Pauline Hanna's bedroom the focus of inquest into her death

The first week of an inquest into Pauline Hanna's death has wound up on Friday afternoon, with her husband Philip Polkinghorne still to give witness testimony. <b>By Jessica Hopkins for </b><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/crime-and-justice/926178/bedroom-where-pauline-hanna-slept-alone-the-focus-of-inquest-into-her-death"><b>RNZ</b></a> Hanna was found dead at her Remuera home in 2021. A jury found Polkinghorne not guilty of her murder after a high-profile criminal trial in 2024. But a majority of the jury did not believe there was enough evidence that Hanna's death was self-inflicted. Now, Coroner Tania Tetitaha is attempting to determine how Hanna died and the circumstances surrounding her death. At the coroner's court in Auckland on Friday, the inquest focused on the bedroom Hanna was believed to have slept alone in the night before her body was found in the couple's Remuera home. Police found bedsheets missing from Hanna's room in a washing machine, along with women's clothing and an acrylic nail. But Environmental Science and Research (ESR) forensic scientist Fiona Matheson confirmed to Polkinghorne's lawyer, Ron Mansfield, nothing significant, including any blood, was found on those items. A blood stain belonging to Polkinghorne was found on the bottom right-hand corner of Hanna's bed, but Matheson said it's unclear if it was fresh. Much of the evidence referring to the possible method of death discussed this week could not be reported. Polkinghorne has attended the inquest with his sister Ruth Hughes, and they are both expected to give evidence next week. Polkinghorne called Hughes right after calling 111, and she was one of the first people at the home. Hanna's brother Bruce Hanna has also attended the hearing as an interested party.