August 14, 2024 • 30 mins
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?
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.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Kiyota. 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, will be bringing
you regular coverage as one of the most high profile
trials of the year makes its way through the High
(00:28):
Court at Auckland. A warning, this podcast contains disturbing content.
How did Pauline Hannah 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
(00:50):
two different pathologists tasked with exploring how the sixty three
year old died in her Remuera home in April twenty
twenty one. Philip Polkinghorn is accused of murdering his wife,
but maintains she took her own life. We also hear
from a longtime friend of Pauline and about an incident
that worried her and her husband, and we get the
(01:13):
first glimpse into Philip's work life. What were the issues
at Auckland I We've heard so much about. On day twelve,
the Crown called forensic pathologist doctor Keelak Kesher of Auckland
City Hospital. He conducted the autopsy of Pauline Hannah's body
(01:36):
and he's done around four thousand of them over ten years.
He did Hannah's post mortem on April sixth, twenty twenty one,
the day after she was reported dead.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
There were particular which are small pinpoint hemorrhages on the face,
the aural and the mouth, the contractarverrahs of the eyes.
There was blood emerging from the right ear. There was
an abrasion on her nose on the bridge of the nose, sorry,
(02:09):
one on the left side of the nose, another abrasion
on the left side of the back. There was a
cluster of bruising on the back of the right arm.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
These small pinpoint hemorrhages or contusions are commonly seen when
there's an obstruction to the neck veins. On the injuries
to her nose, he said, any number of things could
have happened. She could have fallen or been struck. You
can never know.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
There was no evidence of any healing or like a
scab formation on the injury, so it was quite recent.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Beyond quite recent. Can you be more particular on timing.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
No, all I can say is at or around time
and death.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Red discoloration on her back was different to a scrape
and indicated lividity when the blood begins to pull in
a part of the body after death.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
So if you die and line your back, the blood
will pull to the towards your back.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
And so that's the reddening we can see here. Yes,
how quickly will it occur or repair?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
It'd say they If you read the textbook, they say
about thirty minutes to three hours it starts to appear,
and then there's maximum around about twelve hours ten ten hours, So.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Any time between that period, depending how you're placed post there,
the levedity may present in that area or certain areas. Yes,
associated with how you've been positioned, how their bodies positioned.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
On the back of a right arm, there were several
round purple bruises in a.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Cluster vindicative of anything or are they say again mechanism
injury is a blunt impact. We see them quite often
if someone is held and those are the things marks
on the back of the arm.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Right So you're not saying that are at your finglets,
but that's they could.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Be absolutely correct.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
You can't look at that and say, therefore summon's being held.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
No, I can't say that for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
The bruises on the arms had no signs of yellow
wing that would indicate that they were older bruises, he said.
Onto the belt impression on her neck, Kesha said he
had seen it himself at the scene, a criss cross
pattern on the right side. An officer there alerted him
to a belt found. He said that looked identical with these.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Taken at the post mortem.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Yes, this is taken out of the post mortem roughly
twenty hours later, and as you can see, there is
no markings left right.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
So the markings have gone away to some greater or
lesser extent. Yes, what does that suggest to you? Was
there any bruising underneath the skin?
Speaker 4 (04:52):
No, there was no bruising under the skin or the
muscles of the neck.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
And what does that sug you see?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
You in the terms care thought that there was an object,
most likely the belt on the neck.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
After death.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
The shape of the marks on her neck was also
more consistent with a ligature applied from directly behind her,
rather than one secured to a point above, like the
balustrade where the orange rope was tied. That being said,
his final finding was that she died via neck compression,
a broad finding that encompasses manual or ligature strangulations, hangings,
(05:32):
and auto erotic asphyxiation. Normally, though Kesha said, when people
are strangled there'd be more injuries.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
But normally with people that have that are strangled, they
have a lot more injuries, not just to the neck
and the face, but also the arms, hands, even the legs.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
We do have some injuries to the arm in this case. Yes,
so what are you saying they're not enough to provide.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
You I would normally see a lot more than what
I saw necessarily, so it's not necessary if she subdued
some other way.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
On cross examination, Ron Mansfield asked about the belt mark.
He quickly had kesher can see the belt could have
been used in her death then removed shortly after she died,
and if it had.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
Been removed one to two perhaps longer hours after her death,
then that might also explain. Might it not why it
was seen on the fifth but it wasn't seen on
the six.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
It's possible, but I'd say it's less than two hours.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
Well, we can agree the time period might be one.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
To two hours couldn't we It's possible yet.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Well, both possibilities.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
Are equal, aren't they.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Yes, So the.
Speaker 6 (06:58):
Absence of the belt impression by the time you do
the autopsy on the sixth simply means one of two things.
Perhaps it was placed on her neck after.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Her death, yes, Or.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
She was discovered dead and.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
It was removed one to two hours following her death. Yes,
And you can't tell us, can you which one of
those is more likely than the other.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
That's correct, They can't.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Mansfield pointed out that the talk of the belt impression
was not included in his report.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Why not include it, I've never included in the past.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
Well on how many occasions have you undertaken an autopsy
having seen it the scene, an impression or literature mark,
and then.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
The next day not seen it.
Speaker 6 (07:58):
Never So, given that, and if you thought it was significant,
why would you not report on it within your autopsy report?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
I just didn't report it.
Speaker 7 (08:10):
But nonetheless, doctor, even if you thought then that this
might be significant, it doesn't appear to have had any
bearing whatsoever on your ultimate conclusion in your report.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
The reason I didn't report it is I thought it'd
be there during the post mortem, So first time I've
ever had one disappear.
Speaker 6 (08:29):
Well, when it didn't, when it didn't appear on post mortem.
And although you've told us that there are two explanations
for this, it would not be difficult to report on
it within your report, would it.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
It's correct, but you chose not to. That's correct because
it had no.
