Feb 24, 2026, 2:29 p.mFeb 24, 2026, 2:29 p.m
A man has appealed his conviction for the death of his girlfriend on the Grossglockner in Austria. This was announced by the Innsbruck regional court. The public prosecutor’s office has also filed an appeal, it was said.
The 37-year-old defendant was found guilty of grossly negligent homicide in Innsbruck last week. The judge imposed a fine of 9,600 euros and a suspended sentence of five months.
The judge saw it as proven that the alpinist was significantly more experienced than his 33-year-old girlfriend. However, the judge argued that he did not assume his responsibility, but rather inadequately planned the joint tour to Austria’s highest mountain and did not inform his partner about the challenges. He also did not make a timely emergency call when the woman ran out of strength below the 3,798 meter high summit.
Death of girlfriend and hostility as mitigating factors
The maximum possible sentence in this case was three years in prison. The judge decided on a more lenient punishment because the defendant had a clean record, had lost his partner, and because he had been shamed on social media.
His lawyer is still fighting the amount of the sentence. He has also filed an appeal against the conviction itself and because of alleged deficiencies in the legal process, as the court announced. The Innsbruck Higher Regional Court will decide on the appeal.
The couple climbed the Grossglockner in January 2025. The man has a lot of experience in the high alpine area. His mountain sports enthusiast girlfriend had never undertaken such a winter tour before. The two of them made slow progress in the icy wind. Just below the summit, the woman froze to death alone in the night while her friend tried to get help. (hkl/sda/dpa)