A man has been found guilty of grossly negligent manslaughter after leaving his girlfriend to freeze to death on Austria’s tallest mountain, with the court ruling that he had left her despite being significantly more experienced and assuming she would follow him.
A 37-year-old man, identified as Thomas P., was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence of five months and a fine of €9,600 (around $11,300) by the Innsbruck Regional Court in western Austria, according to CNN. The verdict comes after Thomas P. was accused of leaving his 33-year-old girlfriend, Kerstin G., alone on the Grossglockner mountain as he sought help in the early hours of January 19, 2025.
The pair had encountered difficulties while attempting to reach the summit, but there were conflicting accounts in court regarding Thomas P.’s attempts to seek assistance. The judge, Norbert Hofer, stated that Kerstin G. was “galaxies” away from Thomas P.’s climbing skills and had assumed he would take responsibility for her, as reported by Austrian public broadcaster ORF.
The maximum prison term for the offense of grossly negligent manslaughter is three years. In deciding the defendant’s sentence, the court took into account his clean criminal record, as well as the loss of a relative as a mitigating factor. The court also considered the public discussion on social media that had placed a strain on the defendant.
Thomas P. had denied wrongdoing and said his girlfriend’s death was a “tragic accident” which he was deeply saddened by, according to his lawyer, Kurt Jelinek, as reported by CNN. The court stated that the judgment was not final and is subject to appeal.
The verdict could have implications for mountain climbers and how liable they are for the safety of companions. As the climbing community continues to discuss the case, it raises questions about the responsibilities of experienced climbers towards their less experienced partners.
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