Philip Polkinghorne broke down in tears and an inquest into the death of his wife Pauline Hanna was briefly paused on Tuesday as the court viewed a police interview recorded on the day her body was discovered.
The inquest is examining the circumstances of Hanna's death and whether it was self-inflicted.
The court also began hearing evidence from a senior police officer who led the investigation into Hanna's death.
Earlier, the court was played the 111 call Polkinghorne made after he said he found Hanna unresponsive at the couple's home in the Auckland suburb of Remuera on April 5, 2021.
Polkinghorne and his sister, Ruth Hughes, left the courtroom before the recording was played.
"My wife's dead," Polkinghorne told the operator.
The inquest comes almost two years after the former eye surgeon was found not guilty of murdering Hanna following a high-profile trial.
Prosecutors alleged Polkinghorne staged the scene to make it appear Hanna had taken her own life. His defence maintained Hanna died by suicide after struggling with depression.
As the inquest opened, Coroner Tania Tetitaha reminded the court that Polkinghorne was not on trial.
On Tuesday, the court heard from Detective Inspector Chris Allan, one of the officers who led the investigation.
Much of Allan's evidence was aired during the 2024 murder trial and focused on the police response and scene examination.
Allan said Polkinghorne gave a statement to police but was able to move freely around the house while officers investigated Hanna's death.
The court heard Polkinghorne also moved an item that would later be seized as evidence.
Polkinghorne was eventually taken to Auckland Central Police Station, where he was interviewed as a witness rather than a suspect, Allan said.
In the video-recorded interview played in court, Polkinghorne told police he knew Hanna was dead immediately after finding her.
It was at that moment that Polkinghorne broke down in tears in the courtroom.
The hearing was briefly adjourned before Polkinghorne and his sister left the courtroom and the video was resumed.
In opening submissions on Monday, police and Polkinghorne's lawyers presented sharply contrasting accounts, mirroring the arguments made during the High Court trial.
Hanna’s family is also taking part in the inquiry.
"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,” her brother, Bruce Hanna, said on Monday.
Crown solicitor Alysha McClintock, representing police, told the coroner the scene was at odds with Polkinghorne's account of events.
"It points toward death at the hands of another," McClintock said.
But Polkinghorne's lawyer Ron Mansfield KC said police had become fixated on a "homicide theory" and maintained the evidence supported suicide.
"The forensic evidence is clear. It's sad, it's distressing," Mansfield said.
"No one else was involved. No one else needed to be involved."
The inquiry is focusing on the 24 hours before Hanna's death and the immediate aftermath, including the examination of the scene.
Polkinghorne and Hughes were expected to give evidence during the second week.
The Coroner’s Act prevents details of the method or suspected method of Hanna’s death to be published.
Beyond determining the circumstances of Hanna's death, the coroner may also make findings or recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future.
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