Climber convicted of murder after leaving girlfriend to die on mountain – National
The climber was found guilty of gross negligence After the death of his girlfriend, he left her on the highest mountain in Austria after facing difficulties on their journey.
Thomas Plamberger, 37, a former chef from Salzburg, received a five-month suspended sentence and was fined 9,400 euros ($15,165) for the death of Kerstin Gurtner, 33, in January last year.
Photo taken on October 12, 2024 from the Sonnblick Observatory near Rauris, Austria, shows the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain, in the Hohe Tauern range.
(Photo by KERSTIN JOENSSON/AFP via Getty Images
The couple was climbing the Grossglockner in the Austrian Alps, which is almost 3,800 meters above sea level, when they encountered problems.
Plumberger was convicted in Innsbruck, western Austria, on Friday, where his case resulted in a three-year prison sentence.
The judge, Norbert Hofer, also an avid hiker and mountain rescuer, ruled that Plumberger was an experienced climber whose girlfriend could not complete their trip.
The prosecutor argued that, as a top climber, Plumberger was responsible for the couple’s safety.
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It also said he left his girlfriend “defenceless, exhausted, hot and confused” near the summit as she tried to get help after making a series of mistakes, including poor planning, inadequate clothing and equipment in cold conditions. He also failed to notify the rescue team of their efforts as soon as he woke up early on January 19, prosecutors said.
Plumberger pleaded not guilty and had previously told the court that he was “very sorry” for the death of his girlfriend, local media reported in court on Thursday.
“I loved Kerstin and I didn’t want anything to happen to her,” he said.
Plumberger told the court that his late girlfriend was an avid mountaineer and in good shape and they planned to climb together.
“We were always planning this trip together and making decisions together,” he said. “I didn’t lead this trip, so I wasn’t in a leading role.”
In previous statements to the police, he is said to have described himself as the leader and planning the trip. He also said that the worst situation has shocked them.
Asked why he called the emergency services, he said, “It was a very unusual situation. Kerstin was no longer strong, so I put her on the rock with a rope and went down.”
In a statement sent to the BBC, the court said it considered Plumberger’s clean record and the loss of someone close to him as “mitigating factors.”
According to the source, Hofer said the couple should have turned away as Gurtner did not have enough experience to deal with the brutal winter conditions.
After having thoughts of leaving Gurtner alone and going back, he said he yelled at him, “Go, go alone and save your life.”
Hofer ruled that Plumberger showed poor judgment in the situation, but said he did not “intentionally” leave his girlfriend.
“I don’t see you as a murderer, I don’t see you as cold-hearted,” said the judge.
The incident attracted the attention of many people and sparked a wide discussion on social media, especially in the mountaineering community, about the guilt of mountain climbing incidents.
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