31 Aug 2022

Auckland eye surgeon denies killing wife

11:12 am on 31 August 2022

A man charged with murdering his wife in Auckland last year has made his first appearance in the High Court at Auckland today, entering a plea of not guilty.

The High Court at Auckland. Photo:

Retired eye surgeon Philip John Polkinghorne who is 69 has been remanded on bail until the trial, set for July 2024.

Justice Neil Campbell noted it was "an exceptionally long time to wait".

Polkinghorne's wife Pauline Hanna was found dead in her Remuera home in April 2021.

She was a project director at the former Counties Manukau District Health Board.