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The Trial — True Crime
The Trial

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.

Latest Episodes:

Polkinghorne E5: ‘He wants to have sex with everybody’ Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

In a recording played to the jury, Pauline Hanna talks about the state of her marriage to eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne and their sex life. Close friends recall her sharing an alleged strangulation threat by her husband. The defence challenges them and family members, asking if their recollections are clouded by the belief that Hanna wouldn’t have taken her own life.

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 E4: ‘She’s never hit me, I’ve never hit her’ Aug 21, 2024

Show notes

The jury hears Polkinghorne for the first time as the prosecution plays his police interview from the day his wife died. While answering questions about his marriage to Pauline Hanna and her state of mind, he receives a call informing him he’s a suspect. The Crown case continues with a friend of the couple describing his suspicions about Polkinghorne’s behaviour and a detective recalling a visit to a luxury getaway where Polkinghorne was staying with sex worker Madison 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 E3: An unprecedented search Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

With Philip Polkinghorne being interviewed at the police station, detectives decide to step up their search of his house. Amid tests for fingerprints, DNA and blood - a hunt dubbed unprecedented by the detective sergeant in charge of the scene - officers make a series of discoveries that shape the investigation. But in court they’re asked if police and forensic scientists might have made up their minds too soon.

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 E2: Code 1C for suspicious Aug 10, 2024

Show notes

As detectives comb the home of Philip Polkinghorne and Pauline Hanna, questions quickly emerge about the rope involved in her death. The jury hears Polkinghorne’s summary of his wife’s final day alive.

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 E1: 'My wife's dead' Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

On Easter Monday 2021, police were called to the home of a successful professional couple in the affluent Auckland suburb of Remuera. They found the body of Pauline Hanna.

In his emergency call, her husband, Philip Polkinghorne, said she killed herself. Sixteen months later he was charged with her murder. As this podcast is released, he's currently on trial at the High Court in Auckland.

Stuff's groundbreaking series returns to take you inside the Polkinghorne trial: Hear the witnesses, follow the evidence, wait for the 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 trailer Jul 26, 2024

Show notes

Police are called to the multi-million dollar home of a successful couple to find the body of Pauline Hanna, also known as Pauline Polkinghorne. A year and a half later, eye surgeon Philip John Polkinghorne is charged with murdering his wife, a charge he denies.

The Trial, season 2, available soon wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Stuff Extra on Apple or Spotify to be the first to hear new episodes.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benbow Bonus 2: Benbow's new legal battle Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

There’s another twist in this trial. Stay subscribed to hear the latest developments.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benbow Bonus 1: 'I despise you' - the victims speak Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

Almost seven years after murdering his mate Michael McGrath, David Benbow is sentenced for his crime. But not before facing McGrath's loved ones in court, including the third person in the love triangle that prompted Benbow to kill.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benbow E8: Resolution Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

After months of evidence from dozens of witnesses across two trials, the jury returns - with a verdict. Michael McGrath's family reacts and Martin Van Beynen offers expert analysis - including what David Benbow might do next.

WARNING: This episode contains discussion of mental health and suicide. If you or anyone you know needs help, free call or text 1737 for assistance from a trained counsellor, 24 hours a day.

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 E7: The retrial of David Benbow Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

With the jury in the original trial unable to reach a verdict, David Charles Benbow finds himself back in the dock. And three key areas of evidence are updated as the prosecution tries once more to secure a conviction.

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

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