An inquest into the death of Pauline Hanna has begun in Auckland - with a reminder that her husband is not on trial.
Hanna was found dead at her Remuera home in 2021. Her husband, retired eye surgeon Philip Polkinghorne, was found not guilty of her murder at a trial in 2024.
The inquest would now attempt to determine how Hanna died and the circumstances surrounding her death.
Polkinghorne is attending Monday's hearing but is not expected to give evidence until later in the proceedings.
Hanna's brother Bruce Hanna, his wife Shelley and son Jacob are also in attendance.
They have set up a framed photo of Hanna and a small bunch of flowers from the family garden in a white vase at the front of the court.
They are wearing white ribbons on their shirts.
In her opening remarks, Coroner Tania Tetitaha noted an inquest was to try to determine how Hanna died.
Even though some of the evidence overlapped with the trial, the purpose of the inquest was very different, she said.
"I remind everyone that this is not a trial of Dr Polkinghorne," she said.
She would only consider evidence about him if it was directly related to determining the cause of Hanna's death, she said.
"No person is on trial, there is no prosecution, there is no defence, there is no burden of proof," she said.
Coroner Tetitaha said she would would try to determine what happened on the balance of probabilities.
Crown solicitor, in court as counsel for the police, Alysha McClintock acknowledged the case was not a trial, but said there was still a major question about whether Hanna's death was self inflicted or whether it was inflicted by someone else.
Suppressions mean media are not able to report anything about the mechanism of Hanna's death.
Polkinghorne's lawyer Ron Mansfield said the police were still obsessed with idea Hanna has died as a result of homicide.
They were fixated by Polklinghorne's lifestyle and that made them prejudiced against him, he said.
Bruce Hanna addressed the court, saying there were still many unanswered questions about his sister's death.
"That terrible day 5th of April 2021 was the worst day of my life," he said.
"Not only was I devastated by Pauline's death but what I was told on that day I do not believe and I still do not believe five years later."
Bruce Hanna said: "There have been many tall stories, misconceptions, lies, absolute garbage that I have heard and read. I hope these will be exposed in the coming days and weeks."
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