July 28, 2024 • 9 mins
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.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Hilda. I'm Chelsea Daniels and from the team behind the
front page the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, This
is Accused The Pulkinghorn Trial. Over the next six weeks,
in conjunction with our usual daily episodes, will be bringing
you regular coverage as one of the most high profile
trials of the year makes its way through the High
(00:30):
Court at Auckland. A successful I surgeon, a celebrated DHB boss,
an unexplained death in an affluent Auckland suburb over a
long weekend. Today marks the beginning of a trial that
has been years in the making.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
A post mortem is complete, but police are still investigating
a sudden, unexplained death in Auckland's rama Weetder on Monday.
Police are waiting for results from other inquiries and are
still at the Upland Road address.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Pauline Hannah was found dead at the Remuerra home she
shared with her husband of thirty years, Philip Polkinghorn, on
Easter Monday twenty twenty one. The sixty three year old's
body was found inside the four million dollar Upland Road
property and for sixteen months her death was treated as unexplained.
(01:26):
That's until it emerged, Polkinghorn had been charged with murder.
He pleaded not guilty in August twenty twenty two. Here's
a report from me at that time. In twenty twenty two, Hannah,
who worked at the county's Monico DHB and was involved
in the COVID vaccine rollout, was found dead on April
(01:47):
fifth last year. Her death has been described as unexplained
until today's murder charge. Wearing jeans and a black leather jacket,
he pleaded not guilty through lawyer Rachel Reid HC and
will be released on bail. Polking Horn says he's shocked
he's been charged. He says he won't comment further, but
(02:07):
hopes the justice process will run its course and the
truth will be known. Polking Horn retired after his wife's
death and has moved out of the house. Police spent
eleven days searching the couple's home after Hannah's death on
April fifth, twenty twenty one. In a statement released through
(02:28):
his lawyer at the time of his arrest, polking Horn
expressed his shock at being charged. He said, I am
shocked that the police have charged me. I have recorded
that I am not guilty immediately now that the police
have charged me. The matter is before the courts and
I am not permitted to comment further.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
He said.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
The justice process must now run its course, and I
trust the truth will be shown. I thank my family
and friends for their enduring love and support. Polking Horn,
who for he worked as a doctor at auckland I
retired following his wife's death. Hannah had worked in various
roles in the public health system, including as an executive
(03:10):
project director at County's Monaco DHB and aiding with the
COVID nineteen vaccine rollout. We're joined now by senior Herald
reporter Carolyn Mgnee, who has also followed this case from
the very beginning. First off, can you take us back
to April twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
How did all of this start?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
It was an intriguing story, and I think the reason
why this case is of high interest public interest is
because it involves Philip Polkinghorn, a very highly acclaimed and
accomplished auckland Is surgeon, and his wife, Pauline Hannah, who
was a half executive at County's Monocal for about twenty years,
(03:55):
and she was also very, very highly involved in the
emergency response during COVID at that time. And I guess
it also is a case that you know, has all
the elements of a great mystery in a way, I mean,
you know, wealth, wealth factor, the elite. I suppose also
the fact that the death was unexplained so long as well,
(04:18):
so long, I mean Pauline died on April the fifth,
twenty twenty one. Philip Pockinghorn wasn't charged till seventeen months
later and appeared in court. We've had to wait two
years for this trial to start.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
You and I are attending the trial which starts today.
For the audience, we can kind of explain what happens
from the outset. The audience might read here or see
articles from a trial, but may not know the actual
process of how we got to this point and what
happens from here. So from today what happens.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
We do know, and we've been told that the trial
will take six weeks. We understand that there will be
quite a number of witnesses I assume probably lots of
family members attending on behalf of both sides. Ron Mansfield
is heading up the defense side along with his assistants,
and the Crown is Brian Dickey and Alisha McLintock.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
And from today we kind of go through the process
of finding that jury pool, and there's no clue as
to how long that will take.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Well, no, and I think they will have to be
very very meticulous about this because there has been a
lot of publicity in the past. It will be very
interesting to see how they vetoed or packed art to
be honest, and given the nature of the case as well,
we don't.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Know how long selecting a jury pool will take. After
that we get to hear the Crown and the defense
and their opening addresses and what kind of evidence or
witnesses they'll be calling over the next however, many weeks.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Absolutely what will be interesting I think watching the jury
being chosen I always find interesting, particularly in cases like this,
high profile cases, the gender balance, age, even sometimes ethnicity.
I find that sort of very interesting.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Thanks for joining us, Caro. So let's talk about the
key players we'll see and hear from over the next
month or so of this trial for the Crown. Crown
Solicitor Brian Dickey is a barrister at bank Side Chambers.
