George Block: NZ Herald reporter on Philip Polkinghorne's defence team labelling accusations against him 'insulting'

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Philip Polkinghorne's defence team says the Crown's accusations against him have been an insult.

The Auckland eye surgeon is accused of killing his wife, Pauline Hanna, in 2021.

In his closing remarks Ron Mansfield KC says a lack of injuries on Hanna's body must mean she took her own life.

Herald reporter George Block says Mansfield also gave an explanation for Polkinghorne deleting his messages with sex worker Madison Ashton.

"Mansfield says that was just because he didn't want that to become public - if it was going to be this big investigation, he didn't want his extramarital liaisons to become public fodder."

Ron Mansfield will continue his remarks in the morning before the judge sums up the case, then the jury's expected to start deliberating tomorrow afternoon.

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