Speaker 6 (08:53):
Significance if, in fact was noted, did it?
Speaker 4 (08:59):
It's incorrect?
Speaker 6 (09:00):
Well does it impact on your ultimate conclusion within your report?
Speaker 4 (09:05):
No? Well, why does it today, doctor, I don't understand.
Speaker 6 (09:12):
Well, why does it today impact on what you can
tell us?
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Why is it today?
Speaker 6 (09:21):
For the first time, you're telling us that the position
of the belt impression might have some significance.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
I've told the police from day one, Well.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
Where is it within your report?
Speaker 4 (09:41):
I didn't put on my report?
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Okay, As you conceded, the direction of the belt impression
didn't have an impact on his overall conclusion of neck
compression as the cause of death, which did not rule
out the possibility of suicide by hanging. Mansfield brings up
the lack of injuries one might see in someone who's
been manually strangled.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
So even if.
Speaker 6 (10:03):
And there's an absence of any evidence on this, but
even if a choker hold was applied, then there's just
no injury that you observed on missus Polkinghorn, or any
injury reported to you on doctor Polkinghorn. There might be
consistent with any form of resistance by missus Polkinghorn.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Correct, that's correct.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
He goes through her injuries. The pinpoint hemorrhages, for example,
could be a result of suicide by hanging. Bruises on
her right arm, which he earlier said were consistent with
being grabbed, were difficult to age and could have been
caused Kesher agreed by Hannah being steadied by a personal
trainer at the gym. The trial heard earlier she'd been
(10:44):
at a personal training session in the days before her death.
Mansfield asked about the abrasion on her nose.
Speaker 6 (10:51):
Are you able to tell us whether they occurred before
her death or whether they could have occurred shortly.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
After her death at or around time of death.
Speaker 6 (11:02):
So, for example, if she was moved one to two
hours after her death and her knees came into contact
with a surface, either the floor, a wall, or a step,
then that might explain such abrasions. No help me with that.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
And then because there's a hemorrhage under the ambrasion on
the nose, so she was alive when it occurred.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Mansfield asked the pathologist on the particulars of full suspension
versus partial suspension hangings. Both the judge and lawyers have
urged extreme caution in reporting these details, and we've chosen
to leave out much of what was said about the
particulars of the method. Essentially, what we know is that
a full suspension is when someone's feet are off the floor.
(11:48):
A partial one could be when someone's sitting or slumping.
He goes on to clarify there aren't any indications that
Pauline was fighting back, but.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Also just in the fight.
Speaker 6 (11:58):
While the assailant is applied the required pressure through their
hands to their neck, not only might we see variable
bruises with shape and intensity to their neck on the outside,
we are also likely to see bruises to the rest
of their body correct yes, reflecting the fact that they're
(12:20):
held down or pinned down, yes, or that they're punched
or kicked.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
That's correct.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
So we don't see bruises on her neck. No scratches
and other injuries on her are minor. Kesha agreed. You
can tell the difference. If an injury is caused due
to being restrained, you'd see bruises around the rest if
they're being held down. For instance, the finger type bruising
on her arms was light, they'd be more intense. Kesha
said they spoke more about lividity. This can happen as
(12:48):
soon as thirty minutes after death. Mansfield mentions the defense
pathologists view that areas of Hannah's body suggest she was
sitting when she died.
Speaker 6 (12:57):
That that postward and lividity has moved when she's been
taken off the chair and laid on the ground.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Yes, because that's what occurs. Correct. Yes, so whilst post.
Speaker 6 (13:09):
Wartem lividity might be obvious if she had remained on
the chair, given that she was moved and laid down
on the ground, the post wartem lividity has moved consistent
with lying flat on the ground.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Yes, so after about ten hours, it becomes fixed. Before
ten hours, no matter if you move the body delibery,
it can change.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Brian Dickey then had a chance to clarify a few things.
When we say Hannah's injuries weren't indicative of a violent assault,
what does that mean that.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
None of them were path and your monarka of or
Pathan monarka of an assault?
Speaker 4 (13:45):
What does that mean that none of the.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Injuries that I found or saw are consistent with a assault?
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Could they have been caused by the soul? Yes?
Speaker 5 (13:57):
So, I think the words my learned friend use with
you were in with the indicative of an assault, and
I think you've indicated they're not indicative injuries.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
That's correct.
Speaker 5 (14:05):
Does that exclude them from having occurred in an assault?
Speaker 4 (14:09):
No? They could have occurred during an assault.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
What about a choke hold? Can only someone train to
do one do it?
Speaker 5 (14:16):
You've been asked about the chokehold variously and at different
times referred to police officers and the sas officers for reasons.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I mean, a friend knows. Do you need to be
expert to apply a choke hold?
Speaker 4 (14:29):
I'm not an expert. I read a lot. I think
I could apply it.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
The abrasion on her back isn't the usual scrape marks
you'd see if a body had been dragged, And.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
If the body's carried rather than dragged, would you expect
to see any marks from that?
Speaker 8 (14:42):
No?
Speaker 5 (14:45):
If the body was inside of something else, something soft,
like a blanket or something, you expect to see marks
to the body if it.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Was carried or dragged.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
No, and then onto choke holds.
Speaker 5 (14:57):
Gus about the likelihood of injuries in a violence attack
causing a homicide attacker.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
Have you considered it if it was by surprise, Yes?
Speaker 5 (15:09):
What about if it was by surprise, there'd be less
injuries if a choke hold was applied.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Next was doctor Martin Sage. He's a forensic pathologist as well.
He started doing homicide cases in nineteen eighty nine. He's
undertaken more than ten thousand autopsies. I stopped counting a
couple of years ago. He said he couldn't determine one
way or another whether the beltmark on her neck happened
before or after death. He spoke of something called a
(15:38):
corrotid hold, which is different to a choke hold.
