August 27, 2024 • 26 mins
Week five in the trial of Philip Polkinghorne has kicked off with more on what was found on the couple’s tech, a hint that Pauline Hanna found a P pipe months before her death, and what exactly is a ‘girlfriend experience’?
And two messages, drafted, on the morning of Pauline Hanna’s death, have also been revealed by the defence.
You can listen to episodes of Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial through The Front Page podcast feed, or find it on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.
This series is presented and produced by, Chelsea Daniels, with producer Ethan Sills and sound engineer Paddy Fox. Additional reporting by Craig Kapitan and George Block.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Kiyota.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'm Chelsea Daniels and from the team behind the front
page the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, This is.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Accused the polking Horn Trial.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Over six weeks in conjunction with our usual daily episodes,
we'll be bringing you regular coverage as one of the
most high profile trials of the year makes its way
through the High Court at Auckland. A warning, this podcast
contains disturbing content. Week five in the trial of Philip
(00:40):
Polkinghorn has kicked off with more on what was found
on the couple's tech, a hint that Hannah found a
pea pipe months before her death, and what exactly is
a girlfriend experience and a message drafted on the morning
of Pauline Hannah's death. The former auckland Ie surgeon is
(01:01):
accused of murdering his wife, who was found dead on
April fifth, twenty twenty one. He maintains she took her
own life. Day twenties saw Detective Andrew Reeves back on
the stand. You'll remember he was responsible for examining their
(01:22):
mobile phones. He dives into a phone associated with Pauline Hannah.
He went through four hundred and sixteen searches extracted from
the phone over the one hundred.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
And twenty one day period.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I obviously searched for terms of reference or relevance, and
I could not find any searches for the terms self harm, suicide, hanging, tying, knots,
or depression. In fact, none of the searches on the
phone related to suicide.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
She also searched for apartments for sale in Napier. Earlier
the trial heard some of her friends and family had
her to leave Polkinghorn and return to the Hawk's Bay.
Her friends, the Reddons, made that recommendation after she revealed
her husband had placed his hands on her neck. On
the twenty fourth of December twenty twenty. She searched pea pipe,
(02:15):
what does pea look like? And what sensation does.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Pe give you?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Reeves found about thirty four thousand images and more than
one thousand videos on her iPhone Yes.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
The general theme of those images included fashion, beauty products,
plastic surgery, celebrities, presentations such as business presentations, magazines and
Disney themes.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
And were there any images of pornography or lucy on
the phone.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
No, there were no images found of any pornography or
nudity on the phone.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Twenty percent of the images were taken by the camera.
They included mainly photos of family, her grandchild, polking horn
and holidays. Dicky refers the detective to a couple of
images in particular relating to the searches on Christmas Eve
twenty twenty regarding meth pipe and the appearance of the drug.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
On the twenty fifth of December.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
The day after, on Christmas Day, photos were taken with
the phones camera at nine pm on the twenty twenty
fifth of December twenty twenty. There was a photograph taken
on page forty nine of a what looks like a
shopping bag which had two used class pipes in it.
And these are the same types of popes commonly used
to smoke methanphetamine, so.
Speaker 6 (03:33):
These are photographs taken by the fun correct.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Reeves moves on to the videos. There were mainly of
family events, her grandchildren, and work related. He notes the
messages were mainly work related as well. In December twenty nineteen,
there were texts to the mental health crisis team. On
April third, twenty twenty one, she sent Philip's Sunna text
asking him to join them for dinner on Monday April fifth.
(04:00):
On April fourth, the night before she was found dead,
she sent her niece and her partner in Easter message.
She sent her colleague Sharon Alabastro, a message thanking her
for her work and saying she was keen to catch
up with her. The phone records when the phone was
physically moved measured steps in distance. Reeves looks at the
usage and activity.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
The device was plugged into charge at ten forty seven
pm on the fourth of April twenty twenty one, which
coincides with the steps ending, and the last activity on
the phone was an orientation change at ten forty seven
pm on the fourth of April twenty twenty one.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
What does that mean? Just a movement of the screen.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
It means to move when I the screen.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
The phone could have been plugged in and placed down
and the screen changed orientation.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Next, Reeves looks into the WhatsApp messaging between Polkinghorn and
Madison Ashton on the eighth of December twenty twenty The
pair exchange messages appearing like Polkinghorn abandoning plans to have
Christmas with Ashton and talk of not doing quarantine.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
They speak about Ashton's.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Work bookings, She accuses him of acting like a child,
that he has a gutta mentality when it comes to
her occupation, but goes on to say he is very lovable,
kind and patient sexy. Moving on to Ashton's phones, you'll
remember they were seized when the pair were at Mount
Cook Chalet twenty five days after Hannah's death. Messages indicate
(05:25):
they've known each other since twenty fifteen. There was an
email document showing a payment of eight hundred dollars and
an appointment for a one hour girlfriend experience. I Messages
between Ashton and Polkinghorn start April seventeen, twenty twenty one.
There are one hundred and eighty three pages of them.
