Polkinghorne murder trial: Emails between victim and suspect shared in court

Philip Polkinghorne arrives at the High Court in Auckland on the first day of his trial for murdering his wife Pauline Hanna New Zealand Herald Photo by Michael Craig 29 July 2024
Photo: NZME/Michael Craig

• Former eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne denies murdering wife Pauline Hanna in April 2021
• Polkinghorne had earlier pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and a pipe
• The Crown alleges that a combination of financial problems, infidelity and meth use led Polkinghorne to kill his wife and stage her death as a suicide.
• The defense claims Hanna killed herself after struggling with depression for many years.

Google searches and documents found on a computer owned by Pauline Hanna, who was allegedly murdered by her husband, are being discussed in the High Court in Auckland.

Auckland eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne is on trial for Hanna’s murder in 2021 and staged it as a suicide.

Constable Madeleine Palmer took the stand Friday morning to continue testimony that began Thursday about the contents of laptops owned by Hanna and Polkinghorne.

In November 2020, a few months before Hanna’s death in April 2021, a Google search asking “why do people step on me?” was done, along with searches on the Alcoholics Anonymous website, along with document saves about dealing with extramarital affairs.

Defense barrister Ron Mansfield KC, asked Palmer about “why are people stepping on my feet?” search on Friday morning and asked her if she knew if it had anything to do with her marriage to Polkinghorne or her relationships with co-workers or extended family.

Palmer told the court he did not know because the only record is the search itself.

The night before Hanna’s death, she sent an email to Polkinghorne, which was a proposed resignation letter for Polkinghorne’s position at the Auckland Eye.

Mansfield asked Palmer if it looked like Hanna had “tended” or edited the letter for Polkinghorne and then sent it back to him, to which Palmer agreed.

Emails shed light on marriage

On Thursday afternoon, Palmer read a document, titled Philip.docx, that Hanna emailed him on January 5, 2020.

In it, Hanna appeared to be responding to an email from Polkinghorne that suggested he had not contributed financially.

“I buy you things, I buy family gifts, I pick up and collect your dry cleaning, or at least I used to. Don’t leave me now, as you put it under your name. I don’t wear bodysuits, I don’t lift my glasses off their top rims, etc., because you keep criticizing me.”

She apologized to Polkinghorne and said she felt “devastated” that she had “let him down so badly”.

“I’m so sorry. You are everything to me and you have changed. No, but I clearly didn’t read your signals.

“I still have a lot of love left.” I think you have too.

Hanna asked Polkinghorne if he wanted a divorce before January 31, 2020 so they could make arrangements.

In an email to Hanna, also read out in court by Palmer, Polkinghorne told his wife of 20 years that he felt “increasingly deprived in recent months” of their relationship.

“I don’t know where the bucket of love went, but there it is.”

Polkinghorne said he has signed up for a three-day retreat in Auckland: Moving on, or Up and plans to return to their course at Rings Beach on December 27.

“I’m leaving in a few minutes and I’m sorry I didn’t get everything ready at the beach.

“I don’t know what the outcome of this withdrawal will be, but to be honest, without some kind of perspective, I’m sure I won’t be able to continue. If there’s a pill that makes things easier, don’t worry, I’d take the bottle.”

The process continues.