Climber on trial for leaving girlfriend to die at top of mountain

Here's how many years he could get jailed for

During a mountain climbing trip to the Grossglockner, Kerstin G died of hypothermia and her boyfriend is accused of leaving her unprotected and exhausted.

Her death occurred close to the summit in stormy conditions as her boyfriend went to get help, in the early hours of 19 January of last year.

According to prosecutors, the boyfriend, as the more experienced climber, was “the responsible guide for the tour”.

He is now accused by prosecutors for making mistakes from the outset, while they have listed 9 errors which could have led to his girlfriend’s death.

Prosecutors say that the man should have turned back once on the mountain, when it was still possible, because of strong winds of up to 74km/h (45mph), and the winter cold. They said that it was -8C, with a windchill temperature of -20.

The man, who was identified as Thomas P by the media in Austria, says that he denies the charges, while the woman’s death was described as a “tragic accident” by his lawyer.

The tragedy occurred after the couple began their climb of the 3,798m (12,460ft) Grossglockner.

It is Austria's highest mountain and the highest peak in the Alps east of the Brenner Pass, known for its glacier-covered landscape, popular climbing routes, and the scenic Grossglockner High Alpine Road.

Austria’s Der Standard newspaper said that if the climber is found guilty it could mean “a paradigm shift for mountain sports”.

Thomas P faces up to three years in prison, if found guilty, and a guilty verdict could also have implications for other mountain climbers, and how much they could be liable for their companions in the future.