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Stuff Audio

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.

The Trial

James Wallace was once the most revered philanthropist in the New Zealand arts community. His world started crumbling when a young man accused him of sexual assault. After a six-year legal battle - and more victims came forward - Wallace was convicted of multiple crimes and out of ways to keep his identity secret. This is the story of a disgraced knight’s rise and fall, his crimes and punishment - and his survivors. 
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Introducing: The Artful Dodger

In the final chapter of the trial of Philip Polkinghorne, the former Auckland eye surgeon found not guilty of murdering his wife, he has been sentenced to 150 hours of community work for drug possession.
The charges of possessing methamphetamine and a pipe to smoke it followed searches of the family home after the death of Pauline Hanna.
WARNING: This episode references drug use.
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

Polkinghorne Bonus: Sentenced on drug charges

After nearly two months and more than 80 witnesses, the jury returns with their finding in the murder trial of Philip Polkinghorne.
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

Polkinghorne E13: The Verdict

The defence and the prosecution present their final arguments after nearly two months of evidence. The Judge delivers a summing up and gives the jury directions before they retire to consider a verdict.
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

Polkinghorne E12: The closing arguments - murder or suicide?

For the first time, the court hears emails, found by the defence, that Pauline Hanna wrote to herself. Psychiatrists talk about the possible impact of the mix of medication she was taking. IT experts are at odds over whether texts were started - and deleted - on Hanna’s phone at 4am on the day her death was reported.
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

Polkinghorne E11: ‘I'm never good enough’

Expert defence pathologists offer different conclusions about the cause of death to their Crown counterparts. Colleagues at Auckland Eye describe Polkinghorne as kind and generous. And we hear from the “fishing boys”, who knew “Polky” from trips to their holiday homes in The Coromandel.
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

Polkinghorne E10: Injuries and interpretations

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

Polkinghorne E9: ‘There was no murder’

Details of Philip Polkinghorne’s relationships with wife Pauline Hanna and Sydney-based sex worker Madison Ashton emerge when police scrutinise their digital devices. Among their discoveries, thousands of sexual images, and personal correspondence about the state of the marriage. A forensic accountant tells the court that Polkinghorne paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to half a dozen women, including Ashton.
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

Polkinghorne E8: ‘I haven't come this far to walk away’

As the Crown case nears its end, a close friend and colleague alleges Polkinghorne made sex and meth admissions that “shocked” her. There are questions about tensions in the operating theatre, financial stress and positive meth tests at Auckland Eye. An expert explains the ways meth can change behaviour.
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

Polkinghorne E7: ‘Some things are going to come out’

Two pathologists face detailed questions about the significance of a mark on Pauline Hanna’s neck, with one asked why they didn’t mention it in their autopsy report. The court hears more about Hanna’s medical history, including her use of unprescribed sleeping tablets and the prescriptions she was given by her GP.
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

Polkinghorne E6: The disappearing mark

As the investigation intensified, David Benbow's behaviour prompted questions from close friends, and police exploited his interest in the media coverage with a cunning press release. With the jury asked to consider the importance of Benbow's missing rifle - the alleged murder weapon - the defence dismisses the Crown case as hollow, "like a cheap Easter egg".
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

Benbow E5: 'Did you do it?'

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