(05:46):
They include naked photos of Ashton.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yes, doctor Polkin.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
One response to the naked images saying, how can you
be so studying dwelling?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
You are sensational.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
The messages continue daily, just like they did on the
WhatsApp before Polkinghorn's phone was confiscated by police. On April
twenty third. Ashton asks whether there was any words on
password police etc. Or auckland I and asked whether he's
started on your pr offensive yet. Then they're organizing their
(06:15):
rendezvous in Queenstown.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Shortly after that, Miss Eshton replies with if you passed away,
I wouldn't leave the house ever. Again on page ninety two,
Professor Pokinhorn replies to miss Ashton, saying, Darling, you and
I aren't going anywhere.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
We are going to last one hundred years.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Onto the twenty fifth when there's evidence of a call
and then Ashton sends Polkinghorn a link to a real
estate website. The website relates to a property in New
South Wales. Polkinghorn says, interesting, something to talk about on Thursday.
They move on to talking about the Queenstown Chalet get away.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
If we are.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Over the lodge, Kenza back to chrish Shirt Saturday afternoon
dinner there and then Sunday night might be more leisurely.
The flight back for you, well, you have to be
at airport a minimum of two hours for all dbs.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Anyway, we can play it by year. Is there anything
else you want to do while in inn Z?
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Do you fancy buddy jumping one tours, skiing a glacier?
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Well, sorry, you aren't. The strip.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
It's going to be all about us. Get used to it.
Scary though, I hope we don't fuck it up xx.
Speaker 6 (07:24):
That's twenty six April nineteen. I think, PM, yeah, correct.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yes, Ashton Wriot's fourteen months is a long time in
any relationship not to be at each other's side, and.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
Doctor Pokin Won replies, I am not good arguing, so
let's not.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
I agree. It's been a.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Long time we have been together and will be some transition.
We both will have changed, so I think we should
just see how it goes with no big ambitions. If
we gewel, great, but if it's too hard, while that's life.
I am really dying to see you all the same
and just talk. I am not going to change your
life or attempt to. And whilst I have plans for
(08:06):
the future, I am sure you do too. There may
be commonality or maybe not. I have missed having dinner
with you and talking as much, but that's all I
will say, and then good night, good night. That is
at ten oh seven pm on the twenty sixth, Miss
Ashton replies, Okay, sounds like you're breaking up with me?
Speaker 3 (08:26):
What the fuck?
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Doctor Polkinghorn says fuck no, christ never, I am not
trying to push you in any direction.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
I haven't come this far to walk away.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
The messages end on April twenty eighth.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Other messages the third of January twenty nineteen, for example,
Polkinghorn says his sister will be in Sydney.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Miss Ashton replies absolutely, send me the dates and I'll
add to the calendar. Her reply is nine forty six
pm five minutes later, and then at nine ffty three
pm on the same day, the third of January, TKS
blogging one says, fuck, this is a big step meeting
my family and my sister is my closest anyway, talk
(09:10):
to my darling tonight. But she is really good and
I am so happy she is going to Bali. She
needs time to reflect, of course she thinks I am
nuts haha.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
For coverage of other news events in New Zealand, listen
to the front page The Herald's daily news podcast wherever
you get your podcasts. On Cross Examination, Ron Mansfield runs
Detective Reeves through how a phone is cloned, what software
is used, and when Polkinghorn's mobile phone was seized. It
(09:45):
was the day after Hannah's funeral. He also asks Reeves
about his investigation of Madison Ashton and potential news articles
that may have come up.
Speaker 5 (09:55):
A previous port cases before The Australian in courts.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
I did see some articles relating to that.
Speaker 6 (10:04):
Were there articles relating to.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Miss Ashton speaking a financial compensation from men who she
is suited?
Speaker 6 (10:14):
She was in a relationship of a de facto.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Kind, I believe. I saw one article like that, yes, but.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
The one challenging the estate of a former client for funds.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Do you have the client's name?
Speaker 6 (10:34):
I can't gets it, but.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I recalled some article like that. Yes.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Mansfield has hinted at some evidence he'll be bringing up
later in the trial as part of the defense's case
regarding the police listening to communications between Polkinghorn and a
range of people.
Speaker 5 (10:50):
So for a period in time, and we'll have that
time confirmed through a later witness, the New Zealand police
were intercepting his telephone communications with various people in a
particular Miss Ashton, correct.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I believe.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So they run through some of Ashton's online presence under
her stage name of Christine McQueen. Mansfield points out to
offerings of a girlfriend experience and a porn star experience.
He goes on to talk about the investigation of Ashton's
client list and.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Those communications were ongoing for way of.
Speaker 6 (11:29):
A professional relationship correct, correct.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Now, presumably some of those other men with whom she
was engaging in that way would have known her also
for many years.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
Well, yep, did you see the evidence as to that.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Some of the messaging did go back quite a few years.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
Yes, and it would have been clear to you in
that messaging that the professional relationship had also had also
moved into more of an informal friend type nature, so
(12:13):
far as there were more communications between them beyond simply
organizing an hour, four hours or a day.