Speaker 9 (15:41):
And I've been listening here this morning, and I want
to make very clear the distinction between a choker hold
and a carotid hold. So when people talk about a
choker hold, they mean you're using your hands on the
neck like that, whereas.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
A carotid hold is a very specific.
Speaker 9 (16:01):
Martial arts move that you have the front of somebody's
neck and the crock of your elbow, and as you
move this towards your shoulder, you squeeze both sides of
the neck and that cuts off both the venus and
the arterial drainage and people go unconscious very quickly.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Indeed, I've seen this done.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Sage said, you can kill someone without causing injuries.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
From a diagnostic point of view.
Speaker 9 (16:27):
As a forensic pathologist, it's really nice if they're there,
and it's terribly inconvenient if they're not, But they're absence
doesn't prove that it didn't happen.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Essentially, net compressions are always a problem for pathologists because
the extent of the injuries very considerably.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
I think you will have heard questioning about injuries not
present on her is does that really establish anything to
your mind that she doesn't have certain.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Types of injuries.
Speaker 9 (17:01):
We're not alone as a part of medicine in the
fact that positive findings are very useful, but negative findings
don't exclude things.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
So to summarize, the jury spent Day twelve listening to
evidence from those two New Zealand pathologists who both came
upon the agreed conclusion Pauline Hannah died from a net compression.
For coverage of other news events in New Zealand, from
(17:35):
foreign interference on our shores to new sanctions for beneficiaries.
Listen to the front page The Herald's daily news podcast
wherever you get your podcasts. Day thirteen began with testimony
from Pauline Hannah's friend Alison Ring. She requested not to
(17:55):
be filmed or recorded, but you'll remember we can report
what she said. Ring met Hannah through Polkinghorn. Her husband's
not phomologists too. That'd meet for dinner when on walking holidays.
They had a canal barge holiday in France. She spoke
to Hannah about her mother's death. She said she was coping.
Ring said her friend's last words to her were, Polk
(18:18):
has been trying his best over the last few weeks.
She remembered he was agitated about what was happening at
auckland I, and Hannah was worried about his mental health.
Hannah had told Ring that polking Horn was argumentative, condescending
and putting her down. She also confided in her friend
Polk's having an affair. Hannah had apparently broken into his
(18:38):
computer saw obscene photography. She said, I don't care how
many prostitutes he fucks in Sydney, but he's not going
to have anybody in my space. She remembers her friend
saying Hannah said she was going to see a lawyer
and sought out her will and finances. If he doesn't
give her up, I'm leaving him, she said. Ring said
(18:59):
polking Horn told her after Hannah's death, I've let her down.
I wish I was dead and I wish I was
with her. Ring supported him. After the death. She was
asked by Dicky if that changed. She said, yes, it
did slightly, she said. After the news had broke that
meth was found in the Remuera home, Polkinghorn claimed it
was Pauline's. Ring also said she was devastated to learn
(19:24):
he'd been in Mount Cook with escort Madison Ashton only
weeks after his wife's death. The biggest upset, said Ring,
was when Polkinghorn came around one evening with a little
bit of paper and claimed she did leave a suicide note.
Ring said it read dear p I Love you forever
from p all words to that effect. Polkinghorn said it
(19:47):
was in the bedding. Ring remembers being very distressed about this.
It didn't sit well with her. The note incident happened
after he was charged with murder. In his cross examination,
Ron Mansfield asked about the no note the conversation took
place after he was charged. She maintained she told police
of it well after she made her initial statement. Mansfield
(20:08):
suggested she was mistaken about the purpose of why Polkinghorn
showed her the note. She reiterates the conversation about Hannah's
suspicions of another woman. The topic wasn't raised again because
she hadn't left him. She assumed that worked it out.
She also knew of Polkinghorn's frustrations at Auckland Eye and
that he was going to try and get onto the board.
(20:32):
Victoria Pheasant Riordan took to the stand. She goes by Pheasant.
Her and her husband John live in the Hawk's Bay.
She met Hannah when she was seventeen years old. They
ended up flooding together in Candala in about nineteen seventy
eight for six or seven months. They were doing a
secretarial course at the Wellington Polytech. Pauline was a bridesmaid
(20:54):
at her wedding in nineteen eighty four. Pheasant would be
matron of honor at Pauline and Philip's wedding and Havelock North.
Pauline was the Randan's son's godmother. Pheasant says Philip was
very controlling from the get go. She'd always make excuses
for him. She said. She told the court of a
time Pauline visited in twenty twenty. They had dinner, they
(21:15):
got onto the subject of her marriage.
Speaker 10 (21:18):
She became quite agitated, and she described to us that
Philip had done this to her.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
It were just kept that in our records.
Speaker 8 (21:37):
So you've got your hands across one another up around.
Speaker 10 (21:42):
Union yes, with the thuns on either side of the windpipe,
and that he had done that to her and told
her that he could do that anytime. So she took
that as a threat, a real threat.
Speaker 11 (22:04):
That he might do that to her.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Pheasant and her husband, John immediately said she needed to
leave him. They knew there were emotional problems, financial issues,
but this was the first time she told them of
anything physical happening. She got emotional on the stand, remembering
the conversation with her.
Speaker 11 (22:24):
Friend that that it would be okay.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
I think that's what she said. I'm sorry.
Speaker 10 (22:41):
We were really quite stressed and wanted her to leave,
but at that point.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
She kind of.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Pheasant text Pauline the next day she said to her
friend she wished she could help take her pain away.
You are so strong, it read, and we are here
for you if you run out of that strong.
Speaker 8 (23:13):
See there's sentence where she says, it was such a
treat to spend time with you and Connor. Yes, and
underneath that, don't worry about me. I will be fine,
as you say, I am strong.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
Yes.