He led his first High Court trial at the age
of twenty three, and his first murder trial in two
(06:26):
thousand and three. He was appointed Crown Solicitor in twenty
fifteen and spent several years with a focus on commercial
litigation and white collar crime, including the run of finance
company cases following the global financial crisis. He's been at
the front and center of some of the country's biggest
murder trials. On the defense side, Ron Mansfield k C
(06:49):
is a senior criminal lawyer with more than thirty years
of experience. He was appointed to the senior rank of
King's Council in twenty twenty one. He's defended client and
serious criminal cases in some of New Zealand's highest profile trials,
as well as those charged with criminal offenses. Mansfield also
has a strong social justice streak. He's represented high profile
(07:13):
activists in cases involving social justice issues. So you might
be wondering how does a trial work. Well, today, work
will begin on impaneling a jury of twelve people. There
is never an indication on how long this will actually take.
It starts with the court registrar calling people's names out
(07:35):
to be potential jurors, which a lawyer can then challenge.
They don't have to explain why they challenge people, but
it's a tool that is used to ensure a good
cross section of a society on a final jury. The
judge usually makes opening remarks at the beginning of a
trial and explains the role of a jury, and they'll
explain how the law works and help jurors understand the
(07:57):
evidence that is presented in court. After a jury is
chosen or impaneled, the prosecution will begin outlining their case
with an opening statement. It includes what the defendant is
charged with and an explanation of the kinds of evidence
they'll present to the court. This is where the public
learns what the crown believes happened and how it intends
(08:19):
to prove it. The defense may also make an opening statement.
At this point. Witnesses will then be called to testify
one by one, questioned first by the prosecution and then
by the defense. That's called a cross examination. After the
prosecution's witnesses, the defense has then the chance to present
(08:40):
its evidence. If they intend to call witnesses, they too
will present an opening statement. When all the evidence is presented,
the prosecution and defense will make their closing statements to
the jury, and then the judge summarizes the case and
describes how the law applies to it. The jury then
goes out to deliberate. That could take hours or dace.
(09:04):
Regardless of how long it takes, we'll be bringing you
regular episodes over the coming weeks with insight from those
covering the trial. You can listen to episodes of Accused
the Polkinghorn 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 me Chelsea Daniels,
(09:27):
with producer Ethan Siles and sound engineer Patti fox And.
For more coverage of the Polkinghorn Trial, head to enzidherld
dot co dot enz
Hilda. I'm Chelsea Daniels and from the team behind the
front page the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, This
is Accused The Pulkinghorn Trial. Over the next six weeks,
in conjunction with our usual daily episodes, will be bringing
you regular coverage as one of the most high profile
trials of the year makes its way through the High
(00:30):
Court at Auckland. A successful I surgeon, a celebrated DHB boss,
an unexplained death in an affluent Auckland suburb over a
long weekend. Today marks the beginning of a trial that
has been years in the making.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
A post mortem is complete, but police are still investigating
a sudden, unexplained death in Auckland's rama Weetder on Monday.
Police are waiting for results from other inquiries and are
still at the Upland Road address.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Pauline Hannah was found dead at the Remuerra home she
shared with her husband of thirty years, Philip Polkinghorn, on
Easter Monday twenty twenty one. The sixty three year old's
body was found inside the four million dollar Upland Road
property and for sixteen months her death was treated as unexplained.
(01:26):
That's until it emerged, Polkinghorn had been charged with murder.
He pleaded not guilty in August twenty twenty two. Here's
a report from me at that time. In twenty twenty two, Hannah,
who worked at the county's Monico DHB and was involved
in the COVID vaccine rollout, was found dead on April
(01:47):
fifth last year. Her death has been described as unexplained
until today's murder charge. Wearing jeans and a black leather jacket,
he pleaded not guilty through lawyer Rachel Reid HC and
will be released on bail. Polking Horn says he's shocked
he's been charged. He says he won't comment further, but
(02:07):
hopes the justice process will run its course and the
truth will be known. Polking Horn retired after his wife's
death and has moved out of the house. Police spent
eleven days searching the couple's home after Hannah's death on
April fifth, twenty twenty one. In a statement released through
(02:28):
his lawyer at the time of his arrest, polking Horn
expressed his shock at being charged. He said, I am
shocked that the police have charged me. I have recorded
that I am not guilty immediately now that the police
have charged me. The matter is before the courts and
I am not permitted to comment further.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
He said.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
The justice process must now run its course, and I
trust the truth will be shown. I thank my family
and friends for their enduring love and support. Polking Horn,
who for he worked as a doctor at auckland I
retired following his wife's death. Hannah had worked in various
roles in the public health system, including as an executive
(03:10):
project director at County's Monaco DHB and aiding with the
COVID nineteen vaccine rollout. We're joined now by senior Herald
reporter Carolyn Mgnee, who has also followed this case from
the very beginning. First off, can you take us back
to April twenty twenty one.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
How did all of this start?