Speaker 6 (12:22):
For the provision of sexual services.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
So there was more sharing of information than simply making
a bookking.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Some of the clients were more friendly.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
Yes, I suppose that might be seen as just good marketing. Yes,
but certainly you would have seen the communications where she
is making those men with whom she is engaging over
a number of years feel I suppose, for want of
(12:53):
a better word, especially as far as she's concerned, she
was friendly.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
With m ys.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Mansfield asks about the first booking, did it involve Pauline
Hannah or who he refers to as Missus Polkinghorn.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
So on the very first occasion, it was clear that
both mister and Missus Polkinghorn were contracting the services of
Miss Ashton so that they would both be meeting here
at the same time.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
That's what the booking told me.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yes, Mansfield reads out an email from Christine McQueen to Philip.
Speaker 5 (13:31):
The only way we get a date on this is
from the bottom of the page.
Speaker 6 (13:35):
Unfortunately, it's.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
The thirteenth of November twenty sixteen at four forty three,
so it's around that time. But the content of the
email from Christine McQueen to Philip Popinghorn. Hi, Philip, my
apologies and delay in getting back to you, that should
be a problem at all to arrange.
Speaker 6 (13:59):
I We'll just have to make sure both men are free.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
So can I confirm Philip that it will be yourself,
Paul and Christine and the two gentlemen for two to
three hours.
Speaker 6 (14:10):
Sounds like an amazing time, that's for sure.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
I will be in touch once we've worked out final details.
Take Kia Sophie, which I understand to be miss Eshton's PA.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Correct.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Miss Ashton had numerous pos I don't I didn't know
about Sophie, but yeah, but.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
It appears that she was involved in making, or at
least dealing with this book.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Correct. Correct?
Speaker 6 (14:38):
Thank you can I produce.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
That jah Mansfield produces a summary of WhatsApp messages from
January first to April fourth, twenty twenty one. Earlier, we
heard Reeves couldn't see anything before April fifth on Polkinghorn's phone,
but it appears they were still on Ashton's phone. They
were scrambled as the messaging st of us is encrypted,
(15:01):
but he was able to see the dates and the
number of messages. There were sixty eight messages from Polkinghorn
and one hundred and twenty two from Ashton. Reef says
they also used I message email and SMS Mansfield asks
about whether Reeves can tell between Ashton's marketing images to
(15:21):
clients should send similar photos to her other long standing clients.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
And we see that there's no response to that message,
no response from doctor Polkinghorn. And then we see that
there are further messages that she has sent on the
same day, So four twenty nine, four point thirty five,
four point fifty nine on page four correct. Correct, So
(15:49):
that's three messages no response.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Mansfield says.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Polking Horn doesn't reply until April seventh, so twenty.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Messages shout out by MS Eshton without her response. By
way a message from doctor Polkinhorn correct.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
No response on what tip No.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
While some people distanced themselves from Polkinghorn after it came
to light he was being looked at as a person
of suspect. Mansfield says Ashton amped it up her messages
become more regular. Mansfield says there were other men Ashton
was communicating with in a similar manner, saying it's part
of the marketing, isn't.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
It part of the service she's providing.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Reeves says from what he saw, he didn't see her
saying I love you as much to other men. Within
the messages, Ashton gives the name of an Australian lawyer.
Then there's more talk of other lawyers. Mansfield asked about
images of k nots Reeve's earlier said were found on
one of Polkinghorn's hard drives. The screenshot photo was taken
(16:53):
on the first of January twenty twelve and.
Speaker 6 (16:56):
Embedded in the meta data.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Does it read the URL for the particular site as softbakes,
dot co dot in z soft bakes it's his PHP
albums correct, AU albums correct correct. So those knots to
(17:20):
what you decided might be relevant and told us about
We're not only captured in twenty twelve, but they related
to soft baked fishing.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Correct are you aware Rings Beach is a good spot
for fishing, Mansfield asks, yes, says Reeves. Day twenty one
saw Detective Reeves's cross examination continue. Ron Mansfield questioned him
(17:57):
more about what he analyzed from Hannah's device, drilling the
point home she sends emails at all hours and she
was working a lot before her death. Reeves earlier mentioned
he looked at the phone's movements and used that to
determine when she usually woke and slept.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
In your evidence yesterday, on reviewing the reports, a pattern
of waking up between four point fifty two am and
seven thirty nine am on weekdays.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
Is seen correct?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Correct?
Speaker 5 (18:28):
Well, when you look at the emails, just the emails
she's sending out.
Speaker 6 (18:33):
That's not correct at all, is it?
Speaker 3 (18:36):
No?
