A man accused of leaving his girlfriend to freeze to death on Austria’s tallest mountain is set to go on trial on Thursday, in a case that could have major implications for mountain climbers and how liable they are for the safety of companions.
The 36-year-old man, named in local media as Thomas P., is accused of having left his 33-year-old girlfriend, Kerstin G., alone as he went to seek help on Austria’s Grossglockner mountain in the early hours of January 19, 2025 after the pair ran into difficulties while trying to reach the summit.
He is facing a charge of grossly negligent homicide, with state prosecutors in Innsbruck accusing him of making multiple errors, including seeking help too late and not…