Speaker 8 (23:26):
Is it the sort of thing you were referring to before,
the sort of don't worry type yes suggestion.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
She saw Pauline on more occasions in twenty twenty when
she went down to visit her ailing mother Fae. Pheasant
saw her at Fay's funeral in February twenty twenty one
and said her friend seemed in control, but sad. She
stayed with the couple in Auckland once. She can't remember
when it was.
Speaker 10 (23:52):
Yeah, she's really animated and excited. And then Philip came home.
Speaker 8 (24:00):
When Philip came home, and what what do you mean
by that?
Speaker 4 (24:07):
Well, the whole mood changed.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Crown Solicitor Alicia McClintock asked about whether she knew Pauline
took antidepressants.
Speaker 8 (24:15):
We've heard evidence in this trial that Pauline took antidepressants.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
Is that something you were aware of? Oh yeah, I
mean who doesn't.
Speaker 10 (24:24):
Sorry, it was not something that was of concern. It
was just a thing. It's like I'm taking my heart pills.
I mean it was. Yes, Yes, we were aware that
she was taking antidepressants.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Pauline had told her about Philip's insatiable desire to have sex,
but that was about the extent of it. On cross examination,
Ron Mansfield asked Pheasant about her and Pauline's early days.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
I can see by the information that you provide the
police that at that time you were both quite heavy drinkers.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
By the looks of it, I.
Speaker 10 (25:05):
Think we lived on potato soup and whiskey. But I mean,
obviously we were studying, so it wasn't it wasn't a
big It wasn't a big thing.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
It wasn't a get drunk thing. It was just a
bit of a joke, right.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
She spoke about being concerned about Pauline's drinking at one
stage and telling her so, but she thought she'd cut back.
He asked whether Pauline had spoken to her about being
stressed at work, Pheasant can't recall, but she said Pauline
enjoyed what she was doing. They spoke about twenty nineteen
being a terrible year. She agreed Polkinghorn's issues at auckland
(25:42):
I and the financial trouble was it caused added to
it being a bad year. At the dinner where Pauline
confided in her friends, Philip had taken to her neck
with his hands. Pheasant admits she doesn't remember the exact
words she used, but took it to mean he could
do it at any time. Pheasant and Mansfield ran through
(26:02):
a series of text messages between the pair, lots of exes,
hearts and flower emojis, and a mention of a poem,
one that would later be read out at Hannah's funeral.
Dean Corbett, an ophthalmologist, took to the stand. He's worked
(26:25):
at Auckland Eyre since two thousand and worked with Polkinghorn
he met him in nineteen ninety one. He gave the
court a glimpse into the inner workings of the practice.
All members are equal shareholders. There are now eighteen of them,
and they buy shares into the practice that is led
by a board of directors. Around two thousand and nine,
it moved to being an appointed, smaller board with some
(26:48):
independent directors. Positions are voted on at the AGM and
terms of about two or three years. People can be
re elected for a maximum of three terms. This is
important because the trials already heard on several occasions Polkinghorn
was having troubles at auckland I and he was hoping
to get onto the board. This is the first testimony, though,
(27:10):
that focuses on those issues. Corbett said Polkinghorn had a
short fuse and an intolerance to things going wrong in
the operating theater. He would get very upset if there
would be something going wrong about the theater staff's performance,
he said, but it was never vindictive and always in
the patient's best interest, he said. Corbett said that when
(27:31):
he was chairman about twenty eighteen twenty nineteen, there were
some complaints from theater staff about Polkinghorn's aggressiveness to them personally.
Auckland I told Polkinghorn to improve his conduct and approach
to theater staff while operating, and Corbett told police the
surgeon had made an effort to change. In the year
before Hannah's death, he was more emotional and seemed like
(27:53):
a different person. A surprise exit of two doctors around
twenty nineteen caused some stress. There was a rewriting of
the shareholder agreement, which was interpreted in different ways by
those leaving and those who remained, and a disagreement ensued.
Corbett said Polkinghorn was very concerned about getting the same
exit value as those two other doctors. After Hannah died,
(28:17):
there was a shareholder meeting that Polkinghorn wasn't at. It
was raised he'd told another doctor he'd been using meth
and they reported it to the Medical Council. On cross examination,
Ron Mansfield asked about Polkinghorn's work as a vitrio retinal specialist,
which focuses on the rear of the eye and as
(28:37):
often the last chance saloon before someone goes blind. He
agreed Polkinghorn had an excellent reputation within this profession. He
was internationally respected for his work. He'd invested a considerable
amount of money into Auckland Eye and when he retired
after Hannah's death, it was like an end of an era.
Mansfield asked about Polkinghorn being stressed when the two other
(28:59):
doctors left in difficult circumstances, in twenty nineteen because their
two payouts meant the practice was not so well placed
to pay him out upon his proposed retirement. Corbett agreed
their departure created huge issues and endangered the company, requiring
legal advice. Corbett said the practice was one hundred percent
(29:20):
behind Philip and trying to engineer the best possible retirement
for him. Mansfield asked if Polkinghorn was ultimately offered four
hundred and fifty thousand dollars upon retirement. Corbett isn't sure,
but he agreed the other specialists received more like six
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He agreed Polkinghorn might have
found it hard to take on a personal and professional level.
(29:44):
The trial continues tomorrow. 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 present and produced by me Chelsea Daniels,
with producer Ethan Siles and sound engineer Patty Fox. Additional
(30:06):
reporting from the Heralds Craig Capatan and George Block and
for more coverage of the Polkinghorn trial, head to Enzidhrold
dot co, dot nz,
Kiyota. 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, will be bringing
you regular coverage as one of the most high profile
trials of the year makes its way through the High
(00:28):
Court at Auckland. A warning, this podcast contains disturbing content.
