On Easter Monday 2021, Paulina Hanna was found dead at the Remuera home she shared with her husband of 30 years, Philip Polkinghorne.

For 16 months, her death was treated as “unexplained”. That’s until it emerged Polkinghorne had been charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty in August 2022.

From the team behind The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, comes Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial.

Listen to Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, or in The Front Page podcast feed.

On Easter Monday 2021, Paulina Hanna was found dead at the Remuera home she shared with her husband of 30 years, Philip Polkinghorne.
For 16 months, her death was treated as “unexplained”. That’s until it emerged Polkinghorne had been charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty in August 2022.
From the team behind The Front Page, the New Zealand Herald's daily news podcast, comes Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial.
Listen to Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, or in The Front Page podcast feed.

From the NZ Herald newsroom comes A Moment in Crime - a podcast delving into some of New Zealand’s biggest cases.

Anna Leask has been a crime and justice reporter at the Herald for more than a decade.

Each month she'll take you inside some of our most infamous incidents, notorious offenders and behind the scenes of high profile trials and events to show you what’s really happening in your backyard.

From the NZ Herald newsroom comes A Moment in Crime - a podcast delving into some of New Zealand’s biggest cases. Anna Leask has been a crime and justice reporter at the Herald for more than a decade. Each month she'll take you inside some of our most infamous incidents, notorious offenders and behind the scenes of high profile trials and events to show you what’s really happening in your backyard.

From the NZ Herald newsroom comes A Moment in Crime - a podcast delving into some of New Zealand’s biggest cases.

Anna Leask has been a crime and justice reporter at the Herald for more than a decade.

Each month she'll take you inside some of our...

A Moment In Crime

NZH Presents - Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial

In 2023 South African doctor Lauren Anne Dickason was found guilty of murdering her daughters Liane, 6, and 2-year-old twins Maya and Karla at their Timaru home.

She and her husband Graham - an ortopaedic surgeon - had emigrated to New Zealand just weeks earlier seeking a better, safer life for their young children. 

Dickason killed the little girls 20 minutes after her husband left for a work function. He found the siblings dead in their beds when he arrived home. 

Dickason admitted smothering the children but claimed she was so mentally unwell she could not be held criminally responsible for their deaths.

After an exhaustive five-week trial last year, a jury rejected her defence of insanity or infanticide and convicted the woman of murder.

In this episode of A Moment In Crime senior journalist Anna Leask looks back at the murders and the aftermath. Leask covered the story from the day the girls died, attending every day of Dickasons high profile trial and her later sentencing. 

The Dickason Family Tragedy is told in two parts. In part one Leask goes into the family's background and what brought them to New Zealand, as well as what happened that awful day in 2021. 

Part two will focus on Dickason's trial, sentencing and what it was like inside the courtroom at pivotal moments. It will be release a week after part one. 

The double episode contains descriptions of the Dickason children's deaths and also refer to mental health, self harm, pregnancy loss and fertility issues. Both parts of A Moment In Crime - The Dickason Family Tragedy are intended for mature audiences.

To read Leask's full coverage of the case click here. 

DO YOU NEED HELP OR ADVICE?

• Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)
• Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737



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

In 2023 South African doctor Lauren Anne Dickason was found guilty of murdering her daughters <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/lauren-dickason-murder-case-how-a-familys-new-life-in-timaru-descended-into-death/WU2KWGK5INB4ROEEZ7UMUSSESQ/">Liane, 6, and 2-year-old twins Maya and Karla</a> at their Timaru home.
She and her husband Graham - an ortopaedic surgeon - had emigrated to New Zealand just weeks earlier seeking a better, safer life for their young children. 
Dickason killed the little girls 20 minutes after her husband left for a work function. He found the siblings dead in their beds when he arrived home. 
Dickason <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/lauren-dickason-trial-jury-cant-reach-a-unanimous-verdict-judge-confirms-he-will-take-majority-decision/VK4ZWQQHJJG2TFLSERAAOGFLTM/">admitted smothering the children but claimed she was so mentally unwell </a>she could not be held criminally responsible for their deaths.
After an exhaustive five-week trial last year, a jury rejected her defence of insanity or infanticide and convicted the woman of murder.
In this episode of A Moment In Crime senior journalist Anna Leask looks back at the murders and the aftermath. Leask covered the story from the day the girls died, attending every day of Dickasons high profile trial and her later sentencing. 
The Dickason Family Tragedy is told in two parts. In part one Leask goes into the family's background and what brought them to New Zealand, as well as what happened that awful day in 2021. 
Part two will focus on Dickason's trial, sentencing and what it was like inside the courtroom at pivotal moments. It will be release a week after part one. 
The double episode contains descriptions of the Dickason children's deaths and also refer to mental health, self harm, pregnancy loss and fertility issues. Both parts of A Moment In Crime - The Dickason Family Tragedy are intended for mature audiences.
<a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/anna-leask/">To read Leask's full coverage of the case click here. </a>
DO YOU NEED HELP OR ADVICE?
• <a href="http://www.lifeline.co.nz/">Lifeline</a>: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7) • <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.nz/services/suicide-crisis-helpline">Suicide Crisis Helpline</a>: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7) • <a href="http://depression.org.nz/">Depression helpline</a>: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7) • Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737 
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

