Philip Polkinghorne in the Auckland High Court during the trial. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
Philip Polkinghorne's DNA was detected on bloodstains found throughout the retired eye surgeon's Auckland home, a jury has been told.
The 71-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Pauline Hanna in 2021 and staging her death to look like a suicide.
DNA analyst Timothy Power told the High Court in Auckland that Polkinghorne's DNA was found on at least three bloodstains, including on a handrail near the garage door.
"A partial DNA profile was obtained from the sample, 'partial' meaning that DNA results were obtained at some but not all of the DNA sites we tested," he said.
"Where results were obtained they corresponded with Mr Polkinghorne's reference sample."
Polkinghorne's lawyer Ron Mansfield KC asked if the DNA could have already been present on the handrail before the blood appeared.
"Despite being called a probable blood stain, we can't attribute any of the DNA detected to the probable blood in that sample," Power said
"You can't tell us that the DNA is in the probable blood or in the handrail itself?" Mansfield asked.
"Correct," Power responded.
Part of the Crown's case was that Polkinghorne's behaviour was influenced by methamphetamine use.
Former drug analyst Cameron Johnson had tested six separate samples of white crystalline powder found hidden throughout the Upland Road home.
The largest quantity of drugs was found in a drawer in the ensuite bathroom.
"[The crystals weighed] 18.0 grams, they contained methamphetamine and a purity test was also done which was 80 percent methamphetamine," he said.
Another substance called eutylone was also identified.
"[A bag of] off-white crystalline powder contained eutylone," he said.
"Eutylone is what would be called a controlled drug analogue."
Eutylone is a synthetic drug with a similar appearance and structure to methamphetamine.