Speaker 5 (18:37):
In fact, we can see that she is doing the
night shift on a number of those days, and we're
simply looking at the days between twenty eight March through
to the fourth of vapor correct. Correct, But do you
not think it leaves a misleading, leading impression that you're
talking about a pattern of waking up between four point
(19:00):
fifty two am and seven thirty nine am. When you
know Dan well, she was sending emails through these hours.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
As I said before, I didn't review the emails in detail.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
I looked at the device movements and created that pattern
of life. I realized now that I should have cross
referenced them.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Mansfield questioned why Reeves did seven plus formal written statements
to assist the jury that traverse Polkinghorn's relationship with Ashton,
but didn't review her work related email history or the
messaging between the husband and wife.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
I did review the messages. I looked at them. I
didn't create a detailed report on it.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
Bye Was that because the messages didn't support the police.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Narrative as I said, the messages were normal day to
day messages.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Or did those messages reveal a working, loving relationship between
the two of them.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Mansfield produces another booklet of messages beginning twenty first of
February twenty twenty. He runs through the messages sent back
and forth between the couple, lots of ex's darlings and
heart emojis. Further messages show the pair checking in on
each other and asking how they are.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Reeves agrees, I can sorry.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Could I just make a query.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
I see this was downloaded on something called digit DNA.
In terms of the timings, the timings end with AEDT.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
What time zone is that.
Speaker 6 (20:33):
I'll come back to you on that and confumed, thank you.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
It's been downloaded by doctor Polkinghorn's IT expert. From the
material disclosed he's based in Australia, so I understand that's
the Australian time. So it's Australian edy time, okay, So
(20:59):
to adjusted by.
Speaker 6 (21:02):
An hour because I think they're an hour behind.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Is he based in Sydney or Melbourne?
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Justice Lang interjecs.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
I think it's Australian Eastern daylight time, so I would
have thought it's probably two hours. Mansfield says he's not
relying on these for the time, but the contents. He
goes on to ask Reeves about the images of a
pea pipe found in Hannah's phone taken on Christmas Day
twenty twenty. Mansfield asks about another image found on a
(21:32):
USB from the polking Horn home, also of a pipe
with the words sweet Puff on the side. You can
purchase them on websites and they're also sold in Australian stores.
By April sixth, twenty twenty one, police had seized devices
from the remuwaer A home. He was left without a laptop,
and if he was to purchase another one, it makes
(21:54):
sense to transfer his iCloud storage. This refers to Polkinghorn's
Google search of how to do that. Mansfield references the
Duck duck go web searches of leg edema after strangulation.
There were other searches on this browser, Mansfield says, so.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
He knows at the time of making these searches, based
on what we know, that the police are investigating his
wife's death as a suspicious.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
Death, and he is viewed as a potential suspect. Correct.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
Correct.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
In strangulation, that would include hanging, wouldn't.
Speaker 7 (22:35):
It well speak, I'll put it different.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
So strangulation is a very general term. Correct.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
The reason this search true My attention is because of
the distinction between in my mind, between hanging strangulation.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
So that's why I found it to be noteworthy.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
But if he was a suspect for his wife's death,
then the allegation would have to have been that he
had strangled he correct.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
I'm not sure if this is what it was at
the time.
Speaker 6 (23:24):
Logically that might follow might not.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
At the time, I think that.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Investigation was just investigating whether it was hanging or not.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Mansfield moves on to Polkinghorn's phone usage and questions around
why he may have had airplane mode on. Mansfield says
some people do it to switch off overnight to prevent
being disturbed by communications onto Hannah's devices and the search
for asphyxia. Reeves believes it's in relation to a French novelist,
(23:56):
Emile Zola, who accidentally asphyxiated himself to gases emitted from
a stove in nineteen oh two. Previous searches indicate this
as well. Mansfield refers to a phone call Hannah made
to Polkinghorn's mother Mary on April third, twenty twenty one.
They spoke for about thirteen minutes and forty two seconds.
(24:17):
It's something Polkinghorn mentioned in his police interview. He produces
another exhibit, part of a timeline for Hannah's phone for
the early morning of April fifth, twenty twenty one, the
morning of her death. A log entry for about four am.
Mansfield goes through what apparently happens when someone uses I message.
(24:40):
When you start typing, the app connects and logs activity
even if you didn't send the messaged.
Speaker 5 (24:47):
I've relied on what I'm told by an it switch,
so we're both in the same position. But I'm told
then it Tree is her drafting a text message to
that number, which is Dr Polkinhorn's number, but then deleting it,
(25:07):
so not sending it.
Speaker 6 (25:09):
Are you able to confirm.
Speaker 7 (25:10):
It or not?
Speaker 4 (25:13):
I can't confirm it, and I also wouldn't be able
to confirm if it was who using the phone or not.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
A few minutes later, another log, Hannah's phone starts drafting
a message to another number, her friend's daughter, who she
had a connection with. Justice Lang suppressed the young woman's name.
