Doctor gives shock justification for pleading not guilty 'after attempting to kill wife by pushing her off cliff'

A doctor accused of killing his wife in Hawaii has given a surprising justification for his not guilty plea in court.

Gerhardt Konig and his wife Arielle were hiking in Honolulu last month when he allegedly pushed her towards the edge of a cliff, attempted to inject her with a mystery syringe and began bashing her head with a rock.

Family court affairs can often be tragic but it was perhaps more surprising to hear the 46-year-old's recent defence against his wife's allegations, as he potentially faces life in prison away from his wife and two kids.

On Monday, Konig appeared for the brief court hearing via video from the Oahu Community Correctional Center where his lawyer, defence attorney Thomas Otake, gave an interesting reason why his client won't be pleading guilty in this particular case.

The couple were hiking in Honolulu when the alleged attack happened (Getty stock)

Arielle, 36, has already filed a temporary restraining order against her husband and didn't mince her words in her petition for the order.

She wrote: "During the hike, I became uneasy and informed Gerhardt that I did not want to continue. Gerhardt hiked a little further and then came back to get me."

It is then alleged that Gerhardt shouted that he was sick of her and pushed her towards the edge of the cliff, before a struggle began.

After biting his arm while fighting him off, Arielle alleges that her anaesthesiologist husband then pulled out a syringe and attempted to inject her with it.

She added: "I do not know what was in the syringe, but Gerhardt is an anaesthesiologist and has access to several potentially lethal medications as part of his employment."

The mum-of-two then claims that he repeatedly bashed her on the head with a rock but stopped when two other women appeared on the trail and called the police, with Gerhardt then heading in a different direction before his arrest later that night.

However, the doctor's attorney has now denied Arielle's claims in court and suggests that another side of the story will soon be shared.

Gerhardt Konig (Honolulu Police Department)

He said: "Dr. Konig's not guilty plea this morning was not just a formality, but a substantive response to the allegation that he tried to kill his wife.

"There are two sides to every story, and thus far only one side has been shared. The other side to this story will be shared within the court process at the appropriate time."

Gerhardt has been held without bail since his indictment on March 28 but Otake also claims that he will be filing for bail given his client's clean slate.

Maui Health, the company where Dr Konig works as an anaesthesiologist, said he is currently suspended pending investigation.