July 29, 2024 • 13 mins
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.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Kyota. I'm Chelsea Daniels and from the team behind the
front page the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, This
Is Accused the Polkinghorn Trial. Over the next six weeks,
in conjunction with our usual daily episodes, we'll be bringing
you regular coverage as one of the most high profile
(00:28):
trials of the year makes its way through the High
Court at Auckland. A warning, this podcast contains disturbing content.
The Crown has alleged extramarital affairs, dealings with sex workers
and a drug habit. The defense claims a suicide, casual
(00:49):
drug use and an open and loving relationship. All the
cards have been laid on the table in the first
day of the trial of Philip Polkinghorn, accused of murdering
his wife, Pauline Hannah, whose body was found in the
couple's remuware A home in April twenty twenty one. Polkinghorn
started the trial today with guilty please to possession of
(01:12):
methanphetamine and a meth pipe. For the past two years
the charges were not allowed to be reported, but suppression
lapsed with the admission of guilt. The guilty please leave
just one charge remaining for the six week trial murder.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Philip John Polkinhorn on charge one surcross list to Edwicklund's charges,
but on about the fifth of August two thousand and
twenty one at Auckland murdered Pauline Kay Hannah.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
How do you plead guilty or not guilty? Not gaughty?
Speaker 1 (01:45):
A jury was selected by eleven am before Crown Prosecutor
Alicia McClintock outlined the Crown's case against Polkinghorn. She started
by saying he led a double life.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
He was spending large amounts of money on sex workers
and engaging and a number of extramarital encounters and relationships.
He had a problematic methamphetamine habit. He was spending marital
finances in many ways that benefited only himself.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
McClintock said. Over Easter weekend twenty twenty one, Pauline Hannah
did a series of things that were normal for her.
She trained with her personal trainer. She took dinner to
some unwell friends. She went to the rubbish tap. She
did some work at home, the home she shared with
Philip Pulkinghorn.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Her work was something that was incredibly important to her.
She took pride in her work Miss Hannah also took
great pride in her appearance. She was immaculately turned out
always no matter what she was doing. Miss Hannah's life
(02:55):
that Easter weekend was very busy, and that's something she thrived. Overall,
she was well, but one aspect of her life was
troubling for Miss Hannah, and it had been troubling for
her for quite some time. Her husband, the defendant, was
both controlling.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
And sexually demanded of here.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
In unusual ways. At times, he had become aggressive towards her.
He was having several extramarital encounters. She was concerned what
he was doing with their finances. This aspect of her
(03:44):
life was distressing for Miss Hannah. She considered leaving her husband.
She spoke to her friends about her relationship to Clark. Ultimately,
she was coping with this challenging aspect of her life.
She loved her husband, even if she did not always
(04:07):
love how he treated.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Her, but that's just the crown side of the story.
Defense lawyer Ron Mansfield told the jury it would later
hear evidence to suggest neither Polkinghorn or their relationship was perfect.
Speaker 6 (04:20):
But you will hear evidence through the course of this
trial that might make you think doctor Polkinghorn wasn't perfect,
or perhaps their relationship wasn't perfect. I don't know what
is perfect. I don't know the perfect person, and I
don't know the perfect relationship. And I'm sure you're much
(04:43):
the same.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
The Crown allegeds Polkinghorn staged the scene to make it
look like his wife's death was a suicide.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Brown allegens the evidence in this case will show the
rope was too loosely tied to have sufficient tension to
kill Miss Hannah, and simply too lot. As I've said
its position where it's not halfway up the balustrade. If
it had borne the weight of Miss Hannah, even though
she was slight, it would have slipped down to the
(05:13):
bottom of the balustrade. And as I've said that it's
not where it was.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
McLintock said the rope that was found did not have
enough tension. It was too loose and too long. The
Crown alleges a struggle took place, given Hannah had injuries
to her nose, scalp bruises on her arm, marks on
the left side of her back, and Polkinghorn had a
fresh cut on his forehead that he couldn't explain no
marks were noticed on her face the night before, McClintock said,
(05:40):
But defense lawyer Ron Mansfield says, after days of scientists
collecting samples, no evidence has been revealed to suggest there
was a fight, an argument, or a staging.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
This is a case where the Crown know that there
is no pathology to support its theory of a homicide.
The Crown knows that there is no evidence of an
argument that evening. The Crown knows that there is no
evidence of any methamphetamine use by doctor Polmingthorn that night.
