NZH Presents - Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial
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. Fro…
Coming Soon: Chasing Ghosts - The Puppeteer
Season of Chasing Ghosts - The Puppeteer - begins October 1st.
Episode 1: The Death of Laura West
In December 2010, the announcement on Facebook that Laura Jane West has died in a car crash devastates her online friends, and has ramifications in real life for those linked to her and her sisters. Four months later, Herald on Sunday journalist David Fisher investigates a serial catfisher target…
Episode 2: Sorry's Just A Word
In 2022, David Fisher receives an email from Crystal Jenner, a New Zealand woman living in Australia. She has approached him as her last hope after six years of trying to find a solution to Natalia stealing her photos. David hears from her, her mother, and a friend who also had had her pictures st…
Episode 3: Mothers and Daughters
While Natalia is best known for catfishing teen boys and young men into relationships, she has also used the photos she has stolen to trick at least two different teenage girls - and their mothers - into believing she is a long-lost member of their family. Today, David finds out their stories and h…
Episode 4: Understanding Natalia
Warning: This episode contains discussion around suicide. In 2011, after outing her for her catfishing, David Fisher sat down with Natalia Burgess for an interview about why she had done what she had. 13 years later, David revisits that interview as he looks for answers as to why she has done wha…
Episode 5: Unmasking The Puppeteer
For the first time in 13 years, David Fisher sits down with Natalia Burgess to talk about her catfishing. While he gains new insight into her life, how she operates her false characters, and her reasons for doing it, something's missing. And then an email out of the blue offers the answers he's bee…
Episode Four: The Saga of Silver Ring
Elizabeth Fraser's testimony at the coronial hearing into Donald's death sparks huge interest in Christchurch - but can she be blamed for his death? And how does the success of Donald's horse tie into his murder? Host: Ric Stevens Audio Editor: Alastair Boyes Producers: Ethan Sills and Elizabeth B…
Episode Three: The Widow and the Mistress
The spotlight falls on Elizabeth Fraser as the investigation continues, but who was she and why would she want to kill her own husband? And who was the mistress that came between this marriage? Host: Ric Stevens Audio Editor: Alastair Boyes Producers: Ethan Sills and Elizabeth Binning Open Justic…
Episode Two: The Murder Commission
When Fraser's body is discovered, the murder investigation begins, but as Christchurch police struggle to find his killer, outsiders are brought in - and the suspect list starts to contract. Host: Ric Stevens Audio Editor: Alastair Boyes Producers: Ethan Sills and Elizabeth Binning Open Justice …