically succumbed to hypothermia during an ascent of the formidable 3,798-meter Grossglockner in January 2025, as reported by international media sources.
Charges of Gross Negligent Manslaughter Filed
Prosecutors in Innsbruck have formally charged the defendant, Thomas P, with gross negligent manslaughter. The legal argument centers on his role as the more experienced climber, asserting he bore primary responsibility for planning and leading the expedition. Authorities contend he failed to initiate a timely retreat despite deteriorating weather conditions and subsequently left his exhausted partner near the summit while he descended to seek assistance. If found guilty, Thomas P could potentially face a prison sentence of up to three years.
The defendant has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. His legal representative, attorney Karl Jelinek, has characterized the event as "a tragic accident" and maintains that the couple collaboratively planned the climb and believed themselves adequately prepared for the challenge.
Prosecution Outlines Nine Alleged Critical Errors
According to the prosecution's detailed case, a series of fundamental mistakes were committed from the very beginning of the ill-fated expedition. They allege the duo departed two hours later than advisable, carried insufficient emergency bivouac shelter equipment, and proceeded with the climb despite Kerstin G's purported lack of experience with Alpine tours of such extreme length and altitude under harsh winter conditions. It is further claimed she was equipped with snowboard soft boots, which are considered highly unsuitable for the mixed, technical terrain encountered at high altitudes.
Weather conditions deteriorated severely during the ascent. Reports indicate winds accelerated to approximately 74 kilometers per hour, with ambient temperatures plunging to -8 degrees Celsius and a dangerous wind chill factor making it feel like -20 degrees Celsius. Prosecutors argue the pair had a clear window of opportunity to turn back safely, which they neglected.
Divergent Accounts of the Final Hours
Narratives of the climb's concluding phase differ sharply between the prosecution and defense. The defense maintains that both climbers felt capable as they progressed beyond Frühstücksplatz, a critical point after which descent becomes significantly more complex and hazardous. Later, near the summit, Kerstin G is said to have exhibited sudden and extreme signs of exhaustion and fatigue.
Thomas P contacted mountain rescue police at 00:35 on January 19. Prosecutors allege he failed to signal distress earlier, even when a police helicopter was observed passing overhead. They further claim he left his partner around 02:00 without taking adequate measures to protect her from the severe cold. Supporting evidence includes webcam imagery showing a torchlit figure descending from the summit area during the night.
Potential Legal Precedent for Mountain Sports
The outcome of this trial may have implications extending far beyond this individual case. Austrian newspaper Der Standard has suggested that a conviction could potentially signal a "paradigm shift for mountain sports", fundamentally redefining how legal responsibility and duty of care are assigned between climbing partners in dangerous environments. This case places the ethics and legal obligations within adventure sports under intense judicial scrutiny.