Neither message is actually sent. The trial continues tomorrow. You
(25:43):
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, with producer Ethan Seles
and sound engine Paddy Fox. Additional reporting from the Heralds
Craig Captan and George Block and for more coverage of
(26:06):
the Polkinghorn trial, head to Enziherld dot Co.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Dot nz
Kiyota.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
I'm Chelsea Daniels and from the team behind the front
page the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, This is.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
Accused the polking Horn Trial.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Over six weeks in conjunction with our usual daily episodes,
we'll be bringing you regular coverage as one of the
most high profile trials of the year makes its way
through the High Court at Auckland. A warning, this podcast
contains disturbing content. Week five in the trial of Philip
(00:40):
Polkinghorn has kicked off with more on what was found
on the couple's tech, a hint that Hannah found a
pea pipe months before her death, and what exactly is
a girlfriend experience and a message drafted on the morning
of Pauline Hannah's death. The former auckland Ie surgeon is
(01:01):
accused of murdering his wife, who was found dead on
April fifth, twenty twenty one. He maintains she took her
own life. Day twenties saw Detective Andrew Reeves back on
the stand. You'll remember he was responsible for examining their
(01:22):
mobile phones. He dives into a phone associated with Pauline Hannah.
He went through four hundred and sixteen searches extracted from
the phone over the one hundred.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
And twenty one day period.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I obviously searched for terms of reference or relevance, and
I could not find any searches for the terms self harm, suicide, hanging, tying, knots,
or depression. In fact, none of the searches on the
phone related to suicide.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
She also searched for apartments for sale in Napier. Earlier
the trial heard some of her friends and family had
her to leave Polkinghorn and return to the Hawk's Bay.
Her friends, the Reddons, made that recommendation after she revealed
her husband had placed his hands on her neck. On
the twenty fourth of December twenty twenty. She searched pea pipe,
(02:15):
what does pea look like? And what sensation does.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Pe give you?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Reeves found about thirty four thousand images and more than
one thousand videos on her iPhone Yes.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
The general theme of those images included fashion, beauty products,
plastic surgery, celebrities, presentations such as business presentations, magazines and
Disney themes.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
And were there any images of pornography or lucy on
the phone.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
No, there were no images found of any pornography or
nudity on the phone.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Twenty percent of the images were taken by the camera.
They included mainly photos of family, her grandchild, polking horn
and holidays. Dicky refers the detective to a couple of
images in particular relating to the searches on Christmas Eve
twenty twenty regarding meth pipe and the appearance of the drug.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
On the twenty fifth of December.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
The day after, on Christmas Day, photos were taken with
the phones camera at nine pm on the twenty twenty
fifth of December twenty twenty. There was a photograph taken
on page forty nine of a what looks like a
shopping bag which had two used class pipes in it.
And these are the same types of popes commonly used
to smoke methanphetamine, so.
Speaker 6 (03:33):
These are photographs taken by the fun correct.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Reeves moves on to the videos. There were mainly of
family events, her grandchildren, and work related. He notes the
messages were mainly work related as well. In December twenty nineteen,
there were texts to the mental health crisis team. On
April third, twenty twenty one, she sent Philip's Sunna text
asking him to join them for dinner on Monday April fifth.
(04:00):
On April fourth, the night before she was found dead,
she sent her niece and her partner in Easter message.
She sent her colleague Sharon Alabastro, a message thanking her
for her work and saying she was keen to catch
up with her. The phone records when the phone was
physically moved measured steps in distance. Reeves looks at the
usage and activity.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
The device was plugged into charge at ten forty seven
pm on the fourth of April twenty twenty one, which
coincides with the steps ending, and the last activity on
the phone was an orientation change at ten forty seven
pm on the fourth of April twenty twenty one.
Speaker 6 (04:38):
What does that mean? Just a movement of the screen.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
It means to move when I the screen.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
The phone could have been plugged in and placed down
and the screen changed orientation.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Next, Reeves looks into the WhatsApp messaging between Polkinghorn and
Madison Ashton on the eighth of December twenty twenty The
pair exchange messages appearing like Polkinghorn abandoning plans to have
Christmas with Ashton and talk of not doing quarantine.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
They speak about Ashton's.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Work bookings, She accuses him of acting like a child,
that he has a gutta mentality when it comes to
her occupation, but goes on to say he is very lovable,
kind and patient sexy. Moving on to Ashton's phones, you'll
remember they were seized when the pair were at Mount
Cook Chalet twenty five days after Hannah's death. Messages indicate
(05:25):
they've known each other since twenty fifteen. There was an
email document showing a payment of eight hundred dollars and
an appointment for a one hour girlfriend experience. I Messages
between Ashton and Polkinghorn start April seventeen, twenty twenty one.
There are one hundred and eighty three pages of them.
(05:46):
They include naked photos of Ashton.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yes, doctor Polkin.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
One response to the naked images saying, how can you
be so studying dwelling?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
You are sensational.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
The messages continue daily, just like they did on the
WhatsApp before Polkinghorn's phone was confiscated by police. On April
twenty third. Ashton asks whether there was any words on
password police etc. Or auckland I and asked whether he's
started on your pr offensive yet. Then they're organizing their
(06:15):
rendezvous in Queenstown.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Shortly after that, Miss Eshton replies with if you passed away,
I wouldn't leave the house ever. Again on page ninety two,
Professor Pokinhorn replies to miss Ashton, saying, Darling, you and
I aren't going anywhere.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
We are going to last one hundred years.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Onto the twenty fifth when there's evidence of a call
and then Ashton sends Polkinghorn a link to a real
estate website. The website relates to a property in New
South Wales. Polkinghorn says, interesting, something to talk about on Thursday.