(06:17):
The Crown knows that there is no evidence of any arguing,
disagreement or an assault, lead alone a fatal assault.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
He said what Polkinghorn told police wasn't a lie. He
simply answered questions asked of him. Police found thirty seven
point seven grams of meth dotted all around the house
in the master bedroom, bathrooms, and study. A meth pipe,
meth and a lighter was found in the main bedroom
where Polkinghorn slept. Hannah slept in another bedroom the night
(06:50):
before her death. Hannah appears to have also been grappling
with the former eye doctor's meth habit. The CROWND says
Hannah had searched privately on the Internet prior to her death,
what sensation does p give you? She searched what does
a pea pipe look like? And pea pipe. These searches
were just three months before her death. The searchers suggest
(07:14):
an ignorance about drug use. McClintock said a meth pipe
was also found at auckland I in twenty twenty in
an exam room that Polkinghorn used. The Crown says it's
the same type as the one found at his home.
Mansfield said there's no evidence to suggest Polkinghorn was under
the influence that night.
Speaker 6 (07:36):
There will be evidence of casual use of the drug,
a drug which is used by many within our community,
despite our views on it, without risk of argument, violence
or homicide.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
The Crown alleged details of the couple's sex life, including
Polkinghorn's relationship with Sydney's sex worker Madison Ashton.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Miss Hannah did know that her husband saw Miss Ashton.
She told friends about it in a way she was
reluctantly accepting of the fact that he had sex with
Miss Ashton when he was in Australia. Indeed, there were
times years prior when Miss Hannah joined doctor Polkinghorn and
(08:25):
Miss Ashton in threesomes in Australia.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
McClintock said Hannah admitted to friends she joined the pair
in a threesome reluctantly in Australia, but would become concerned
with her husband's obsession with group sex. Polkinghorn also apparently
was seeing sex workers in Auckland as well. He was
apparently transferring large amounts of money to sex workers and
(08:51):
Miss Ashton.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
He had taken this one relationship, though that was Miss Ashton,
to a personal level of a partner. He appears to
have been planning a future with and certainly was financially supportive,
but he hadn't told his wife that this was quite
the tangled web of life the doctor was weaving.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
The Crown suggests had apparently deleted WhatsApp messages with Ashton
after Hannah's death and asked her to do the same.
The court we'll hear from a range of witnesses over
the course of the next six weeks, including sex worker
Madison Ashton. Defense lawyer Ron Mansfield says the couple's relationship
was good and positive.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
She was open with her friends and colleagues regarding their
lifestyle and certainly in relation to family, despite incuring the
judgment of some of them in relation to it. It's easy,
I suggest, to attribute blame to doctor Polkinghorn for the
relationships outside of their marriage that he had or they had.
(09:59):
But understand in the nature of this relationship and it's
open nature in relation to sexual relationships is important to
understand and accept without judgment.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Philip Polkinghorn called one one one on the morning of
his wife's death, and that's been played to the jury.
We'll play that call for you.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Now you pay one telephone from.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
Organizing help for you.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Now, she's cold, want to up alone?
Speaker 5 (10:51):
What's your name?
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Immediately put the I mean she's creating. Okay, No, she's not.
Cut her down, you can't. We all get up here.
She's she's on the boats did okay?
Speaker 5 (11:21):
So so tell her why you believe that she p
So why do you believe that she did go.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Un put a punk on the botom and that she's blue?
She's cold? Okay?
Speaker 5 (11:31):
And how old is she?
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Please?
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Okay? Fer mashine awake? No, no, okay, you're a doctor
as well as I do. There I can feel for
a moment. H h h oh okay, that's updated. Spear
(11:58):
with me for a moment and need any help all
right now?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Can hello alone, can go to.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Everything and we've build it. No need anything else that
we can do for you.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Well the way we'll be there quickly, not right, they.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Crown witnesses has begun to be called and will continue
over the course of the next few weeks. The defense
will then invite its witnesses to give evidence. Prosecutors said
at the beginning of the day, this case is like
something of a crime novel. The trial continues tomorrow. You
(12:54):
can listen to episodes of Accused the Bulkinghorn Trial through
the front Page podcast fast Feed, or find it on
iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. This series is
presented and produced by me Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan
Siles and sound engineer Patti fox And. For more coverage
of the Polkinghorn trial, head to Ensidherld dot co dot Nz.
