BONUS: Polkinghorne sentenced for meth charges

It was a murder trial that gripped New Zealand, and the world. Pauline Hanna was found dead in a Remuera home she shared with her husband, Philip Polkinghorne, on April 5, 2021. What followed was a months-long investigation, Polkinghorne charged with murder, a mammoth trial and eventually, an acq…

NZH Presents: Heaven's Helpline

Heaven's Helpline is a new investigative podcast from the NZ Herald.  When journalist Murray Jones started looking into the finances of the Mormon church in New Zealand, an intriguing Facebook post alerted him to a much bigger - and much darker - scandal. From the NZ Herald, Heaven's Helpline is …

NZH Presents - Chasing Ghosts: The Puppeteer

In the new season of the true-crime podcast, Chasing Ghosts, join NZ Herald senior reporter David Fisher as he re-investigates the case of potentially New Zealand's worst catfisher. After exposing her in 2011, he thought she had learned her lesson, until receiving an email nearly a decade after he …

Philip Polkinghorne found not guilty of the murder of Pauline Hanna

After eight weeks at the High Court in Auckland, on the first day of the ninth week, the jury has found Philip Polkinghorne not guilty of the murder of his wife, Pauline Hanna.  For more on how the last day of the trial, NZ Herald crime reporter Craig Kapitan details the decision.  You can listen…

Inside the defence's closing statement: What they say happened to Pauline Hanna

Week Eight has the Crown and Defence issuing their closing statements. The Crown alleges that Philip Polkinghorne killed his wife, Pauline Hanna, on April 5 2021. He maintains she took her own life.  After the Crown went first, it is now the turn of the defence - led by lawyer Ron Mansfield - to…

Inside the Crown's closing statement: What they say happened to Pauline Hanna

Week Eight has the Crown and Defence issuing their closing statements. First is the Crown, with Crown Prosecutor Alysha McClintock delivering it to the jury. The Crown alleges that Philip Polkinghorne killed his wife, Pauline Hanna, on April 5 2021. He maintains she took her own life. 

Days 30 - 31: Final witnesses take the stand after seven weeks of testimony

After seven weeks and over 80 witnesses, we have finished hearing evidence in the trial of Philip Polkinghorne.   The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021.  He maintains she took her own life.  In the final days of testi…

Days 27 - 29: Email highlights Hanna's work stress as witnesses weigh in on her mental health

Originally due to run for six weeks, the trial of Philip Polkinghorne is now in its seventh week.   The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021.  He maintains she took her own life.  More witnesses from the defence took the…

Days 24 - 26: Witnesses reveal a different side of Polkinghorne as defence argues its case

Week six of the trial of Philip Polkinghorne continued with the defence’s case.   The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021.  He maintains she took her own life.  Witnesses for the defence revealed a different side of Pol…

Days 22 and 23: Defence opens their case with Pauline Hanna's sister

After nearly five weeks of witnesses, The Crown has closed its case in the trial of Philip Polkinghorne.  The former Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead on 5 April, 2021.  He maintains she took her own life.  The Crown closed its case with mor…