
Escort wants to give evidence at Hanna inquest
Australian sex worker Madison Ashton has asked to give evidence at an inquest into the death of Auckland health manager Pauline Hanna.
Hanna, who managed the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine as an executive director at Counties Manukau Health, died in her home in the Auckland suburb of Remuera home on April 5 in 2021.
Pauline Hanna. Photo: RNZ
Her husband, former Auckland eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne, was found not guilty of murdering her after an eight-week trial last year.
The Crown argued Polkinghorne killed his wife after a possible violent struggle, while he may have been under the influence of methamphetamine.
The defence maintained Hanna died by suicide after many years of struggling with depression, compounded by work-related stress.
Ashton - Polkinghorne's former lover - was called as a witness for the Crown but did not turn up during the trial.
She told other media she decided not to give evidence due to being unhappy with the police's treatment of her.
Ashton had since approached Coroner Tania Tetitaha's office, indicating she had evidence relevant to the circumstances of Hanna's death.
This can now be revealed as the Coroner has lifted a previous non-publication order.
The next pre-inquest conference is set down for August.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Pipe bombs found by body near Auckland motorway not treated as a criminal matter, police say
The police cordon was set up near SH1 at Highbrook. Photo: RNZ / Bella Craig Pipe bombs found near a body beside Auckland's Southern Motorway are not a criminal matter, police say. Police were alerted to the death in Highbrook about 11.30am on Tuesday and it resulted in the motorway being closed for many hours . On Wednesday, police confirmed the devices found near the body of the man were pipe bombs that could have killed people within proximity. The death of the man had now been referred to the Coroner, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward said. "Police will not be releasing detailed findings of the post-mortem, but it has indicated the man died of a self-inflicted injury." The man's death and the discovery of the pipe bombs were not being treated as a criminal matter, he said. "Police are currently unable to release further details surrounding the man, as formal identification procedures are yet to be completed." The man's next of kin had been contacted, he said, and they were being supported. "This incident has occurred in a very public place, and I understand there will naturally be curiosity surrounding what has taken place. "It's important to remember that a person has died and there is family grieving, so we ask people to be mindful of speculation." The Coroner would, in time, issue findings surrounding the circumstances that led to the man's death, Hayward said. If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Man charged with murdering woman in Christchurch's Parklands
Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER A man has been charged with murdering a woman in Christchurch. Emergency services were called to a property on Lamorna Rd, Parklands, at 7.50pm on Wednesday after reports a person had sustained critical injuries. Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Simmons said the woman was unresponsive when emergency services arrived and tragically was unable to be revived. A 36-year-old man has been charged with murder. Do you know more? Email He was scheduled to appear in Christchurch District Court on Thursday morning. "Police are working to support the victim's family and at this early stage we will not be releasing further details regarding the victim, Simmons said. "We also know that this will have been an incredibly distressing incident for Lamorna Road residents and the wider Parklands community." Police will have a continued presence in Lamorna Rd, Simmons said, as police complete a scene examination and undertake further inquiries.

RNZ News
11 hours ago
- RNZ News
At least one person injured in New Plymouth house fire on Oranga St
A fire truck, close-up. Photo: Pretoria Gordon / RNZ At least one person has been injured in a house fire in New Plymouth overnight. Emergency services were called to the single-storey house on Oranga Street just before 11pm on Wednesday. Fire and Emergency shift manager Belinda Beets said the blaze was initially reported as a bedroom fire, however, firefighters found it "well-involved" upon arrival. It was unclear whether everyone had escaped the fire, Beets said, because "people kept going back into the house, so we weren't sure if everyone was out or not". One young person (age unknown) has been injured with burns to their hands. Firefighters remained at the scene in the early hours of Thursday, trying to extinguish the flames. Salvaging work was likely to follow, Beets said. Fire investigators, ambulance and police were also in attendance, but it was too early to know whether the blaze was suspicious. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.