Roderick Mulgan: Criminal defence lawyer on the Philip Polkinghorne verdict

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

A criminal defence lawyer says the Polkinghorne verdict isn't a surprise.

Eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne was found not guilty of the murder or manslaughter of his wife Pauline Hanna at their Remuera home in April 2021.

The verdict —given at the High Court in Auckland yesterday— followed 10 hours of deliberations over two days.

Criminal defence lawyer Roderick Mulgan told Ryan Bridge if there's doubt, there has to be an acquittal.

He says even though many people were suspicious, it's not enough. There's a high bar and it's difficult to convict people on circumstantial evidence.

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