How did Pauline Hannah 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
(00:50):
two different pathologists tasked with exploring how the sixty three
year old died in her Remuera home in April twenty
twenty one. Philip Polkinghorn is accused of murdering his wife,
but maintains she took her own life. We also hear
from a longtime friend of Pauline and about an incident
that worried her and her husband, and we get the
(01:13):
first glimpse into Philip's work life. What were the issues
at Auckland I We've heard so much about. On day twelve,
the Crown called forensic pathologist doctor Keelak Kesher of Auckland
City Hospital. He conducted the autopsy of Pauline Hannah's body
(01:36):
and he's done around four thousand of them over ten years.
He did Hannah's post mortem on April sixth, twenty twenty one,
the day after she was reported dead.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
There were particular which are small pinpoint hemorrhages on the face,
the aural and the mouth, the contractarverrahs of the eyes.
There was blood emerging from the right ear. There was
an abrasion on her nose on the bridge of the nose, sorry,
(02:09):
one on the left side of the nose, another abrasion
on the left side of the back. There was a
cluster of bruising on the back of the right arm.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
These small pinpoint hemorrhages or contusions are commonly seen when
there's an obstruction to the neck veins. On the injuries
to her nose, he said, any number of things could
have happened. She could have fallen or been struck. You
can never know.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
There was no evidence of any healing or like a
scab formation on the injury, so it was quite recent.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Beyond quite recent. Can you be more particular on timing.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
No, all I can say is at or around time
and death.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Red discoloration on her back was different to a scrape
and indicated lividity when the blood begins to pull in
a part of the body after death.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
So if you die and line your back, the blood
will pull to the towards your back.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
And so that's the reddening we can see here. Yes,
how quickly will it occur or repair?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
It'd say they If you read the textbook, they say
about thirty minutes to three hours it starts to appear,
and then there's maximum around about twelve hours ten ten hours, So.
Speaker 5 (03:27):
Any time between that period, depending how you're placed post there,
the levedity may present in that area or certain areas. Yes,
associated with how you've been positioned, how their bodies positioned.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
On the back of a right arm, there were several
round purple bruises in a.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Cluster vindicative of anything or are they say again mechanism
injury is a blunt impact. We see them quite often
if someone is held and those are the things marks
on the back of the arm.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Right So you're not saying that are at your finglets,
but that's they could.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Be absolutely correct.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
You can't look at that and say, therefore summon's being held.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
No, I can't say that for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
The bruises on the arms had no signs of yellow
wing that would indicate that they were older bruises, he said.
Onto the belt impression on her neck, Kesha said he
had seen it himself at the scene, a criss cross
pattern on the right side. An officer there alerted him
to a belt found. He said that looked identical with these.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
Taken at the post mortem.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Yes, this is taken out of the post mortem roughly
twenty hours later, and as you can see, there is
no markings left right.
Speaker 5 (04:43):
So the markings have gone away to some greater or
lesser extent. Yes, what does that suggest to you? Was
there any bruising underneath the skin?
Speaker 4 (04:52):
No, there was no bruising under the skin or the
muscles of the neck.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
And what does that sug you see?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
You in the terms care thought that there was an object,
most likely the belt on the neck.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
After death.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
The shape of the marks on her neck was also
more consistent with a ligature applied from directly behind her,
rather than one secured to a point above, like the
balustrade where the orange rope was tied. That being said,
his final finding was that she died via neck compression,
a broad finding that encompasses manual or ligature strangulations, hangings,
(05:32):
and auto erotic asphyxiation. Normally, though Kesha said, when people
are strangled there'd be more injuries.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
But normally with people that have that are strangled, they
have a lot more injuries, not just to the neck
and the face, but also the arms, hands, even the legs.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
We do have some injuries to the arm in this case. Yes,
so what are you saying they're not enough to provide.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
You I would normally see a lot more than what
I saw necessarily, so it's not necessary if she subdued
some other way.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
On cross examination, Ron Mansfield asked about the belt mark.
He quickly had kesher can see the belt could have
been used in her death then removed shortly after she died,
and if it had.
Speaker 6 (06:17):
Been removed one to two perhaps longer hours after her death,
then that might also explain. Might it not why it
was seen on the fifth but it wasn't seen on
the six.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
It's possible, but I'd say it's less than two hours.
Speaker 6 (06:37):
Well, we can agree the time period might be one.
Speaker 4 (06:40):
To two hours couldn't we It's possible yet.
Speaker 3 (06:45):
Well, both possibilities.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
Are equal, aren't they.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Yes, So the.
Speaker 6 (06:58):
Absence of the belt impression by the time you do
the autopsy on the sixth simply means one of two things.
Perhaps it was placed on her neck after.
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Her death, yes, Or.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
She was discovered dead and.
Speaker 6 (07:18):
It was removed one to two hours following her death. Yes,
And you can't tell us, can you which one of
those is more likely than the other.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
That's correct, They can't.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Mansfield pointed out that the talk of the belt impression
was not included in his report.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Why not include it, I've never included in the past.
Speaker 6 (07:43):
Well on how many occasions have you undertaken an autopsy
having seen it the scene, an impression or literature mark,
and then.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
The next day not seen it.
Speaker 6 (07:58):
Never So, given that, and if you thought it was significant,
why would you not report on it within your autopsy report?
Speaker 4 (08:07):
I just didn't report it.
Speaker 7 (08:10):
But nonetheless, doctor, even if you thought then that this
might be significant, it doesn't appear to have had any
bearing whatsoever on your ultimate conclusion in your report.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
The reason I didn't report it is I thought it'd
be there during the post mortem, So first time I've
ever had one disappear.
Speaker 6 (08:29):
Well, when it didn't, when it didn't appear on post mortem.
And although you've told us that there are two explanations
for this, it would not be difficult to report on
it within your report, would it.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
It's correct, but you chose not to. That's correct because
it had no.
Speaker 6 (08:53):
Significance if, in fact was noted, did it?
