Climber convicted of manslaughter after leaving girlfriend on Austria’s highest peak to seek help

snow cover mountain slope

An Austrian court has convicted amateur mountaineer Thomas P, 37, of gross negligence manslaughter for leaving his girlfriend behind on Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, during a failed climb in January 2025.

He received a five-month suspended prison sentence and a €9,400 (£8,200) fine for the death of 33-year-old Kerstin G. The offence carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.

The high-profile trial in Innsbruck drew global attention as one of the few criminal cases arising from a mountaineering incident. Experts say the ruling may set an international precedent for liability in extreme sports.

Thomas P, a chef from Salzburg, maintained his innocence, calling the tragedy a “terrible accident” and telling the court he was “endlessly sorry” for his girlfriend’s death.

via The Guardian

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