They move on to talking about the Queenstown Chalet get away.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
If we are.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Over the lodge, Kenza back to chrish Shirt Saturday afternoon
dinner there and then Sunday night might be more leisurely.
The flight back for you, well, you have to be
at airport a minimum of two hours for all dbs.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Anyway, we can play it by year. Is there anything
else you want to do while in inn Z?
Speaker 4 (07:11):
Do you fancy buddy jumping one tours, skiing a glacier?
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Well, sorry, you aren't. The strip.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
It's going to be all about us. Get used to it.
Scary though, I hope we don't fuck it up xx.
Speaker 6 (07:24):
That's twenty six April nineteen. I think, PM, yeah, correct.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yes, Ashton Wriot's fourteen months is a long time in
any relationship not to be at each other's side, and.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
Doctor Pokin Won replies, I am not good arguing, so
let's not.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
I agree. It's been a.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Long time we have been together and will be some transition.
We both will have changed, so I think we should
just see how it goes with no big ambitions. If
we gewel, great, but if it's too hard, while that's life.
I am really dying to see you all the same
and just talk. I am not going to change your
life or attempt to. And whilst I have plans for
(08:06):
the future, I am sure you do too. There may
be commonality or maybe not. I have missed having dinner
with you and talking as much, but that's all I
will say, and then good night, good night. That is
at ten oh seven pm on the twenty sixth, Miss
Ashton replies, Okay, sounds like you're breaking up with me?
Speaker 3 (08:26):
What the fuck?
Speaker 4 (08:28):
Doctor Polkinghorn says fuck no, christ never, I am not
trying to push you in any direction.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
I haven't come this far to walk away.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
The messages end on April twenty eighth.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Other messages the third of January twenty nineteen, for example,
Polkinghorn says his sister will be in Sydney.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Miss Ashton replies absolutely, send me the dates and I'll
add to the calendar. Her reply is nine forty six
pm five minutes later, and then at nine ffty three
pm on the same day, the third of January, TKS
blogging one says, fuck, this is a big step meeting
my family and my sister is my closest anyway, talk
(09:10):
to my darling tonight. But she is really good and
I am so happy she is going to Bali. She
needs time to reflect, of course she thinks I am
nuts haha.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
For coverage of other news events in New Zealand, listen
to the front page The Herald's daily news podcast wherever
you get your podcasts. On Cross Examination, Ron Mansfield runs
Detective Reeves through how a phone is cloned, what software
is used, and when Polkinghorn's mobile phone was seized. It
(09:45):
was the day after Hannah's funeral. He also asks Reeves
about his investigation of Madison Ashton and potential news articles
that may have come up.
Speaker 5 (09:55):
A previous port cases before The Australian in courts.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
I did see some articles relating to that.
Speaker 6 (10:04):
Were there articles relating to.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Miss Ashton speaking a financial compensation from men who she
is suited?
Speaker 6 (10:14):
She was in a relationship of a de facto.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
Kind, I believe. I saw one article like that, yes, but.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
The one challenging the estate of a former client for funds.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Do you have the client's name?
Speaker 6 (10:34):
I can't gets it, but.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
I recalled some article like that. Yes.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Mansfield has hinted at some evidence he'll be bringing up
later in the trial as part of the defense's case
regarding the police listening to communications between Polkinghorn and a
range of people.
Speaker 5 (10:50):
So for a period in time, and we'll have that
time confirmed through a later witness, the New Zealand police
were intercepting his telephone communications with various people in a
particular Miss Ashton, correct.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
I believe.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So they run through some of Ashton's online presence under
her stage name of Christine McQueen. Mansfield points out to
offerings of a girlfriend experience and a porn star experience.
He goes on to talk about the investigation of Ashton's
client list and.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
Those communications were ongoing for way of.
Speaker 6 (11:29):
A professional relationship correct, correct.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
Now, presumably some of those other men with whom she
was engaging in that way would have known her also
for many years.
Speaker 6 (11:46):
Well, yep, did you see the evidence as to that.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Some of the messaging did go back quite a few years.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
Yes, and it would have been clear to you in
that messaging that the professional relationship had also had also
moved into more of an informal friend type nature, so
(12:13):
far as there were more communications between them beyond simply
organizing an hour, four hours or a day.
Speaker 6 (12:22):
For the provision of sexual services.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
So there was more sharing of information than simply making
a bookking.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Some of the clients were more friendly.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
Yes, I suppose that might be seen as just good marketing. Yes,
but certainly you would have seen the communications where she
is making those men with whom she is engaging over
a number of years feel I suppose, for want of
(12:53):
a better word, especially as far as she's concerned, she
was friendly.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
With m ys.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Mansfield asks about the first booking, did it involve Pauline
Hannah or who he refers to as Missus Polkinghorn.