Speaker 4 (08:59):
It's incorrect?
Speaker 6 (09:00):
Well does it impact on your ultimate conclusion within your report?
Speaker 4 (09:05):
No? Well, why does it today, doctor, I don't understand.
Speaker 6 (09:12):
Well, why does it today impact on what you can
tell us?
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Why is it today?
Speaker 6 (09:21):
For the first time, you're telling us that the position
of the belt impression might have some significance.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
I've told the police from day one, Well.
Speaker 6 (09:37):
Where is it within your report?
Speaker 4 (09:41):
I didn't put on my report?
Speaker 1 (09:42):
Okay, As you conceded, the direction of the belt impression
didn't have an impact on his overall conclusion of neck
compression as the cause of death, which did not rule
out the possibility of suicide by hanging. Mansfield brings up
the lack of injuries one might see in someone who's
been manually strangled.
Speaker 4 (10:01):
So even if.
Speaker 6 (10:03):
And there's an absence of any evidence on this, but
even if a choker hold was applied, then there's just
no injury that you observed on missus Polkinghorn, or any
injury reported to you on doctor Polkinghorn. There might be
consistent with any form of resistance by missus Polkinghorn.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
Correct, that's correct.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
He goes through her injuries. The pinpoint hemorrhages, for example,
could be a result of suicide by hanging. Bruises on
her right arm, which he earlier said were consistent with
being grabbed, were difficult to age and could have been
caused Kesher agreed by Hannah being steadied by a personal
trainer at the gym. The trial heard earlier she'd been
(10:44):
at a personal training session in the days before her death.
Mansfield asked about the abrasion on her nose.
Speaker 6 (10:51):
Are you able to tell us whether they occurred before
her death or whether they could have occurred shortly.
Speaker 4 (10:56):
After her death at or around time of death.
Speaker 6 (11:02):
So, for example, if she was moved one to two
hours after her death and her knees came into contact
with a surface, either the floor, a wall, or a step,
then that might explain such abrasions. No help me with that.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
And then because there's a hemorrhage under the ambrasion on
the nose, so she was alive when it occurred.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Mansfield asked the pathologist on the particulars of full suspension
versus partial suspension hangings. Both the judge and lawyers have
urged extreme caution in reporting these details, and we've chosen
to leave out much of what was said about the
particulars of the method. Essentially, what we know is that
a full suspension is when someone's feet are off the floor.
(11:48):
A partial one could be when someone's sitting or slumping.
He goes on to clarify there aren't any indications that
Pauline was fighting back, but.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Also just in the fight.
Speaker 6 (11:58):
While the assailant is applied the required pressure through their
hands to their neck, not only might we see variable
bruises with shape and intensity to their neck on the outside,
we are also likely to see bruises to the rest
of their body correct yes, reflecting the fact that they're
(12:20):
held down or pinned down, yes, or that they're punched
or kicked.
Speaker 4 (12:25):
That's correct.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
So we don't see bruises on her neck. No scratches
and other injuries on her are minor. Kesha agreed. You
can tell the difference. If an injury is caused due
to being restrained, you'd see bruises around the rest if
they're being held down. For instance, the finger type bruising
on her arms was light, they'd be more intense. Kesha
said they spoke more about lividity. This can happen as
(12:48):
soon as thirty minutes after death. Mansfield mentions the defense
pathologists view that areas of Hannah's body suggest she was
sitting when she died.
Speaker 6 (12:57):
That that postward and lividity has moved when she's been
taken off the chair and laid on the ground.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
Yes, because that's what occurs. Correct. Yes, so whilst post.
Speaker 6 (13:09):
Wartem lividity might be obvious if she had remained on
the chair, given that she was moved and laid down
on the ground, the post wartem lividity has moved consistent
with lying flat on the ground.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Yes, so after about ten hours, it becomes fixed. Before
ten hours, no matter if you move the body delibery,
it can change.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Brian Dickey then had a chance to clarify a few things.
When we say Hannah's injuries weren't indicative of a violent assault,
what does that mean that.
Speaker 2 (13:40):
None of them were path and your monarka of or
Pathan monarka of an assault?
Speaker 4 (13:45):
What does that mean that none of the.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Injuries that I found or saw are consistent with a assault?
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Could they have been caused by the soul? Yes?
Speaker 5 (13:57):
So, I think the words my learned friend use with
you were in with the indicative of an assault, and
I think you've indicated they're not indicative injuries.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
That's correct.
Speaker 5 (14:05):
Does that exclude them from having occurred in an assault?
Speaker 4 (14:09):
No? They could have occurred during an assault.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
What about a choke hold? Can only someone train to
do one do it?
Speaker 5 (14:16):
You've been asked about the chokehold variously and at different
times referred to police officers and the sas officers for reasons.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
I mean, a friend knows. Do you need to be
expert to apply a choke hold?
Speaker 4 (14:29):
I'm not an expert. I read a lot. I think
I could apply it.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
The abrasion on her back isn't the usual scrape marks
you'd see if a body had been dragged, And.
Speaker 5 (14:38):
If the body's carried rather than dragged, would you expect
to see any marks from that?
Speaker 8 (14:42):
No?
Speaker 5 (14:45):
If the body was inside of something else, something soft,
like a blanket or something, you expect to see marks
to the body if it.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
Was carried or dragged.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
No, and then onto choke holds.
Speaker 5 (14:57):
Gus about the likelihood of injuries in a violence attack
causing a homicide attacker.
Speaker 4 (15:05):
Have you considered it if it was by surprise, Yes?
Speaker 5 (15:09):
What about if it was by surprise, there'd be less
injuries if a choke hold was applied.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Next was doctor Martin Sage. He's a forensic pathologist as well.
He started doing homicide cases in nineteen eighty nine. He's
undertaken more than ten thousand autopsies. I stopped counting a
couple of years ago. He said he couldn't determine one
way or another whether the beltmark on her neck happened
before or after death. He spoke of something called a
(15:38):
corrotid hold, which is different to a choke hold.
