Emails sent to escort in days before Hanna's death, court hears

August 22, 2024
Philip Polkinghorne in court.

Emails were being sent between murder accused Philip Polkinghorne and Sydney escort Madison Ashton in the days before his wife's death, and a video with her in it was also watched on his laptop.

Warning: This article contains content that could be disturbing to some people.

An internet search for escorts was also carried out, Polkinghorne's trial has been told.

The 71-year-old denies murdering his wife Pauline Hanna at Easter 2021.

He says he woke and found her already dead in their Remuera home.

But the Crown says a suicide doesn't add up and that he strangled her.

The trial at the High Court in Auckland has been hearing from a police officer who examined cloned data from his MacBook.

Of particular focus was the "acute period" on and before the day Pauline Hanna died — the days of April 3, 4 and 5.

There were a number of emails between Polkinghorne and his wife between 10pm and 10.47pm on her last night alive, April 4.

There was a draft resignation letter to the chairperson of his workplace, Auckland Eye.

Constable Madeleine Palmer also said the laptop contained a Google search for "NZ escorts" at 2.48am on April 2.

Constable Madeleine Palmer.

In the next 11 minutes there was viewing of a website named "New Zealand Girls".

There was also a video Palmer said featured Ashton, last accessed at 8.07am on April 4.

Back on April 2, the laptop also had an email from Ashton at 7.39pm about furniture delivery in Sydney.

Polkinghorne responded to this email at 8.45pm, before another email from Ashton was received the next day at 8.19pm.

Palmer said images of phone screenshots were also on the MacBook.

They were of a website with instructions on how to use a lightbulb for methamphetamine use.

Palmer also pinpointed a dozen videos depicting Ashton "in various states of undress". They were either sexually suggestive or showed sexual activity.

One video showed Polkinghorne engaging in sexual activity with Ashton, Palmer said.

Another showed him in bed while she walked around the room.

The 12 videos were dated between March 31, 2020 and March 24, 2021.

The court has heard previously of substantial sums of money Polkinghorne paid Ashton.

The trial's also been told earlier Polkinghorne and Ashton were at a South Island lake lodge just weeks after his wife died.

Palmer's report into what was on the MacBook spans some 1200 pages.

Pauline Hanna

The computer was found in the upstairs office of the Remuera home.

It was last used at 10.59pm on April 4.

The Crown says Polkinghorne was trapped in a web of infidelity, drugs and money troubles.

But his defence has highlighted years of prescription drug use by Hanna, and a previous suicide attempt and thoughts.

Hanna's laptop used on last night alive

Hanna's laptop was last used at 10.48pm on April 4, her last night alive.

It was being used to access a portal at Counties Manukau DHB.

Palmer said Hanna was also sending numerous work-related emails in the days before she died.

They were to and from colleagues, all relating to the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.

There were also Google searches for "how do you keep sane when your husband is having an affair", "how to cope when things go wrong" and "why do people trample over me", the court was told.

She also accessed websites about "signs husband is cheating" and "the one most important way to cope when things go wrong".

Access was also made to the site for Alcoholics Anonymous NZ.

The trial has previously heard Hanna sought help from her GP for heavy drinking.

Other emails from Hanna's laptop are to herself.

Palmer said this appeared to be a common way for Hanna to keep notes.

One, from August 28, 2020 had the subject line: "11am Saturday Philip is going to tell me all the things that are wrong with me."

Another email from Hanna to herself contained an attachment PHILIP.docx. It was a page-long Microsoft Word file from January 2, 2020.

The letter began as being to "My Darling Philip".

Hanna said in the letter "you know I love you more than any other person, you are my life".

She also said "I know we have had some ugly times in the last 18 months" and "I'm gutted you feel you cannot talk to me".

In the letter she told Polkinghorne if he wants a divorce to "please make it now" because she is almost 62 and "I do not have a range of options".

Hanna ended the letter with "right now I feel very scared, confused, sad and incredibly lonely".

Another email three days later on January 5 also contained a Word document, this time from Polkinghorne to Hanna.

It was called Dearest Pauline.docx.

He began by saying "I have felt increasing [sic] devoid in the last few months from our relationship."

"I am concerned you don't really listen to me. You don't want to know what I really think," he later added.

Polkinghorne's return letter was more than two pages long.

"I have come to the recognition belatedly that you are not going to change," he said.

Polkinghorne went on to mention verbal gymnastics, overstepped boundaries and barbs. He mentioned declarations of love "only to reboot the same pathway".

The letter ended: "I don't know where the bucketload of love went, but there you have it."

The trial is nearing the end of the Crown case, at which point the defence will begin.

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