Kyota. I'm Chelsea Daniels and from the team behind the
front page the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, This
Is Accused the Polkinghorn Trial. Over the next six weeks,
in conjunction with our usual daily episodes, we'll be bringing
you regular coverage as one of the most high profile
(00:28):
trials of the year makes its way through the High
Court at Auckland. A warning, this podcast contains disturbing content.
The Crown has alleged extramarital affairs, dealings with sex workers
and a drug habit. The defense claims a suicide, casual
(00:49):
drug use and an open and loving relationship. All the
cards have been laid on the table in the first
day of the trial of Philip Polkinghorn, accused of murdering
his wife, Pauline Hannah, whose body was found in the
couple's remuware A home in April twenty twenty one. Polkinghorn
started the trial today with guilty please to possession of
(01:12):
methanphetamine and a meth pipe. For the past two years
the charges were not allowed to be reported, but suppression
lapsed with the admission of guilt. The guilty please leave
just one charge remaining for the six week trial murder.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
Philip John Polkinhorn on charge one surcross list to Edwicklund's charges,
but on about the fifth of August two thousand and
twenty one at Auckland murdered Pauline Kay Hannah.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
How do you plead guilty or not guilty? Not gaughty?
Speaker 1 (01:45):
A jury was selected by eleven am before Crown Prosecutor
Alicia McClintock outlined the Crown's case against Polkinghorn. She started
by saying he led a double life.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
He was spending large amounts of money on sex workers
and engaging and a number of extramarital encounters and relationships.
He had a problematic methamphetamine habit. He was spending marital
finances in many ways that benefited only himself.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
McClintock said. Over Easter weekend twenty twenty one, Pauline Hannah
did a series of things that were normal for her.
She trained with her personal trainer. She took dinner to
some unwell friends. She went to the rubbish tap. She
did some work at home, the home she shared with
Philip Pulkinghorn.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Her work was something that was incredibly important to her.
She took pride in her work Miss Hannah also took
great pride in her appearance. She was immaculately turned out
always no matter what she was doing. Miss Hannah's life
(02:55):
that Easter weekend was very busy, and that's something she thrived. Overall,
she was well, but one aspect of her life was
troubling for Miss Hannah, and it had been troubling for
her for quite some time. Her husband, the defendant, was
both controlling.
Speaker 5 (03:17):
And sexually demanded of here.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
In unusual ways. At times, he had become aggressive towards her.
He was having several extramarital encounters. She was concerned what
he was doing with their finances. This aspect of her
(03:44):
life was distressing for Miss Hannah. She considered leaving her husband.
She spoke to her friends about her relationship to Clark. Ultimately,
she was coping with this challenging aspect of her life.
She loved her husband, even if she did not always
(04:07):
love how he treated.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Her, but that's just the crown side of the story.
Defense lawyer Ron Mansfield told the jury it would later
hear evidence to suggest neither Polkinghorn or their relationship was perfect.
Speaker 6 (04:20):
But you will hear evidence through the course of this
trial that might make you think doctor Polkinghorn wasn't perfect,
or perhaps their relationship wasn't perfect. I don't know what
is perfect. I don't know the perfect person, and I
don't know the perfect relationship. And I'm sure you're much
(04:43):
the same.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
The Crown allegeds Polkinghorn staged the scene to make it
look like his wife's death was a suicide.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Brown allegens the evidence in this case will show the
rope was too loosely tied to have sufficient tension to
kill Miss Hannah, and simply too lot. As I've said
its position where it's not halfway up the balustrade. If
it had borne the weight of Miss Hannah, even though
she was slight, it would have slipped down to the
(05:13):
bottom of the balustrade. And as I've said that it's
not where it was.
Speaker 1 (05:17):
McLintock said the rope that was found did not have
enough tension. It was too loose and too long. The
Crown alleges a struggle took place, given Hannah had injuries
to her nose, scalp bruises on her arm, marks on
the left side of her back, and Polkinghorn had a
fresh cut on his forehead that he couldn't explain no
marks were noticed on her face the night before, McClintock said,
(05:40):
But defense lawyer Ron Mansfield says, after days of scientists
collecting samples, no evidence has been revealed to suggest there
was a fight, an argument, or a staging.
Speaker 6 (05:51):
This is a case where the Crown know that there
is no pathology to support its theory of a homicide.
The Crown knows that there is no evidence of an
argument that evening. The Crown knows that there is no
evidence of any methamphetamine use by doctor Polmingthorn that night.