Speaker 9 (15:41):
And I've been listening here this morning, and I want
to make very clear the distinction between a choker hold
and a carotid hold. So when people talk about a
choker hold, they mean you're using your hands on the
neck like that, whereas.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
A carotid hold is a very specific.
Speaker 9 (16:01):
Martial arts move that you have the front of somebody's
neck and the crock of your elbow, and as you
move this towards your shoulder, you squeeze both sides of
the neck and that cuts off both the venus and
the arterial drainage and people go unconscious very quickly.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Indeed, I've seen this done.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Sage said, you can kill someone without causing injuries.
Speaker 4 (16:25):
From a diagnostic point of view.
Speaker 9 (16:27):
As a forensic pathologist, it's really nice if they're there,
and it's terribly inconvenient if they're not, But they're absence
doesn't prove that it didn't happen.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Essentially, net compressions are always a problem for pathologists because
the extent of the injuries very considerably.
Speaker 5 (16:46):
I think you will have heard questioning about injuries not
present on her is does that really establish anything to
your mind that she doesn't have certain.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Types of injuries.
Speaker 9 (17:01):
We're not alone as a part of medicine in the
fact that positive findings are very useful, but negative findings
don't exclude things.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
So to summarize, the jury spent Day twelve listening to
evidence from those two New Zealand pathologists who both came
upon the agreed conclusion Pauline Hannah died from a net compression.
For coverage of other news events in New Zealand, from
(17:35):
foreign interference on our shores to new sanctions for beneficiaries.
Listen to the front page The Herald's daily news podcast
wherever you get your podcasts. Day thirteen began with testimony
from Pauline Hannah's friend Alison Ring. She requested not to
(17:55):
be filmed or recorded, but you'll remember we can report
what she said. Ring met Hannah through Polkinghorn. Her husband's
not phomologists too. That'd meet for dinner when on walking holidays.
They had a canal barge holiday in France. She spoke
to Hannah about her mother's death. She said she was coping.
Ring said her friend's last words to her were, Polk
(18:18):
has been trying his best over the last few weeks.
She remembered he was agitated about what was happening at
auckland I, and Hannah was worried about his mental health.
Hannah had told Ring that polking Horn was argumentative, condescending
and putting her down. She also confided in her friend
Polk's having an affair. Hannah had apparently broken into his
(18:38):
computer saw obscene photography. She said, I don't care how
many prostitutes he fucks in Sydney, but he's not going
to have anybody in my space. She remembers her friend
saying Hannah said she was going to see a lawyer
and sought out her will and finances. If he doesn't
give her up, I'm leaving him, she said. Ring said
(18:59):
polking Horn told her after Hannah's death, I've let her down.
I wish I was dead and I wish I was
with her. Ring supported him. After the death. She was
asked by Dicky if that changed. She said, yes, it
did slightly, she said. After the news had broke that
meth was found in the Remuera home, Polkinghorn claimed it
was Pauline's. Ring also said she was devastated to learn
(19:24):
he'd been in Mount Cook with escort Madison Ashton only
weeks after his wife's death. The biggest upset, said Ring,
was when Polkinghorn came around one evening with a little
bit of paper and claimed she did leave a suicide note.
Ring said it read dear p I Love you forever
from p all words to that effect. Polkinghorn said it
(19:47):
was in the bedding. Ring remembers being very distressed about this.
It didn't sit well with her. The note incident happened
after he was charged with murder. In his cross examination,
Ron Mansfield asked about the no note the conversation took
place after he was charged. She maintained she told police
of it well after she made her initial statement. Mansfield
(20:08):
suggested she was mistaken about the purpose of why Polkinghorn
showed her the note. She reiterates the conversation about Hannah's
suspicions of another woman. The topic wasn't raised again because
she hadn't left him. She assumed that worked it out.
She also knew of Polkinghorn's frustrations at Auckland Eye and
that he was going to try and get onto the board.
(20:32):
Victoria Pheasant Riordan took to the stand. She goes by Pheasant.
Her and her husband John live in the Hawk's Bay.
She met Hannah when she was seventeen years old. They
ended up flooding together in Candala in about nineteen seventy
eight for six or seven months. They were doing a
secretarial course at the Wellington Polytech. Pauline was a bridesmaid
(20:54):
at her wedding in nineteen eighty four. Pheasant would be
matron of honor at Pauline and Philip's wedding and Havelock North.
Pauline was the Randan's son's godmother. Pheasant says Philip was
very controlling from the get go. She'd always make excuses
for him. She said. She told the court of a
time Pauline visited in twenty twenty. They had dinner, they
(21:15):
got onto the subject of her marriage.
Speaker 10 (21:18):
She became quite agitated, and she described to us that
Philip had done this to her.
Speaker 3 (21:35):
It were just kept that in our records.
Speaker 8 (21:37):
So you've got your hands across one another up around.
Speaker 10 (21:42):
Union yes, with the thuns on either side of the windpipe,
and that he had done that to her and told
her that he could do that anytime. So she took
that as a threat, a real threat.
Speaker 11 (22:04):
That he might do that to her.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Pheasant and her husband, John immediately said she needed to
leave him. They knew there were emotional problems, financial issues,
but this was the first time she told them of
anything physical happening. She got emotional on the stand, remembering
the conversation with her.
Speaker 11 (22:24):
Friend that that it would be okay.
Speaker 4 (22:38):
I think that's what she said. I'm sorry.
Speaker 10 (22:41):
We were really quite stressed and wanted her to leave,
but at that point.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
She kind of.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Pheasant text Pauline the next day she said to her
friend she wished she could help take her pain away.
You are so strong, it read, and we are here
for you if you run out of that strong.
