Philip Polkinghorne trial: Evidence concludes after seven weeks

Friday, 13 September 2024

Warning: The evidence in the Polkinghorne trial details suicide. Some readers may find the content distressing.

Evidence in the Philip Polkinghorne trial has concluded after seven weeks, with jurors hearing from more than 80 witnesses for both the Crown and defence.

Polkinghorne, a 71-year-old eye doctor, has denied murdering his wife Pauline Hanna. She was found dead in the entranceway of their Remuera home on April 5, Easter Monday, in 2021.

“That’s the evidence on behalf of Dr Polkinghorne,” defence lawyer Ron Mansfield KC announced on Friday afternoon after hearing from an academic researcher on suicide.

Justice Graham Lang told the jury that concluded the evidence in the case and the Crown would close to the jury on Monday, defence Tuesday and he would either sum up that afternoon or on Wednesday before deliberations begin.

The Crown’s case is that Polkinghorne fatally strangled Hanna before reporting her death to police as a suicide. It argues he was living a double life, obsessed with meth and in a covert relationship with escort Madison Ashton in Sydney.

Polkinghorne’s defence is that Hanna was exhausted by work-related stress, had a history of mental health issues, was on medication, and tragically took her own life.

‘Suicide impossible to predict’

The final witness called for the defence was associate professor Dr Sarah Hetrick - she gave evidence about suicide and the various myths surrounding it.

From January 2018, Hetrick has been the associate professor in youth mental health at the University of Auckland and since October 2021 she has held the role of principal clinical advisor for the Suicide Prevention Office.

Hetrick is a registered clinical psychologist and has undertaken research and study in suicide prevention.

Mansfield asked Hetrick if someone who presents with a 'type-A' personality - doing well in their roles, presented immaculately - was less likely to die by suicide.

Hetrick said that was a myth not supported by the evidence.

'Suicide unfortunately touches every group, type of person, there is no type that is prevented against suicide… suicide touches all socio-demographic groups, all professions.'

Mansfield asked about people who appeared to have a lot to live for.

'Again, that’s probably in that myth category. We can have things we’re looking forward to very much and also experiencing a lot of distress… but distress can become overwhelming at times, we lose sight of and no longer garner strength from those things. We can lose that.'

Hetrick said between 2/3 and 3/4 of people who have gone on to die by suicide have previous denied feeling suicidal.

'Human beings can compartmentalise, can present well, many people are very good at putting a front on professionally even to those friends and family and hiding and concealing what’s going on.'

Hetrick was then asked about signs ahead of suicide.

'We have no ability to predict suicide,' Hetrick said. The science is very clear around that… there is no prediction in this field.'

'It it impossible to predict who is going on to take their own lives.'

Hetrick said it was also a 'very common myth' that those who died by suicide have a pre-existing mental illness.

Plans and notes were also not common. Only 1/4 of people leave a suicide note, Hetrick said.

Under cross-examination, Alysha McClintock said there was no rule book when it comes to suicide, Hetrick agreed.

McClintock said Hetrick was unable to tell the court what happened in this case. She agreed.

McClintock asked if homicide could be predicted. Hetrick said that was not her area of her expertise.

Upcoming holiday and vaccination clinic opening were protective factors

Dr David Menkes was the second psychiatrist called for the defence and held the view that a cocktail of medications and other factors would have left Hanna at a higher risk of suicide.

In the week prior to hear death, it appeared Hanna had a “very disrupted sleep pattern” and likely contributed to her mood and potential suicidal thinking, Menkes said. The court has previously heard Hanna was sending emails late at night and in the early hours of the morning.

Hanna was taking a sleeping pill, Zopiclone, for at least six months prior to her death. Menkes said Hanna’s GP didn’t know about the Zopiclone which was a “considerable risk of harm”, given her other medication, Menkes said.

Under cross-examination, Menkes agreed with the prosecutor that Hanna had protective factors.

McClintock asked if there was anything in the days or weeks leading up to Hanna’s death that had significance as to whether or not she might try take her own life.

He said he didn't come to a conclusion about her trip to the tip or what significance it had.

'Similarly had to see a friend and took that friend some food… normal thing for her to be doing. I think we already know she was a kind person and tried to be thoughtful, I wouldn’t have thought taking food out of the ordinary to a friend - but it would fit with her personal style.'

'While suicide can be very impulsive…nothing in the days prior to her death…no evidence she’s deteriorating/more unwell?' McClintock asked.

The only thing Menkes said was the sleep disruption in the days prior.

The planned 4WD trip to the South Island and opening of the vaccination were protective factors, Menkes agreed.

'She was extensively looking forward to both those things,' Menkes said.

Earlier on Friday, Menkes agreed with McClintock the 37.7g of methamphetamine found at the Remuera home, including the Zopiclone and other medications were enough to be lethal doses on their own.

There is no evidence Hanna ever consumed methamphetamine.

'Ms Hanna had multiple risk factors that could have elevated her risk of suicide, bares emphasis however, suicide risk is dynamic and completed suicide is notoriously difficult to predict,' Menkes had concluded in his report.

McClintock asked the psychiatrist that he was not saying the combination of risk factors were operative on the night of April 4 for Hanna. He agreed.

On Thursday, Mansfield asked about the impact of a number of nights of poor disrupted sleep, the medication and alcohol.

Menkes said it was a potential risk and said the other complicating factor was the Prozac. For some people that can enhance alcohol intoxication.

'It's another wild card in the system,' Menkes said.

'It's a whole array of different risk factors which were in combination.'

The trial, before Justice Graham Lang and a jury, continues.