More than a year after a 33-year-old woman froze to death on Austria’s highest mountain, her boyfriend goes on trial on Thursday accused of gross negligent manslaughter.
Kerstin G died of hypothermia on a mountain climbing trip to the Grossglockner that went horribly wrong. Her boyfriend is accused of leaving her unprotected and exhausted close to the summit in stormy conditions in the early hours of 19 January 2025, while he went to get help.
The trial has sparked interest and debate, not just in Austria but in mountain climbing communities far beyond its borders.
Agreed, but it appears to me that they were equally experienced. He indeed was at risk as well. It appears like a case of unconsciousness and inability to evaluate risk. I brought people picking mushrooms on several occasions and indeed I’d monitor what they’re picking. But if I go with a friend who knows as much as I do it is unlikely I will ask regarding them picking a mushroom I don’t know. I had friends picking mushrooms which are known poisonous and they had their reasons for doing that which were completely valid and did not endanger anyone.
From the article it does not appear that the boy was much more experienced than the girl, it may be incorrectly described in the article as I have not read more information about this. If that is the case I would not see the reason to consider this a crime, as he was not in the conditions to understand the repercussions of those decisions. The fact that he didn’t call for help could indeed be criminal conduct, but it also be that he was under shock and couldn’t handle the situation or that there was no coverage. While this being a crime is understandable, it is probably hard to prove this was a crime.