Speaker 8 (23:13):
See there's sentence where she says, it was such a
treat to spend time with you and Connor. Yes, and
underneath that, don't worry about me. I will be fine,
as you say, I am strong.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
Yes.
Speaker 8 (23:26):
Is it the sort of thing you were referring to before,
the sort of don't worry type yes suggestion.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
She saw Pauline on more occasions in twenty twenty when
she went down to visit her ailing mother Fae. Pheasant
saw her at Fay's funeral in February twenty twenty one
and said her friend seemed in control, but sad. She
stayed with the couple in Auckland once. She can't remember
when it was.
Speaker 10 (23:52):
Yeah, she's really animated and excited. And then Philip came home.
Speaker 8 (24:00):
When Philip came home, and what what do you mean
by that?
Speaker 4 (24:07):
Well, the whole mood changed.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Crown Solicitor Alicia McClintock asked about whether she knew Pauline
took antidepressants.
Speaker 8 (24:15):
We've heard evidence in this trial that Pauline took antidepressants.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
Is that something you were aware of? Oh yeah, I
mean who doesn't.
Speaker 10 (24:24):
Sorry, it was not something that was of concern. It
was just a thing. It's like I'm taking my heart pills.
I mean it was. Yes, Yes, we were aware that
she was taking antidepressants.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
Pauline had told her about Philip's insatiable desire to have sex,
but that was about the extent of it. On cross examination,
Ron Mansfield asked Pheasant about her and Pauline's early days.
Speaker 6 (24:54):
I can see by the information that you provide the
police that at that time you were both quite heavy drinkers.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
By the looks of it, I.
Speaker 10 (25:05):
Think we lived on potato soup and whiskey. But I mean,
obviously we were studying, so it wasn't it wasn't a
big It wasn't a big thing.
Speaker 4 (25:15):
It wasn't a get drunk thing. It was just a
bit of a joke, right.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
She spoke about being concerned about Pauline's drinking at one
stage and telling her so, but she thought she'd cut back.
He asked whether Pauline had spoken to her about being
stressed at work, Pheasant can't recall, but she said Pauline
enjoyed what she was doing. They spoke about twenty nineteen
being a terrible year. She agreed Polkinghorn's issues at auckland
(25:42):
I and the financial trouble was it caused added to
it being a bad year. At the dinner where Pauline
confided in her friends, Philip had taken to her neck
with his hands. Pheasant admits she doesn't remember the exact
words she used, but took it to mean he could
do it at any time. Pheasant and Mansfield ran through
(26:02):
a series of text messages between the pair, lots of exes,
hearts and flower emojis, and a mention of a poem,
one that would later be read out at Hannah's funeral.
Dean Corbett, an ophthalmologist, took to the stand. He's worked
(26:25):
at Auckland Eyre since two thousand and worked with Polkinghorn
he met him in nineteen ninety one. He gave the
court a glimpse into the inner workings of the practice.
All members are equal shareholders. There are now eighteen of them,
and they buy shares into the practice that is led
by a board of directors. Around two thousand and nine,
it moved to being an appointed, smaller board with some
(26:48):
independent directors. Positions are voted on at the AGM and
terms of about two or three years. People can be
re elected for a maximum of three terms. This is
important because the trials already heard on several occasions Polkinghorn
was having troubles at auckland I and he was hoping
to get onto the board. This is the first testimony, though,
(27:10):
that focuses on those issues. Corbett said Polkinghorn had a
short fuse and an intolerance to things going wrong in
the operating theater. He would get very upset if there
would be something going wrong about the theater staff's performance,
he said, but it was never vindictive and always in
the patient's best interest, he said. Corbett said that when
(27:31):
he was chairman about twenty eighteen twenty nineteen, there were
some complaints from theater staff about Polkinghorn's aggressiveness to them personally.
Auckland I told Polkinghorn to improve his conduct and approach
to theater staff while operating, and Corbett told police the
surgeon had made an effort to change. In the year
before Hannah's death, he was more emotional and seemed like
(27:53):
a different person. A surprise exit of two doctors around
twenty nineteen caused some stress. There was a rewriting of
the shareholder agreement, which was interpreted in different ways by
those leaving and those who remained, and a disagreement ensued.
Corbett said Polkinghorn was very concerned about getting the same
exit value as those two other doctors. After Hannah died,
(28:17):
there was a shareholder meeting that Polkinghorn wasn't at. It
was raised he'd told another doctor he'd been using meth
and they reported it to the Medical Council. On cross examination,
Ron Mansfield asked about Polkinghorn's work as a vitrio retinal specialist,
which focuses on the rear of the eye and as
(28:37):
often the last chance saloon before someone goes blind. He
agreed Polkinghorn had an excellent reputation within this profession. He
was internationally respected for his work. He'd invested a considerable
amount of money into Auckland Eye and when he retired
after Hannah's death, it was like an end of an era.
Mansfield asked about Polkinghorn being stressed when the two other
(28:59):
doctors left in difficult circumstances, in twenty nineteen because their
two payouts meant the practice was not so well placed
to pay him out upon his proposed retirement. Corbett agreed
their departure created huge issues and endangered the company, requiring
legal advice. Corbett said the practice was one hundred percent
(29:20):
behind Philip and trying to engineer the best possible retirement
for him. Mansfield asked if Polkinghorn was ultimately offered four
hundred and fifty thousand dollars upon retirement. Corbett isn't sure,
but he agreed the other specialists received more like six
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. He agreed Polkinghorn might have
found it hard to take on a personal and professional level.
(29:44):
The trial continues tomorrow. 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 present and produced by me Chelsea Daniels,
with producer Ethan Siles and sound engineer Patty Fox. Additional
(30:06):
reporting from the Heralds Craig Capatan and George Block and
for more coverage of the Polkinghorn trial, head to Enzidhrold
dot co, dot nz,
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