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.
They had a helicopter overhead and he refused help and pushed upwards (which He had direct communications with a mountain policeman and turned help down.
There are multiple warning signs to turn back if you haven’t passed this point by X time. They were multiple hours late AND in adhorent conditions.
And yes, if there is a criminal law provision in Austrian (as well as German law), that gives people a duty to protect the ones with lesser ability to protect themselves in certain situations.
So the sentencing is totally right