Speaker 5 (13:08):
So on the very first occasion, it was clear that
both mister and Missus Polkinghorn were contracting the services of
Miss Ashton so that they would both be meeting here
at the same time.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
That's what the booking told me.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
Yes, Mansfield reads out an email from Christine McQueen to Philip.
Speaker 5 (13:31):
The only way we get a date on this is
from the bottom of the page.
Speaker 6 (13:35):
Unfortunately, it's.
Speaker 5 (13:38):
The thirteenth of November twenty sixteen at four forty three,
so it's around that time. But the content of the
email from Christine McQueen to Philip Popinghorn. Hi, Philip, my
apologies and delay in getting back to you, that should
be a problem at all to arrange.
Speaker 6 (13:59):
I We'll just have to make sure both men are free.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
So can I confirm Philip that it will be yourself,
Paul and Christine and the two gentlemen for two to
three hours.
Speaker 6 (14:10):
Sounds like an amazing time, that's for sure.
Speaker 5 (14:14):
I will be in touch once we've worked out final details.
Take Kia Sophie, which I understand to be miss Eshton's PA.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Correct.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Miss Ashton had numerous pos I don't I didn't know
about Sophie, but yeah, but.
Speaker 5 (14:30):
It appears that she was involved in making, or at
least dealing with this book.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Correct. Correct?
Speaker 6 (14:38):
Thank you can I produce.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
That jah Mansfield produces a summary of WhatsApp messages from
January first to April fourth, twenty twenty one. Earlier, we
heard Reeves couldn't see anything before April fifth on Polkinghorn's phone,
but it appears they were still on Ashton's phone. They
were scrambled as the messaging st of us is encrypted,
(15:01):
but he was able to see the dates and the
number of messages. There were sixty eight messages from Polkinghorn
and one hundred and twenty two from Ashton. Reef says
they also used I message email and SMS Mansfield asks
about whether Reeves can tell between Ashton's marketing images to
(15:21):
clients should send similar photos to her other long standing clients.
Speaker 5 (15:27):
And we see that there's no response to that message,
no response from doctor Polkinghorn. And then we see that
there are further messages that she has sent on the
same day, So four twenty nine, four point thirty five,
four point fifty nine on page four correct. Correct, So
(15:49):
that's three messages no response.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Mansfield says.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
Polking Horn doesn't reply until April seventh, so twenty.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Messages shout out by MS Eshton without her response. By
way a message from doctor Polkinhorn correct.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
No response on what tip No.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
While some people distanced themselves from Polkinghorn after it came
to light he was being looked at as a person
of suspect. Mansfield says Ashton amped it up her messages
become more regular. Mansfield says there were other men Ashton
was communicating with in a similar manner, saying it's part
of the marketing, isn't.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
It part of the service she's providing.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Reeves says from what he saw, he didn't see her
saying I love you as much to other men. Within
the messages, Ashton gives the name of an Australian lawyer.
Then there's more talk of other lawyers. Mansfield asked about
images of k nots Reeve's earlier said were found on
one of Polkinghorn's hard drives. The screenshot photo was taken
(16:53):
on the first of January twenty twelve and.
Speaker 6 (16:56):
Embedded in the meta data.
Speaker 5 (16:59):
Does it read the URL for the particular site as softbakes,
dot co dot in z soft bakes it's his PHP
albums correct, AU albums correct correct. So those knots to
(17:20):
what you decided might be relevant and told us about
We're not only captured in twenty twelve, but they related
to soft baked fishing.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Correct are you aware Rings Beach is a good spot
for fishing, Mansfield asks, yes, says Reeves. Day twenty one
saw Detective Reeves's cross examination continue. Ron Mansfield questioned him
(17:57):
more about what he analyzed from Hannah's device, drilling the
point home she sends emails at all hours and she
was working a lot before her death. Reeves earlier mentioned
he looked at the phone's movements and used that to
determine when she usually woke and slept.
Speaker 5 (18:14):
In your evidence yesterday, on reviewing the reports, a pattern
of waking up between four point fifty two am and
seven thirty nine am on weekdays.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
Is seen correct?
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Correct?
Speaker 5 (18:28):
Well, when you look at the emails, just the emails
she's sending out.
Speaker 6 (18:33):
That's not correct at all, is it?
Speaker 3 (18:36):
No?
Speaker 5 (18:37):
In fact, we can see that she is doing the
night shift on a number of those days, and we're
simply looking at the days between twenty eight March through
to the fourth of vapor correct. Correct, But do you
not think it leaves a misleading, leading impression that you're
talking about a pattern of waking up between four point
(19:00):
fifty two am and seven thirty nine am. When you
know Dan well, she was sending emails through these hours.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
As I said before, I didn't review the emails in detail.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
I looked at the device movements and created that pattern
of life. I realized now that I should have cross
referenced them.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
Mansfield questioned why Reeves did seven plus formal written statements
to assist the jury that traverse Polkinghorn's relationship with Ashton,
but didn't review her work related email history or the
messaging between the husband and wife.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
I did review the messages. I looked at them. I
didn't create a detailed report on it.
