Philip Polkinghorne is on trial in the High Court in Auckland, accused of murdering Pauline Hanna. His defense claims Hanna’s death was a suicide, but the Crown says it was staged.
Clare Thompson, Hanna’s friend and colleague, testified that Hanna confided about Polkinghorne’s controlling behavior. She said he was sexually demanding and wanted her to stay slim. During their friendship, Thompson saw Hanna upset about Polkinghorne’s possible affair. Hanna had noticed money missing from her account which Polkinghorne could access.
Hanna once visited Thompson in tears, worried about Polkinghorne’s relationship with another woman. She later broke into his laptop and found a picture of him with someone else. Thompson did not know Hanna and Polkinghorne had participated in group sex or that Hanna saw male sex workers.
In their last dinner together, Hanna shared that Polkinghorne had become very demanding sexually, even coming into her room for sex in the mornings. She also stated they had slept in separate rooms for about two years, unsure if this was due to his disinterest.
Thompson mentioned that Hanna was always trying to stay slim for Polkinghorne and often ate very little. Their communication stopped shortly before Hanna’s death. Hanna mentioned their financial struggles, as Polkinghorne had lost money in his job during COVID.
Margaret White, another friend of Hanna’s, recalled a concerning message from Hanna in which she said Polkinghorne had become “beastly.” While there was no evidence of physical abuse, it was clear that Polkinghorne’s behavior upset Hanna. White noted that their relationship had ups and downs, where Polkinghorne could be loving one moment and angry the next.
White also spoke about Hanna’s feelings of inadequacy, believing Polkinghorne expected sex every morning. Hanna once felt pressured to participate in group sex, which she regretted. White believed Hanna deserved a better relationship.
The trial continues on Monday.
If you need help, you can contact various support services, including Lifeline at 0800 543 354 or the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 0508 828 865.
