A court in Austria has found a 37-year-old man guilty of manslaughter through gross negligence following the death of his girlfriend during a mountain climbing expedition last year.
The Innsbruck state court handed down a five-month suspended prison term along with a 9,600-euro ($11,300) financial penalty following Thursday evening’s single-day trial, according to Austria Press Agency reports. Court officials withheld the defendant’s identity following standard local privacy protocols.
The tragic incident occurred when the couple embarked on an expedition to scale Grossglockner, Austria’s tallest mountain located in the country’s western region, during January 2025. According to prosecution testimony, the 33-year-old woman perished from freezing temperatures approximately 50 meters (164 feet) from the summit of the 3,798-meter (12,460-foot) mountain after her partner abandoned her position. The accused maintained his innocence throughout proceedings.
Presiding Judge Norbert Hofer determined that while the defendant made poor decisions regarding the mountain conditions, he did not intentionally abandon his companion. The judge noted the woman’s mountaineering experience was significantly inferior to her partner’s capabilities. The imposed sentence fell considerably below the potential three-year maximum imprisonment.
“I don’t see you as a murderer, I don’t see you as a cold-hearted man,” the judge stated, referencing online commentary surrounding the case. “I see you as the one who ultimately tried to call help and stand by his girlfriend.”
Nevertheless, Judge Hofer criticized the defendant for failing to fulfill his “leadership responsibility.” The court determined the victim likely would have survived “if the appropriate measures had been taken,” such as placing emergency calls sooner or deciding to retreat from the climb.
During testimony, the defendant expressed being “endlessly sorry,” as reported by APA. He maintained that both climbers participated equally in planning their expeditions, including the fatal Grossglockner attempt.
The man disputed claims about the experience gap, stating he lacked formal Alpine instruction and argued his girlfriend’s mountaineering knowledge wasn’t substantially less than his own. He testified she appeared healthy when a police helicopter passed overhead earlier during their climb and couldn’t account for her sudden decline. He claimed he descended seeking assistance only after discussing the plan with her.
The court’s decision remains subject to appeal.
