As the defence case begins, Polkinghorne’s lawyer describes the police as being “intoxicated” with the idea of murder, and cautions the jury against being distracted by evidence about sex and drugs. Pauline Hanna’s sister says Hanna told her of a suicide attempt more than 30 years ago and Polkinghorne’s ex-wife takes the stand.WARNING: This podcast references suicide right from the start and throughout the episode. Some listeners might find this distressing. <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/85494523/where-to-get-help">Click here</a> for where to get help in New Zealand.Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we'd love you to support our work by becoming a subscriber! You can subscribe to Stuff Extra directly in <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-trial/id1677445365">Apple Podcasts</a>, or <a href="https://listen.stuff.co.nz/subscribe">Click Here </a>to listen on other platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

As the defence case begins, Polkinghorne’s lawyer describes the police as being “intoxicated” with the idea of murder, and cautions the jury against being distracted by evidence about sex and drugs. Pauline Hanna’s sister says Hanna told her of a suicide attempt more than 30 years ago and Polkinghorne’s ex-wife takes the stand. WARNING: This podcast references suicide right from the start and throughout the episode. Some listeners might find this distressing. Click here for where to get help in New Zealand. Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we'd love you to support our work by becoming a subscriber! You can subscribe to Stuff Extra directly in Apple Podcasts, or Click Here to listen on other platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the defence case begins, Polkinghorne’s lawyer describes the police as being “intoxicated” with the idea of murder, and cautions the jury against being distracted by evidence about sex and drugs. Pauline Hanna’s sister says Hanna told her of a suicide attempt more than 30 years ago and Polkinghorne’s ex-wife takes the stand.WARNING: This podcast references suicide right from the start and throughout the episode. Some listeners might find this distressing.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/85494523/where-to-get-help" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a>&nbsp;for where to get help in New Zealand.Podcasts like this take lots of time and resources to produce, which is why we'd love you to support our work by becoming a subscriber! You can subscribe to Stuff Extra directly in&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-trial/id1677445365" rel="noopener noreferrer">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://listen.stuff.co.nz/subscribe" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click Here&nbsp;</a>to listen on other platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="noopener noreferrer">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Polkinghorne E9: ‘There was no murder’

Stuff Audio, New Zealand’s award-winning leader in true crime podcasts, presents The Trial. Stuff’s expert journalists spend weeks at High Court hearings and pore over hundreds of hours of recordings to deliver compelling and in-depth insights into some of New Zealand’s most intriguing cases - as they happen.
NEW: Season 2 - Police are called to the multi-million dollar Auckland home of a successful couple to find the body of Pauline Hanna. A year and a half later, her husband, eye surgeon Philip John Polkinghorne is charged with murder, a charge he denies. Presented by Philippa Tolley.
Season 1 - In 2017 49-year-old builder Michael McGrath disappeared. No body, crime scene or weapon were found. So how could his longtime friend, David Benbow, be arrested and charged with murder? Presented by Michael Wright.
Sound design/audio editing: Connor Scott; executive producer: Chris Reed
WARNING:  This show talks about suicide and content that may upset some people. If you need help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.
Podcasts like this one take a lot of time and resources to create. To help cover some of that cost, you will hear some ads during this podcast. For an ad-free experience and early access to new episodes subscribe to Stuff Extra. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify, or go to listen.stuff.co.nz/extra to get access to this and other Stuff True Crime podcasts ad-free… and you’ll be helping us make more great podcasts, like this one.

Society & Culture

Documentary

News

True Crime

Stuff Audio, New Zealand’s award-winning leader in true crime podcasts, presents The Trial. Stuff’s expert journalists spend weeks at High Court hearings and pore over hundreds of hours of recordings to deliver compelling and in-depth insights into some of New Zealand’s most intriguing cases - as they happen. NEW: Season 2 - Police are called to the multi-million dollar Auckland home of a successful couple to find the body of Pauline Hanna. A year and a half later, her husband, eye surgeon Philip John Polkinghorne is charged with murder, a charge he denies. Presented by Philippa Tolley. Season 1 - In 2017 49-year-old builder Michael McGrath disappeared. No body, crime scene or weapon were found. So how could his longtime friend, David Benbow, be arrested and charged with murder? Presented by Michael Wright. Sound design/audio editing: Connor Scott; executive producer: Chris Reed WARNING: This show talks about suicide and content that may upset some people. If you need help, text or call 1737, 24 hours. Podcasts like this one take a lot of time and resources to create. To help cover some of that cost, you will hear some ads during this podcast. For an ad-free experience and early access to new episodes subscribe to Stuff Extra. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify, or go to listen.stuff.co.nz/extra to get access to this and other Stuff True Crime podcasts ad-free… and you’ll be helping us make more great podcasts, like this one.

Stuff Audio, New Zealand’s award-winning leader in true crime podcasts, presents The Trial. Stuff’s expert journalists spend weeks at High Court hearings and pore over hundreds of hours of recordings to deliver compelling and in-depth insights into some of New Zealand’s most intriguing cases - as they happen.
NEW: Season 2 - Police are called to the multi-million dollar Auckland home of a successful couple to find the body of Pauline Hanna. A year and a half later, her husband, eye surgeon Philip John Polkinghorne is charged with murder, a charge he denies. Presented by Philippa Tolley.
Season 1 - In 2017 49-year-old builder Michael McGrath disappeared. No body, crime scene or weapon were found. So how could his longtime friend, David Benbow,&nbsp;be arrested and charged with murder? Presented by Michael Wright.
Sound design/audio editing: Connor Scott; executive producer: Chris Reed
WARNING:  This show talks about suicide and content that may upset some people. If you need help, text or call 1737, 24 hours.
Podcasts like this one take a lot of time and resources to create. To help cover some of that cost, you will hear some ads during this podcast. For an ad-free experience and early access to new episodes subscribe to Stuff Extra. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify, or go to listen.stuff.co.nz/extra to get access to this and other Stuff True Crime podcasts ad-free… and you’ll be helping us make more great podcasts, like this one.

Share Polkinghorne E9: ‘There was no murder’

Sign up to save your podcasts

Polkinghorne E9: ‘There was no murder’

Polkinghorne E9: ‘There was no murder’

More shows like The Trial

Australian True Crime

Life and Crimes with Andrew Rule

SUPERFAD

Heavy Metal

The District

True Crime Conversations

Out of My Mind

A Moment In Crime

Crime Insiders

I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin

One Hot Minute

First Rung: Reno 101

The Long Read from Stuff

Once a Panther

Tell Me About It: Women. Talk.

GUILT

The Commune

Our Little Edey – The Eden Westbrook Story

DELVE

Secrets We Keep

The Missing Campers Trial

Tova

Simon Bridges: Generally Famous

The Lost Boy

Bronwyn

True Story

Witness: Sex, Lies and Streaming

Jo vs Cancer

The Good Sex Project

The Podium

Big Stuff Quiz

Paddy Gower’s TFN - The F#$%ing News

Dear Rachelle

The Missing Matter