New Zealand

Philip Polkinghorne murder trial: Accused says he was 'sobbing uncontrollably' when phoning 111

17:19 pm on 7 August 2024

Philip Polkinghorne at day 1 of his trial for the murder of his wife at the High Court at Auckland. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro

Warning: This story contains discussion of potential suicide.

Philip Polkinghorne told police he was "sobbing uncontrollably" while trying to call emergency services, in an interview on the day his wife, Pauline Hanna, died.

Polkinghorne, 71, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Hanna in 2021 and staging her death to look like a suicide.

On Wednesday afternoon at the High Court in Auckland, the jury was shown a police interview between Detective Ilona Walton and Polkinghorne conducted on the day of Hanna's death.

Dressed in jeans and a pink shirt, Polkinghorne told Walton he had gone downstairs that morning and put the kettle on before going into the hall and discovering his wife.

"I saw Pauline there and she was slouched and there was a chair. I could see her arm was blue and knew she was dead straight away.

"I was just a wreck when I called 111, I was trying to lie her down flat and I dropped the phone, I was sobbing uncontrollably."

Earlier on Wednesday, the couple's personal trainer Barry Payne told the court Polkinghorne and Hanna seemed "quite fond of each other".

Payne said there was one time Hanna mentioned she thought her husband had a girlfriend, but he ignored it not wanting to get involved in their personal life.

Mt Cook chalet police raid

After Hanna's death, Polkinghorne and his girlfriend Madison Ashton travelled to the South Island to stay at the Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat.

Ashton is an Australian sex worker.

Detective Senior Sergeant Lisa Jane Anderson was involved with a police raid at the property on April 30, 2021.

Police were there to seize Asthon's phones.

Anderson said the phones had been pin protected, and Ashton declined to give the pin numbers.

Where to get help:

Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.

Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357

Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.

Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202

Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)

Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz

What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.

Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254

Healthline: 0800 611 116

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OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.