Speaker 3 (03:32):
It was an intriguing story, and I think the reason
why this case is of high interest public interest is
because it involves Philip Polkinghorn, a very highly acclaimed and
accomplished auckland Is surgeon, and his wife, Pauline Hannah, who
was a half executive at County's Monocal for about twenty years,
(03:55):
and she was also very, very highly involved in the
emergency response during COVID at that time. And I guess
it also is a case that you know, has all
the elements of a great mystery in a way, I mean,
you know, wealth, wealth factor, the elite. I suppose also
the fact that the death was unexplained so long as well,
(04:18):
so long, I mean Pauline died on April the fifth,
twenty twenty one. Philip Pockinghorn wasn't charged till seventeen months
later and appeared in court. We've had to wait two
years for this trial to start.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
You and I are attending the trial which starts today.
For the audience, we can kind of explain what happens
from the outset. The audience might read here or see
articles from a trial, but may not know the actual
process of how we got to this point and what
happens from here. So from today what happens.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
We do know, and we've been told that the trial
will take six weeks. We understand that there will be
quite a number of witnesses I assume probably lots of
family members attending on behalf of both sides. Ron Mansfield
is heading up the defense side along with his assistants,
and the Crown is Brian Dickey and Alisha McLintock.
Speaker 1 (05:14):
And from today we kind of go through the process
of finding that jury pool, and there's no clue as
to how long that will take.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
Well, no, and I think they will have to be
very very meticulous about this because there has been a
lot of publicity in the past. It will be very
interesting to see how they vetoed or packed art to
be honest, and given the nature of the case as well,
we don't.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Know how long selecting a jury pool will take. After
that we get to hear the Crown and the defense
and their opening addresses and what kind of evidence or
witnesses they'll be calling over the next however, many weeks.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Absolutely what will be interesting I think watching the jury
being chosen I always find interesting, particularly in cases like this,
high profile cases, the gender balance, age, even sometimes ethnicity.
I find that sort of very interesting.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Thanks for joining us, Caro. So let's talk about the
key players we'll see and hear from over the next
month or so of this trial for the Crown. Crown
Solicitor Brian Dickey is a barrister at bank Side Chambers.
He led his first High Court trial at the age
of twenty three, and his first murder trial in two
(06:26):
thousand and three. He was appointed Crown Solicitor in twenty
fifteen and spent several years with a focus on commercial
litigation and white collar crime, including the run of finance
company cases following the global financial crisis. He's been at
the front and center of some of the country's biggest
murder trials. On the defense side, Ron Mansfield k C
(06:49):
is a senior criminal lawyer with more than thirty years
of experience. He was appointed to the senior rank of
King's Council in twenty twenty one. He's defended client and
serious criminal cases in some of New Zealand's highest profile trials,
as well as those charged with criminal offenses. Mansfield also
has a strong social justice streak. He's represented high profile
(07:13):
activists in cases involving social justice issues. So you might
be wondering how does a trial work. Well, today, work
will begin on impaneling a jury of twelve people. There
is never an indication on how long this will actually take.
It starts with the court registrar calling people's names out
(07:35):
to be potential jurors, which a lawyer can then challenge.
They don't have to explain why they challenge people, but
it's a tool that is used to ensure a good
cross section of a society on a final jury. The
judge usually makes opening remarks at the beginning of a
trial and explains the role of a jury, and they'll
explain how the law works and help jurors understand the
(07:57):
evidence that is presented in court. After a jury is
chosen or impaneled, the prosecution will begin outlining their case
with an opening statement. It includes what the defendant is
charged with and an explanation of the kinds of evidence
they'll present to the court. This is where the public
learns what the crown believes happened and how it intends
(08:19):
to prove it. The defense may also make an opening statement.
At this point. Witnesses will then be called to testify
one by one, questioned first by the prosecution and then
by the defense. That's called a cross examination. After the
prosecution's witnesses, the defense has then the chance to present
(08:40):
its evidence. If they intend to call witnesses, they too
will present an opening statement. When all the evidence is presented,
the prosecution and defense will make their closing statements to
the jury, and then the judge summarizes the case and
describes how the law applies to it. The jury then
goes out to deliberate. That could take hours or dace.
(09:04):
Regardless of how long it takes, we'll be bringing you
regular episodes over the coming weeks with insight from those
covering the trial. You can listen to episodes of Accused
the Polkinghorn 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 me Chelsea Daniels,
(09:27):
with producer Ethan Siles and sound engineer Patti fox And.
For more coverage of the Polkinghorn Trial, head to enzidherld
dot co dot enz
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