HONOLULU(KHON2) -- The Maui doctor accused of trying to murder his wife on a Pali hiking trail has been charged with attempted murder in the second degree according to Honolulu Police Department. 79-year-old man dies in Kaimuki fire; residents displaced HPD said 46-year-old Gerhardt Kon ig attacked his wife along the Pali Puka trail, hit her in the head several times with a rock and tried to push her off the trail Monday morning, which was her birthday. Sources said the wife told police Konig tried to inject her with syringes filled with an unknown substance. Konig then took off, launching a manhunt, that shut down the popular Pali lookout, for hours. He was finally captured after a foot chase around 6:30 p.m. along Nuuanu Pali Drive. Attorney and legal expert Alexander Silvert said attempted murder in the second degree is the most serious crime prosecutors could charge Konig with in this case. "He couldn't be charged with first degree, cause first degree has a list of the type of victim that has to be and so if you're not that type of victim, then second degree is the highest," he explained. According to Silvert, if convicted, Konig would face life in prison with the possibility of parole. "What does the prosecution need to prove in this case?" KHON asked. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news "They're going to have to prove that this wasn't an accident, that he intended to cause the death of his wife, and it can be either intentionally or through recklessness," Silvert replied. Often times, the defense will claim they didn't do it. Silvert said that's not likely to happen here. "Yeah, that would seem to be a difficult defense in this case, given that there are witnesses, and given that his wife has survived, has already made a statement of what occurred," he explained. Silvert said forensic evidence will be crucial in this case. Without it, the defense will likely push for a lesser charge. "It's going to be very important to prove that this was not a mistake, it was not an accident. She didn't slip and fall and hit her head on a rock." KHON also asked whether Konig being a doctor had any bearing on the case. Silvert said if the prosecution can prove that Konig tried to inject his wife with syringes it would prove premeditation and his medical background could come in to play. And he said there is one other way Konig's defense could try to for a lesser charge. "He would have to be under extreme mental or emotional distress in order to convince a jury to drop the charge down." Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Konig is being held on $5 million bail. ...read more read less