Guilty or not? Austrian man on trial for leaving as girlfriend freezes to death on mountain

A German climber has gone on trial in Austria accused of leaving his girlfriend to die on the country’s highest mountain. The 33-year-old woman, identified as Kerstin G, froze to death during a winter ascent of the 3,798m Grossglockner in January 2025, the BBC reported.Prosecutors in Innsbruck have charged Thomas P with gross negligent manslaughter, arguing that as the more experienced climber he was responsible for planning and leading the tour. They allege he failed to turn back in worsening weather and later left his exhausted partner near the summit while he went to seek help. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison.The defendant denies the charges. His lawyer, Karl Jelinek, has described the incident as “a tragic accident” and said the couple had jointly planned the climb and believed they were properly prepared.Nine alleged errors and a fatal nightAccording to the prosecution, mistakes were made from the outset. They allege the couple set off two hours too late, carried insufficient emergency bivouac equipment and attempted the climb despite Kerstin G lacking experience of Alpine tours of that length and altitude in harsh winter conditions. It is further claimed she wore snowboard soft boots, deemed unsuitable for mixed high-altitude terrain.Conditions worsened as they climbed. Winds reportedly reached 74km/h, with temperatures of -8C and a windchill of -20C.

Prosecutors argue the pair should have turned back while retreat was still possible.Accounts diverge sharply over the final hours. The defence maintains the couple felt capable as they pressed on beyond Frühstücksplatz, a point after which descent becomes more complex. Later, Kerstin G is said to have shown sudden signs of extreme exhaustion near the summit.Thomas P phoned mountain police at 00:35 on 19 January. Prosecutors allege he failed to signal distress earlier, even when a police helicopter passed overhead, and that he left his partner around 02:00 without adequately protecting her from the cold.

Webcam images show a torchlit figure descending from near the summit.The outcome could reverberate beyond one relationship and one mountain. Austrian newspaper Der Standard has suggested a conviction might signal a “paradigm shift for mountain sports”, redefining how responsibility is assigned between climbing partners.