The Dickason Family Tragedy - Part One: Three Dead at the Scene

Cynric Temple-Camp is one of New Zealand's top pathologists - and he has just published his third book about his work.

The Final Diagnosis is a collection of stranger-than-fiction stories of death, disease and murder - as well as Temple-Camp sharing new perspectives on high-profile cases, including the disappearance of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope and the trial of Mark Lundy.

A Moment In Crime host Anna Leask spoke with Temple-Camp about the book, his career and why he is sure beyond reasonable doubt that Lundy is guilty. 

Episodes of A Moment In Crime - written and hosted by Leask - usually focus on old cases, cold cases or recent cases of national and international significance involving Kiwi offenders or victims.

But this episode comes from the other side of the cordon - from a person often charged with determining how and why a person died and, who is responsible.

To read more about Temple-Camp, the Lundy case and other crimes covered by Leask for the Herald, click here.

Episodes of A Moment In Crime are usually released monthly and, so far, Leask has covered more than 55 cases including the murders of Grace Millane, Scott Guy, Austin Hemmings, Carmen Thomas, Karen Aim; the deaths of the Kahui Twins, the Edgeware Rd murders, the Bain family murders, the Christchurch House of Horrors and the massacres at Raurimu and Aramoana.

Last year, a three-part special covered the case of rich lister and philanthropist James Wallace who was convicted of sexually assaulting three men and was jailed and had his knighthood stripped from him as a result.

A Moment In Crime has topped the overall and true crime charts on numerous occasions, and has listeners in more than 80 countries.

The podcast was a finalist at the 2024 NZ Radio & Podcast Awards and won a silver award in the true crime category at the inaugural New Zealand Podcast Awards in 2021.

If you have a crime or case you’d like to hear more about, email anna.leask@nzme.co.nz

Cynric Temple-Camp is one of New Zealand's top pathologists - and he has just published his third book about his work.
The Final Diagnosis is a collection of stranger-than-fiction stories of death, disease and murder - as well as Temple-Camp sharing new perspectives on high-profile cases, including the disappearance of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope and the trial of Mark Lundy.
A Moment In Crime host Anna Leask spoke with Temple-Camp about the book, his career and why he is sure beyond reasonable doubt that Lundy is guilty. 
Episodes of <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/a-moment-in-crime/">A Moment In Crime</a> - written and hosted by Leask - usually focus on old cases, cold cases or recent cases of national and international significance involving Kiwi offenders or victims.
But this episode comes from the other side of the cordon - from a person often charged with determining how and why a person died and, who is responsible.
To read more about Temple-Camp, the Lundy case and other crimes covered by Leask for the Herald, <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/a-moment-in-crime/">click here.</a>
Episodes of <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/a-moment-in-crime/">A Moment In Crime are usually released monthly</a> and, so far, Leask has covered more than 55 cases including the murders of Grace Millane, Scott Guy, Austin Hemmings, Carmen Thomas, Karen Aim; the deaths of the Kahui Twins, the Edgeware Rd murders, the Bain family murders, the Christchurch House of Horrors and the massacres at Raurimu and Aramoana.
Last year, a <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/a-moment-in-crime-the-patron-victim-of-super-predator-james-wallace-speaks-out-in-final-part-of-herald-true-crime-series/TY332KIA3VBKLJRD6IXBSVULVU/">three-part special covered the case of rich lister and philanthropist James Wallace </a>who was convicted of sexually assaulting three men and was jailed and had his knighthood stripped from him as a result.
A Moment In Crime has topped the overall and true crime charts on numerous occasions, and has listeners in more than 80 countries.
The podcast was a finalist at the 2024 NZ Radio &amp; Podcast Awards and won a silver award in the true crime category at the inaugural New Zealand Podcast Awards in 2021.
If you have a crime or case you’d like to hear more about, email <a href="mailto:anna.leask@nzme.co.nz">anna.leask@nzme.co.nz</a>