Speaker 5 (19:40):
Bye Was that because the messages didn't support the police.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Narrative as I said, the messages were normal day to
day messages.
Speaker 5 (19:53):
Or did those messages reveal a working, loving relationship between
the two of them.
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Mansfield produces another booklet of messages beginning twenty first of
February twenty twenty. He runs through the messages sent back
and forth between the couple, lots of ex's darlings and
heart emojis. Further messages show the pair checking in on
each other and asking how they are.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Reeves agrees, I can sorry.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Could I just make a query.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
I see this was downloaded on something called digit DNA.
In terms of the timings, the timings end with AEDT.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
What time zone is that.
Speaker 6 (20:33):
I'll come back to you on that and confumed, thank you.
Speaker 5 (20:39):
It's been downloaded by doctor Polkinghorn's IT expert. From the
material disclosed he's based in Australia, so I understand that's
the Australian time. So it's Australian edy time, okay, So
(20:59):
to adjusted by.
Speaker 6 (21:02):
An hour because I think they're an hour behind.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
Is he based in Sydney or Melbourne?
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Justice Lang interjecs.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
I think it's Australian Eastern daylight time, so I would
have thought it's probably two hours. Mansfield says he's not
relying on these for the time, but the contents. He
goes on to ask Reeves about the images of a
pea pipe found in Hannah's phone taken on Christmas Day
twenty twenty. Mansfield asks about another image found on a
(21:32):
USB from the polking Horn home, also of a pipe
with the words sweet Puff on the side. You can
purchase them on websites and they're also sold in Australian stores.
By April sixth, twenty twenty one, police had seized devices
from the remuwaer A home. He was left without a laptop,
and if he was to purchase another one, it makes
(21:54):
sense to transfer his iCloud storage. This refers to Polkinghorn's
Google search of how to do that. Mansfield references the
Duck duck go web searches of leg edema after strangulation.
There were other searches on this browser, Mansfield says, so.
Speaker 5 (22:12):
He knows at the time of making these searches, based
on what we know, that the police are investigating his
wife's death as a suspicious.
Speaker 6 (22:24):
Death, and he is viewed as a potential suspect. Correct.
Speaker 3 (22:28):
Correct.
Speaker 6 (22:31):
In strangulation, that would include hanging, wouldn't.
Speaker 7 (22:35):
It well speak, I'll put it different.
Speaker 6 (22:49):
So strangulation is a very general term. Correct.
Speaker 4 (22:55):
The reason this search true My attention is because of
the distinction between in my mind, between hanging strangulation.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
So that's why I found it to be noteworthy.
Speaker 5 (23:07):
But if he was a suspect for his wife's death,
then the allegation would have to have been that he
had strangled he correct.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
I'm not sure if this is what it was at
the time.
Speaker 6 (23:24):
Logically that might follow might not.
Speaker 3 (23:28):
At the time, I think that.
Speaker 4 (23:31):
Investigation was just investigating whether it was hanging or not.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
Mansfield moves on to Polkinghorn's phone usage and questions around
why he may have had airplane mode on. Mansfield says
some people do it to switch off overnight to prevent
being disturbed by communications onto Hannah's devices and the search
for asphyxia. Reeves believes it's in relation to a French novelist,
(23:56):
Emile Zola, who accidentally asphyxiated himself to gases emitted from
a stove in nineteen oh two. Previous searches indicate this
as well. Mansfield refers to a phone call Hannah made
to Polkinghorn's mother Mary on April third, twenty twenty one.
They spoke for about thirteen minutes and forty two seconds.
(24:17):
It's something Polkinghorn mentioned in his police interview. He produces
another exhibit, part of a timeline for Hannah's phone for
the early morning of April fifth, twenty twenty one, the
morning of her death. A log entry for about four am.
Mansfield goes through what apparently happens when someone uses I message.
(24:40):
When you start typing, the app connects and logs activity
even if you didn't send the messaged.
Speaker 5 (24:47):
I've relied on what I'm told by an it switch,
so we're both in the same position. But I'm told
then it Tree is her drafting a text message to
that number, which is Dr Polkinhorn's number, but then deleting it,
(25:07):
so not sending it.
Speaker 6 (25:09):
Are you able to confirm.
Speaker 7 (25:10):
It or not?
Speaker 4 (25:13):
I can't confirm it, and I also wouldn't be able
to confirm if it was who using the phone or not.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
A few minutes later, another log, Hannah's phone starts drafting
a message to another number, her friend's daughter, who she
had a connection with. Justice Lang suppressed the young woman's name.
Neither message is actually sent. The trial continues tomorrow. You
(25:43):
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, with producer Ethan Seles
and sound engine Paddy Fox. Additional reporting from the Heralds
Craig Captan and George Block and for more coverage of
(26:06):
the Polkinghorn trial, head to Enziherld dot Co.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Dot nz
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