Warning: This story contains discussions of suicide and assault.
In the trial of Philip Polkinghorne for the murder of his wife, Pauline Hanna, a forensic pathologist called by the defence stated that Hanna’s death is consistent with partial hanging, not strangulation.
The defence argues that Hanna committed suicide, while the Crown contends that the scene was staged after a violent strangulation.
Polkinghorne claimed he found Hanna dead in their Remuera home on the morning of 5 April 2021.
During the trial, Crown pathologists suggested that Hanna’s death could have resulted from various mechanisms, including partial hanging.
On Wednesday, the defence presented Dr. Stephen Cordner, an Australian forensic pathologist, to support their case.
Lividity Consistent with Polkinghorne’s Account
Dr. Cordner noted that the lividity in Hanna’s body, the settling of blood after death, indicated that she was sitting in a chair, as Polkinghorne described finding her.
He explained, “The lower legs from the knees down [showed] much lividity, which is a dusky purple color, different from the pale color of the thighs.”
Dr. Cordner also mentioned that the left forearm displayed a dusky purple color, which could be explained by a hand resting in Hanna’s lap.
He opined that the lividity was still mobile when Hanna was placed on the ground, indicating that her death likely occurred within three to six hours before she was found.
An Incomplete Mark Does Not Rule Out Hanging
Dr. Cordner agreed with Crown pathologists that Hanna died from neck compression but stated that the absence of a mark around her neck did not eliminate partial hanging as the cause of death.
He elaborated, “An incomplete hanging by way of ligature could result in death without leaving a mark.”
Dr. Cordner found it challenging to imagine that someone would manipulate a dead body to create a mark that disappeared by the time of autopsy.
Injuries Not Typical of Strangulation
Dr. Cordner contended that the injuries on Hanna’s body were not consistent with those expected in a homicide by strangulation, as argued by the Crown.
He explained that in cases of strangulation, injuries from a sustained assault and victim resistance are typically observed, such as bruises or scratches.
Dr. Cordner confirmed that neither himself nor the Crown pathologists noted any defensive injuries on Hanna’s body, indicating a lack of struggle between her and an assailant.
The trial and Dr. Cordner’s testimony will continue on Friday.
Where to Get Help:
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