Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial

NZH Presents - Rainbow Warrior: A Forgotten History

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0000

40 years ago, two bombs went off in Auckland's harbour when French agents targeted a Greenpeace ship. It was meant to be a warning against anti-nuclear protests, but the death of a photographer on board sparked a major police and political response.

From the NZ Herald and Bird of Paradise Productions, this six-part series re-examines the bombing, the events leading up to it, the investigation that followed, and the ongoing fallout from this case and the French nuclear testing.

Search for 'A Forgotten History' on your preferred podcast app.

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New documentary puts Pauline Hanna and Philip Polkinghorne back in the spotlight

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Pauline Hanna on a boat, sea breeze, big smiles.

It’s the image filmmakers of a new three-part documentary into her death, and subsequent murder trial of her husband, decide to open on.

Philip Polkinghorne was found not guilty of strangling his wife and making it look like she’d taken her own life.

The Front Page covered the mammoth nine-week trial in the series: Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial.

Today on The Front Page, executive producer Mark McNeill is with us to talk about the trial, the documentary, and the life of Pauline.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

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Polkinghorne sentenced for meth charges - what's happened since his trial?

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 03:43:10 +0000

It was a murder trial that gripped New Zealand, and the world.

Pauline Hanna was found dead in a Remuera home she shared with her husband, Philip Polkinghorne, on April 5, 2021.

What followed was a months-long investigation, Polkinghorne charged with murder, a mammoth trial and eventually, an acquittal.

A jury came back with the not guilty verdict in September – a moment that would not be mark the end of this saga.

That’s because on day one of the trial, former Auckland eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne pleaded guilty to meth charges.

Today, he was sentenced to 150 hours community service – for possession of meth and a pipe.

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineers Paddy Fox and Richard Martin.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip Polkinghorne found not guilty of the murder of Pauline Hanna

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 04:36:46 +0000

After eight weeks at the High Court in Auckland, on the first day of the ninth week, the jury has found Philip Polkinghorne not guilty of the murder of his wife, Pauline Hanna.

For more on how the last day of the trial, NZ Herald crime reporter Craig Kapitan details the decision.

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineer Paddy Fox. Additional production support by Helen King. Additional reporting by Craig Kapitan and George Block.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inside the defence's closing statement: What they say happened to Pauline Hanna

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 02:30:36 +0000

Week Eight has the Crown and Defence issuing their closing statements.

The Crown alleges that Philip Polkinghorne killed his wife, Pauline Hanna, on April 5 2021.

He maintains she took her own life.

After the Crown went first, it is now the turn of the defence - led by lawyer Ron Mansfield - to deliver its closing statement.

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Inside the Crown's closing statement: What they say happened to Pauline Hanna

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Week Eight has the Crown and Defence issuing their closing statements.

First is the Crown, with Crown Prosecutor Alysha McClintock delivering it to the jury.

The Crown alleges that Philip Polkinghorne killed his wife, Pauline Hanna, on April 5 2021.

He maintains she took her own life.

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Days 30 - 31: Final witnesses take the stand after seven weeks of testimony

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

After seven weeks and over 80 witnesses, we have finished hearing evidence in the trial of Philip Polkinghorne.

The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021.

He maintains she took her own life.

In the final days of testimony, the debate over activity on Hanna’s phone continued, before the last two witnesses to take the stand offered their views on the state of her mental health, and the risk factors that could have pushed her towards suicide.

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Days 27 - 29: Email highlights Hanna's work stress as witnesses weigh in on her mental health

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Originally due to run for six weeks, the trial of Philip Polkinghorne is now in its seventh week.

The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021.

He maintains she took her own life.

More witnesses from the defence took the stand to discuss their thoughts on how Hanna died, and the risk factors that could have pushed her to take her own life.

New emails from Hanna were read to the court, and the question on if she used her phone the night before she died saw one Crown witness returned to the stand.

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineer Dan Goodwin. Additional production support by Helen King. Additional reporting by Craig Kapitan and George Block.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Days 24 - 26: Witnesses reveal a different side of Polkinghorne as defence argues its case

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 04:00:00 +0000

Week six of the trial of Philip Polkinghorne continued with the defence’s case.

The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021.

He maintains she took her own life.

