Philip Polkinghorne at day 1 of his trial for the murder of his wife at the High Court at Auckland. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
Warning: This story mentions suicide.
The younger sister of Pauline Hanna claims she told her she had attempted suicide in the early 1990s.
Hanna's husband, former eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne, is on trial for her murder but his defence claims Hanna's death was suicide.
Tracey Hanna was called as the first witness for the defence on Friday following defence lawyer Ron Mansfield KC addressing the jury directly.
Tracey Hanna, who lives in the UK, said shortly after the death of their father in 1990, she heard an argument between her older sister and their mother Fay, now deceased, in the kitchen.
She said there was shouting and both the women were crying.
"She [Pauline Hanna] turned her anger on me and all of a sudden she said that she had tried to kill herself."
This attempt was previously mentioned by Mansfield during his cross-examination of Crown witnesses but no one called by the prosecution had heard anything about it, including brother Bruce Hanna.
Ron Mansfield representing Philip Polkinghorne at day 1 of the trial for the murder of Polkinghorne's wife at the High Court at Auckland. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
Tracey Hanna said she could not remember what was said after that, and at 20 or 21, she did not know what to do or say to her sister.
"In the 80s and 90s in New Zealand we didn't talk about mental health - it was never mentioned again.
"I deeply regret not discussing it with her. I looked up to Pauline, but I was slightly terrified of her sometimes."
Speaking on Hanna and Polkinghorne's relationship, Tracey Hanna said it seemed "very sweet" and she never saw Polkinghorne putting her sister down.
"He often seemed quite happy in her company."
Tracey Hanna did note when she saw the couple at their holiday home in Rings Beach in 2019 that they were not together very much.
That year, Bruce Hanna told her Polkinghorne was having an affair with a woman living in Australia, Tracey Hanna said.
"I didn't talk to Pauline about it as I felt it was none of my business and I thought if she wanted me to know she would've told me."
During cross-examination, prosecutor Brian Dickey pressed Tracey Hanna for a more specific date on when she was told about the suicide attempt.
Tracey Hanna said she had "tried a lot" but could not give him a more precise date.
"You're making me feel very inadequate right now," she told Dickey.
Earlier in Mansfield's opening address, he confirmed Polkinghorne, 71, would not be giving evidence during the trial as "nothing would be gained from it".
Mansfield said the best evidence Polkinghorne could give was during his police interview, which was played to the court earlier in the trial.
During the trial there had been discussion about Polkinghorne's methamphetamine use and relationships with Australian escort Madison Ashton and other sex workers.
Mansfield told the jury it was "easy to get distracted" by these things and they would not help the jury decide whether Hanna's death was a murder or suicide.
"The relationship was not, as one might describe, a conventional relationship," Mansfield said.
"They were experimenting and having sexual experiences outside of their relationship."
Mansfield made the point that many people in Auckland took drugs and while he understood the jury may have shocked by Polkinghorne's drug use, he suggested it was on a "recreational basis".
There was also an absence of evidence at the couple's home in Remuera's Upland Road, Mansfield said.
"The police knew, after this very long investigation at the scene, other than evidence of an incomplete hanging, there was no evidence at all of a fatal assault occurring.
"That would have to be the perfect murder - if it was real, and can I suggest it was not, it's a phantom."
The jury asked Justice Graham Lang why Ashton had not appeared as a witness depsite being on the list.
Justice Lang told the jury the Crown did not call Ashton to give evidence and asked the jury not to speculate on why this was.
Polkinghorne's first wife and the mother of his three children briefly took the stand this afternoon.
She was granted interim name suppression by Justice Lang.
She told the court her marriage with Polkinghorne ended in 1991, due to an affair Polkinghorne was having.
The couple separated and shared custody of their three children.
Mansfield asked her if Polkinghorne had ever threatened or used violence against her, to which she responded "no".
Family attend court for first time
Family members of both Polkinghorne and Hanna attended the trial on Friday.
Bruce Hanna and his wife sat in the public gallery, where they have been for most of the trial.
But Polkinghorne's three adult sons were also present on Friday - for the first time since the trial began.
Ben and Taine Polkinghorne entered the courthouse alongside their father and Polkinghorne's sister Ruth Hughes. Polkinghorne's third son, John, was already inside the courtroom.
They did not speak to media as they went inside the court.
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
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OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
