Philip Polkinghorne acquitted of murder

A jury in Auckland has found Philip Polkinghorne not guilty of the murder of his wife, Pauline Hanna, in their Remuera home in April 2021.

The verdict, which followed eight weeks of trial and testimony from over 80 witnesses, was met with emotional reactions in the courtroom.

While Polkinghorne showed no emotion, members of his family cried, and Hanna’s family appeared shocked by the outcome.

Outside the court, Polkinghorne called the verdict a “huge turning point” and expressed his hope that Pauline could now rest in peace. Crown prosecutor Alysha McClintock respected the jury’s decision, emphasising that although the case was tragic, the evidence did not meet the threshold for conviction beyond a reasonable doubt.

Polkinghorne remains scheduled for sentencing in November on unrelated charges of possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, to which he pled guilty before the murder trial.

The jury’s decision brought an end to the murder case, although a coronial inquest into Pauline Hanna’s death will still follow.

Hanna’s family, though disappointed by the verdict, acknowledged the jury’s decision.