Witnesses for the defence revealed a different side of Polkinghorne then what we’ve previously heard, with former colleagues and neighbours describing him as funny, generous and caring.

While the case took another dive into the couple’s accounts, electricity usage the morning Hanna died, and the reappearance of a red mark on the stairs – and the defence pathologist weighed in as well.

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Days 22 and 23: Defence opens their case with Pauline Hanna's sister

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 07:25:51 +0000

After nearly five weeks of witnesses, The Crown has closed its case in the trial of Philip Polkinghorne.

The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021.

He maintains she took her own life.

The Crown closed its case with more on Polkinghorne’s arrest, Police searches, and a last minute witness on cell phones.

The rest of the trial is now in the hands of the Defence – and for their first witness, they called up Pauline Hanna’s own sister.

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Days 20 and 21: The final search history and unsent messages of Pauline Hanna

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 07:04:47 +0000

Week five in the trial of Philip Polkinghorne has kicked off with more on what was found on the couple’s tech, a hint that Pauline Hanna found a P pipe months before her death, and what exactly is a ‘girlfriend experience’?

And two messages, drafted, on the morning of Pauline Hanna’s death, have also been revealed by the defence.

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineer Paddy Fox. Additional reporting by Craig Kapitan and George Block.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Days 18 and 19: Sex tapes, intimate letters and Google searches revealed

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 06:26:11 +0000

The end of the shortened fourth week in the trial of Philip Polkinghorne traverses a range of topics He’s accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, in April 2021 – but maintains, she took her own life.

More on the couple’s finances, the dark sides of meth use, a sex tape, Google searches about infidelity, and a series of intimate letters between a husband and a wife were all revealed and discussed by witnesses.

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineer Paddy Fox. Additional reporting by Craig Kapitan and George Block.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Days 16 and 17: Drug tests at Auckland Eye before the couple's finances are examined

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 06:11:17 +0000

The trial of Philip Polkinghorne has, in theory, hit the halfway mark – with Justice Graham Lang telling the jury it’s “broadly on schedule”.

Polkinghorne’s accused of strangling his wife, Pauline Hanna, at the couple’s Remuera home in April 2021 – before allegedly staging the scene to look like she’d taken her own life.

His defence maintains she committed suicide.

Day 16 focused on Auckland Eye, Polkinghorne's workplace, and how his colleagues found a meth pipe and lighter in one of the consult rooms, and the subsequent drug testing there.

Day 17 solely focused on Polkinghorne and Hanna's finances and what a forensic accountant found about the state of them.

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Days 14 and 15: Friends, colleagues share more about their concerns for Pauline

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 05:23:52 +0000

Questions around a certain dinner at a Havelock North restaurant, more on what prescription drugs Pauline Hanna was taking – and unravelling the issues at Auckland Eye.

Friends and colleagues have weighed in at the end of the third week of Philip Polkinghorne’s trial.

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Days 12 and 13: Pathologists detail Pauline's death, friends testify about their concerns

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 07:01:59 +0000

Warning: This episode contains disturbing material and some explicit language.

How did Pauline Hanna die? That’s the question for the jury, who, for weeks will consider evidence and ultimately decide – was it murder, or suicide?

It’s also a question put to two different pathologists, tasked with exploring how the 63-year-old died in her Remuera home in April 2021.

Philip Polkinghorne is accused of murdering his wife – but maintains she took her own life.

We also hear from a long-time friend of Pauline and about an incident that worried her and her husband, and we get the first glimpse into Philip’s work life – what were the issues at Auckland Eye we’ve heard so much about?

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Days 10 and 11: Family and co-workers shed light on Pauline's view of her marriage

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 06:11:21 +0000

Day 10 saw the jury visit to the home of Pauline Hanna and Phllip Polkinghorne to see where Pauline had died.

That was before a parade of ex-colleagues took to the stand to shed light on their relationship with Pauline, and what she told them about her concern for her marriage and her finances.

Plus, an explanation as to why Pauline Hanna’s niece recorded a family conversation.

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Day 9: Pauline labels her husband a 'sex fiend' as more revealed about her mental health

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 07:10:44 +0000

Pauline Hanna’s voice echoed throughout the courtroom on Day 9 of the trial of her husband, Philip Polkinghorne, who is accused of murdering her.