The Last Advocate: Top pathologist delves into Kiwi murders, mysteries and the macabre

To mark the 30 year anniversary of the mass killing A Moment In Crime presents The House of Bain, a two-part telling of the case. 

On June 20 1994 Margaret and Robin Bain, their teenage daughters Arawa and Laniet and son Stephen were all shot dead in the family home at 65 Every Street, Dunedin.

Just after 7am David Bain - Margaret and Robin's oldest child - called emergency services to report the ghastly scene. He said he had come home from his morning paper run and found them all dead. 

Days later Bain was charged with five counts of murder and after a high-profile trial a jury found him guilty. 

He maintained his innocence and fought for decades for a retrial, which finally went ahead in 2007. 

A second jury acquitted Bain, finding him not guilty of the five murders. 

The case is arguably New Zealand's most talked about massacre and over the years has become morbidly iconic. 

In the second part of House of Bain, you will hear more from Bain in his own words on his legal battle. The lawyer who represented him most recently also speaks about the case and its aftermath.

Host Anna Leask speaks to people involved in the case and those with expert opinions on why Bain and the grisly event have become embedded in New Zealand culture. 

CLICK HERE for further New Zealand Herald coverage of this case

A Moment In Crime is an NZME podcast written and hosted by Anna Leask, senior crime and justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald.  

The podcast is written and hosted by Leask. It is produced by Leask, NZME audio engineer James Irwin and podcast production manager Ethan Sills.  

A number of key players in the case had their words voiced by actors - Glenn Dwight as David Bain and Tory McArthur as the juror from the second trial. NZME audio engineer Tash Chittock assisted with recording. 

In this episode television news reports that featured on various iterations of 6pm news bulletins on TVNZ and NewsHub have been referenced..These are mostly taken from court coverage, which can still be found on YouTube.  

If you have a crime or case you’d like to hear more about, email anna.leask@nzme.co.nz 

To mark the 30 year anniversary of the mass killing A Moment In Crime presents The House of Bain, a two-part telling of the case. 
On June 20 1994 Margaret and Robin Bain, their teenage daughters Arawa and Laniet and son Stephen were all shot dead in the family home at 65 Every Street, Dunedin.
Just after 7am David Bain - Margaret and Robin's oldest child - called emergency services to report the ghastly scene. He said he had come home from his morning paper run and found them all dead. 
Days later Bain was charged with five counts of murder and after a high-profile trial a jury found him guilty. 
He maintained his innocence and fought for decades for a retrial, which finally went ahead in 2007. 
A second jury acquitted Bain, finding him not guilty of the five murders. 
The case is arguably New Zealand's most talked about massacre and over the years has become morbidly iconic. 
In the second part of House of Bain, you will hear more from Bain in his own words on his legal battle. The lawyer who represented him most recently also speaks about the case and its aftermath.
Host Anna Leask speaks to people involved in the case and those with expert opinions on why Bain and the grisly event have become embedded in New Zealand culture. 
<a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/david-bain/">CLICK HERE for further New Zealand Herald coverage of this case</a>
A Moment In Crime is an NZME podcast written and hosted by Anna Leask, senior crime and justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald.  
The podcast is written and hosted by Leask. It is produced by Leask, NZME audio engineer James Irwin and podcast production manager Ethan Sills.  
A number of key players in the case had their words voiced by actors - Glenn Dwight as David Bain and Tory McArthur as the juror from the second trial. NZME audio engineer Tash Chittock assisted with recording. 
In this episode television news reports that featured on various iterations of 6pm news bulletins on TVNZ and NewsHub have been referenced..These are mostly taken from court coverage, which can still be found on YouTube.  
If you have a crime or case you’d like to hear more about, email anna.leask@nzme.co.nz

NZH Presents - Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial

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