(06:17):
The Crown knows that there is no evidence of any arguing,
disagreement or an assault, lead alone a fatal assault.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
He said what Polkinghorn told police wasn't a lie. He
simply answered questions asked of him. Police found thirty seven
point seven grams of meth dotted all around the house
in the master bedroom, bathrooms, and study. A meth pipe,
meth and a lighter was found in the main bedroom
where Polkinghorn slept. Hannah slept in another bedroom the night
(06:50):
before her death. Hannah appears to have also been grappling
with the former eye doctor's meth habit. The CROWND says
Hannah had searched privately on the Internet prior to her death,
what sensation does p give you? She searched what does
a pea pipe look like? And pea pipe. These searches
were just three months before her death. The searchers suggest
(07:14):
an ignorance about drug use. McClintock said a meth pipe
was also found at auckland I in twenty twenty in
an exam room that Polkinghorn used. The Crown says it's
the same type as the one found at his home.
Mansfield said there's no evidence to suggest Polkinghorn was under
the influence that night.
Speaker 6 (07:36):
There will be evidence of casual use of the drug,
a drug which is used by many within our community,
despite our views on it, without risk of argument, violence
or homicide.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
The Crown alleged details of the couple's sex life, including
Polkinghorn's relationship with Sydney's sex worker Madison Ashton.
Speaker 4 (08:00):
Miss Hannah did know that her husband saw Miss Ashton.
She told friends about it in a way she was
reluctantly accepting of the fact that he had sex with
Miss Ashton when he was in Australia. Indeed, there were
times years prior when Miss Hannah joined doctor Polkinghorn and
(08:25):
Miss Ashton in threesomes in Australia.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
McClintock said Hannah admitted to friends she joined the pair
in a threesome reluctantly in Australia, but would become concerned
with her husband's obsession with group sex. Polkinghorn also apparently
was seeing sex workers in Auckland as well. He was
apparently transferring large amounts of money to sex workers and
(08:51):
Miss Ashton.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
He had taken this one relationship, though that was Miss Ashton,
to a personal level of a partner. He appears to
have been planning a future with and certainly was financially supportive,
but he hadn't told his wife that this was quite
the tangled web of life the doctor was weaving.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
The Crown suggests had apparently deleted WhatsApp messages with Ashton
after Hannah's death and asked her to do the same.
The court we'll hear from a range of witnesses over
the course of the next six weeks, including sex worker
Madison Ashton. Defense lawyer Ron Mansfield says the couple's relationship
was good and positive.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
She was open with her friends and colleagues regarding their
lifestyle and certainly in relation to family, despite incuring the
judgment of some of them in relation to it. It's easy,
I suggest, to attribute blame to doctor Polkinghorn for the
relationships outside of their marriage that he had or they had.
(09:59):
But understand in the nature of this relationship and it's
open nature in relation to sexual relationships is important to
understand and accept without judgment.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Philip Polkinghorn called one one one on the morning of
his wife's death, and that's been played to the jury.
We'll play that call for you.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Now you pay one telephone from.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
Organizing help for you.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Now, she's cold, want to up alone?
Speaker 5 (10:51):
What's your name?
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Immediately put the I mean she's creating. Okay, No, she's not.
Cut her down, you can't. We all get up here.
She's she's on the boats did okay?
Speaker 5 (11:21):
So so tell her why you believe that she p
So why do you believe that she did go.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
Un put a punk on the botom and that she's blue?
She's cold? Okay?
Speaker 5 (11:31):
And how old is she?
Speaker 3 (11:32):
Please?
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Okay? Fer mashine awake? No, no, okay, you're a doctor
as well as I do. There I can feel for
a moment. H h h oh okay, that's updated. Spear
(11:58):
with me for a moment and need any help all
right now?
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Can hello alone, can go to.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Everything and we've build it. No need anything else that
we can do for you.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
Well the way we'll be there quickly, not right, they.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Crown witnesses has begun to be called and will continue
over the course of the next few weeks. The defense
will then invite its witnesses to give evidence. Prosecutors said
at the beginning of the day, this case is like
something of a crime novel. The trial continues tomorrow. You
(12:54):
can listen to episodes of Accused the Bulkinghorn Trial through
the front Page podcast fast Feed, or find it on
iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. This series is
presented and produced by me Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan
Siles and sound engineer Patti fox And. For more coverage
of the Polkinghorn trial, head to Ensidherld dot co dot Nz.
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