Listen to the latest episode of "Accused: The Polkinghorne Trial", following the verdict.

Herald investigative reporter Carolyne Meng-Yee interviewed Philip Polkinghorne three days after his wife Pauline Hanna’s death. 

This story, which you can read in full below, was first published in April 2021. It remains his only media interview.

In the High Court at Auckland, the jury were hearing a recording of Pauline Hanna venting about her husband, Philip Polkinghorne: “I know he loves me but he’s just a sex fiend he wants to have sex with everybody,” she had told her family.

That day, Madison Ashton – the runaway witness and Polkinghorne’s former lover – was having a cocktail in Sicily celebrating her 50th birthday.

Ashton declined to appear as a witness because she says police disrespected her because of her occupation – and now says she would’ve been prepared to wear a wire to help gather evidence.

"Pauline died never knowing the truth, I wish she had just called me," Ashton told Herald reporter Carolyne Meng-Yee.

Read the full story below.

“Police acknowledge and respect the decision of the jury today,” Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Allan. 

“The jury – they’ve had a particularly tough job, and some pretty confronting subject matter.

“In terms of where to from now... that is a coronial process," he added.

"At this stage, in terms of the investigation, this is the end of the matter.

“As Mr Polkinghorne has a number of matters before the court, that is all I’ll say at this stage," Allan said.

"Pauline’s story could so easily have gone another way. I feel so sad that it didn’t."

“We think it’s a crap decision. She was an amazing person. She didn’t deserve this end. We just loved her very much,” close family friend of Pauline Hanna, Pheasant Riordan, said.

“We need to accept the decision and move on,” Bruce Hanna told media outside the court.

Pauline’s brother said it was “not the decision we wanted”.

He thanked the police and prosecution for their dedication and hard work.

Madison Ashton refused to give evidence at the Polkinghorne trial.

The Australia-based sex worker spent the trial travelling in Europe, following the Herald’s coverage of the trial.

Her response to today’s not guilty verdict was: “Unbelievable, unbelievable. I am shaking with shock.”

Ashton was on the Crown witness list but did not agree to appear.

The trial was told Polkinghorne had paid the escort more than $100,000 and that he was living a double life in a relationship with Ashton.