It came in the form of a covert recording of a family dinner – providing Hanna a chance to explain their relationship in her own words to the jury, who’ll decide whether she died of foul play, or, whether she took her own life.

That was before a bombshell was dropped by the defence, as they revealed new information about the state of her mental health in the decades before her death.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Days 7 and 8: Court hears Polkinghorne's police interview after first glimpses at infidelity

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 07:57:28 +0000

The court has gotten its first glimpse of evidence from those closest to Philip Polkinghorne and Paulina Hanna – and some insight into his infidelity. And we have heard directly from Polkinghorne, with the court hearing his interview with Police for the first time.

The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his DHB boss wife in April 2021 - but he says, she took her own life.

Day 7 heard from a friend of the couple who owned the bach next to them, before the court heard from a power expert to analyse Polkinghorne's version of events from the morning Hanna died.

On Day 8, more people who had come into contact with the couple, including a personal trainer due to see Hanna the morning she died. Police also detailed a raid on a chalet where Polkinghorne was staying with a sex worker in the weeks after his wife's death, before his Police interview was played.

For the transcripts from Polkinghorne's interview, go here:https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/philip-polkinghorne-murder-trial-jurors-hear-defendant-in-his-own-words-as-police-interview-played/U7YXHIMVBRBO3NDL2BJRGO5NZI/

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Day 6: What forensic evidence was and wasn't found at the scene

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 07:24:06 +0000

As the trial begins its second week, Day 6 began with a cross-examination of ESR forensic scientist, Fiona Matheson, and later the court heard from ESR forensic scientist Nicholas Curno, to discuss DNA evidence.

Last week, the jury heard how police and forensic scientists spent 11 days at the scene.

We already know the Crown isn’t relying too much on forensics done at the scene – but, it’s important for ESR to walk the jury through what they didn’t find, just as much as what they may have.

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Days 4 and 5: Ropes, laundry and photos focus of end of trial's first week

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 06:25:13 +0000

The first week of the trial of Philip Polkinghorne has come to an end.

While we’re in the early stages of evidence, the topics that will be covered in the case have been made clear.

Infidelity, threesomes, sex workers, a meth habit, financial concerns, depression, stress, and a Covid vaccine rollout: All this will be traversed over the next six weeks to answer the ultimate question of murder or suicide?

Day 4 focused on the rope found at the scene and analysis of it from a Canadian expert, before the state of the guest room and laundry in the couple's home was explored. Day 5 had a focus on some of the last photos seen of Hanna from the day before her death.

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Day 3: Inside the scene examination and what Police saw

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 07:00:44 +0000

Day three of the trial of Philip Polkinghorne centred around a bright orange rope hanging from a balustrade, and a detailed walk-through of the scene examination of the couple’s Remuera home.

The former Auckland eye surgeon maintains his wife took her own life on the morning of April 5, 2021 - an Easter Monday.

But, the Crown claims he staged the scene to look like suicide.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day 2: First responders paint picture of the morning of Pauline Hanna's death

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 07:01:39 +0000

Warning: This podcast contains disturbing content.

The second day of the trial focused on those who first attended the scene where Pauline Hanna's body was found.

Was Philip Polkinghorne reasonably calm on the morning of his wife’s death or just composed and trying to help?

Was the injury on his forehead a scratch, graze, scrape, or cut?

How was Pauline Hanna’s body found - and what injuries did she have?

And why, by late morning, before a statement was even given, did Police deem the scene suspicious?

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineer Paddy Fox.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Day 1: Opening statements set stage for trial as jury hears 111 call

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:05:55 +0000

Warning: This podcast contains disturbing content.

The Crown has alleged extramarital affairs, dealings with sex workers, and a drug habit.

The defence claims a suicide, casual drug use, and an open and loving relationship.

All the cards were laid on the table on the first day of Philip Polkinghorne's trial.

He’s accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna – whose body was found in the couple’s Remuera home in April 2021.

You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineer Paddy Fox.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Accused: What to expect from the Polkinghorne trial

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 17:00:00 +0000

On Easter Monday 2021, Paulina Hanna was found dead at the Remuera home she shared with her husband of 30 years, Philip Polkinghorne.

For 16 months, her death was treated as “unexplained”. That’s until it emerged Polkinghorne had been charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty in August 2022.

From the team behind The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, comes Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial.

Listen to Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, or in The Front Page podcast feed.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.