Author photo, www.foto-webcam.eu
A 33-YEAR-OLD woman froze to death on Austria’s highest mountain – and now her boyfriend is on trial accused of gross negligence leading to the man’s death. Big Glockner Hike.
According to the prosecution’s version, her boyfriend left her unprotected and exhausted almost on the summit in stormy conditions on the morning of 19 January 2025, and went to get help himself.
The case is being discussed not only in Austria, but also in Austria of mountaineers
An experienced guide or an irresponsible companion?
Austrian media call him Thomas P. He denies the charge and his lawyer calls Kerstin’s death a “tragic accident”. Sea).
Prosecutors counted nine mistakes by Thomas P. which they believe had fatal consequences.
If the climber is found guilty, it could be a “paradigm shift for mountain sports,” Austrian newspaper Der Standard said. Later than planned and took little emergency gear.
The girl walked in soft boots not suitable for the high mountain mixed terrain.
The defence insists otherwise. They considered themselves “reasonably experienced, well trained and equipped”.
Both had “relevant experience” and “good physical fitness”. I while it was still possible.
They said the temperature was -8°C, which with the wind chill felt like -20°C. Prosecutors, on the other hand, claim the pair were stuck, but the man did not call the police or make a distress call, even when a police helicopter flew in.
planned
Webcams captured the light of the couple’s torches as they climbed the mountain.
But shortly afterwards, the situation changed dramatically, according to the defence.
To the man’s “complete surprise”, the woman “suddenly began to show signs of exhaustion” and a return was no longer possible.
Author photo, www.foto-webcam.eu
On 19 January, he called the mountain police. The exact content of the conversation is unknown, but the lawyer claims his client asked for help and did not tell the police that everything was OK.
Police, however, say the man then put his phone on silent mode and did not answer it again. He left it and went to get help, coming down the other side, the attorney says.
Prosecutors, however, claim he left her around nightfall.
The silhouette of a man with a torch was captured by webcams on the descent from the summit.
According to the prosecution’s version of the wine gear to protect her from the cold, and only informed rescuers. Kals
Kerstin G. Died on the omelet, in the snow on a frozen slope.
Her social media pages show she was an active climber. Her mother told German media that her daughter loved night hikes in the mountains.
Thomas P.’s lawyer says his client “deeply regrets” what happened. “First of all, he would like to express his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased,” he said.
If found guilty, Thomas P. faces up to three years in prison. The future.