Craig Kapitan is a Senior Multimedia Journalist for New Zealand's Herald, with extensive experience reporting on crime, navigating courtrooms, and supervising other crime and courts reporters.
I started my newspaper career in 2000 and have spent the majority of my time since then navigating courtrooms in the United States and New Zealand or supervising other crime and courts reporters. Along the way, I’ve covered the trials of a military base mass shooter, gang hitmen, rogue police officers and prison guards and more murder and death penalty cases than I can recall. Non-courtroom assignments have included rushing to a small Texas town where remnants of Nasa’s Columbia space shuttle rained down after its explosion, coverage of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, a one-on-one interview with former US President George Bush Sr and a surreal ride in Chuck Norris' ute during which I quizzed the actor about his favourite Chuck Norris jokes. Some of my proudest moments in journalism include an investigative series that helped result in the criminal conviction of a judge and a 20,000-word, four-part story about a decorated police officer whose life was nearly destroyed by PTSD after serving as a sniper in Iraq. The later series resulted in a 2008 Livingston Award, which dubs itself the Pulitzer Prize for reporters under 35. I tied in the ‘excellence in national reporting’ category with The New York Times’ CIA reporter. I studied journalism at the University of Missouri and worked for newspapers in San Francisco and Texas before moving to Auckland in 2015. I spent six years in the TVNZ newsroom before starting at that Herald in 2021.
Jury will deliberate Polkinghorne verdict tomorrow: 'Don’t allow emotion, sympathy or prejudice guide'
Justice Graham Lang told the jury to focus on the facts.
Polkinghorne trial: Judge sends jury home as verdict deliberations begin tomorrow
The eye surgeon is accused of strangling wife Pauline Hanna then staging a suicide.
Jury in Polkinghorne murder trial expected to begin deciding verdict today
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna at their Remuera home.
Polkinghorne's bulk meth purchases, 'strangulation' search not unusual, defence argues
Accusations the eye surgeon staged a suicide are 'murder mystery' fantasy: defence.
Jury in Polkinghorne murder trial expected to begin deciding verdict tomorrow
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna at their Remuera home.
'Murder mystery' Crown case in Polkinghorne killing relies on a 'phantom', defence says
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna at their Remuera home.
Surgeon's life became 'aggressively shambolic' with sex, spending and violence prior to wife's murder - Crown
The eye surgeon is accused of murdering wife Pauline Hanna, staging a suicide.
'Increased libido': Polkinghorne's high sex drive sign of serious P habit, Crown alleges
The surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna before staging a suicide.
'Unmasks the murderer': Crown lays out case for Polkinghorne's guilt in closing address
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna at their Remuera home.
After seven weeks and 80 witnesses, evidence concludes in Polkinghorne murder trial
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna at their Remuera home.
Polkinghorne murder trial: Most suicides don't leave notes - defence
Philip Polkinghorne is accused of strangling his wife, Pauline Hanna.
Polkinghorne trial: 'Vicious circle' of sleep deprivation may have upped suicide risk, expert says
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna in their Remuera home.
Hanna had 'whole array' of suicide risk factors the night of her death: defence psychiatrist
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna in their Remuera home.
Phone logs scrutinised from day of Pauline Hanna's death
Questions continue over whether two messages were drafted in the hours before her death.
Deja vu for jurors at Polkinghorne murder trial as familiar faces return to witness box
The jury was reduced to 11 as today's hearing ended.
Polkinghorne trial: Juror discharged for personal reason
The Remuera eye surgeon is accused of strangling his wife, Pauline Hanna.
Fifth man pleads not guilty to murder of patched Head Hunter, one year after fatal gang brawl
His first court appearance comes more than a year after that of his four co-defendants.
'Want desperately to tell someone': Shock Pauline Hanna email unearthed
The Auckland eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna.
'Had to tell someone': Polkinghorne sobs as wife's private messages read in court
The Auckland surgeon is accused of strangling wife Pauline Hanna in their Remuera home.
Polkinghorne trial: Defence pathologist says lack of injuries in strangling victims rare
The Remuera eye surgeon is accused of strangling his wife, Pauline Hanna.
'100-fold' suicide risk v surprise sleep attack: Duelling theories emerge at Polkinghorne trial
The Auckland eye surgeon is accused of having murdered wife Pauline Hanna.
Auckland socialite Pebbles Hooper convicted over posting sex video to OnlyFans
She was found guilty after a judge-alone trial last year.
Crown says Polkinghorne's head wound was from wife's fingernail during struggle
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna. He says it was suicide.
Pathologist says he would have ruled death a suicide; trial to continue for another week
Philip Polkinghorne is accused of strangling his wife, Pauline Hanna.
Argument over missing Nintendo console sparks fatal stabbing attack of mum
Father killed his ex-partner at an Auckland property one year ago this month.
Condition of Pauline Hanna’s body consistent with hanging, not strangulation - pathologist
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna then staging a suicide.
'Pretty grim stuff': Veteran pathologist gives evidence in Polkinghorne trial
Philip Polkinghorne is accused of strangling his wife, Pauline Hanna.
Jurors at Philip Polkinghorne murder trial view suppressed suicide research
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna in their Remuera home.
Engineer who conducted simulation of alleged suicide method gives evidence at murder trial
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna in their Remuera home.
Polkinghorne considered selling Remuera home: Accountant
Philip Polkinghorne is accused of strangling his wife, Pauline Hanna.
Alibi or evidence tampering? Polkinghorne blood stain scrutinised at murder trial
The surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna in their Remuera home.
Power expert says washing machine didn't run morning of Hanna's death
Auckland surgeon Philip Polkinghorne is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna.
Polkinghorne's investment adviser tells of eye surgeon's $2.2m portfolio
He had invested into Apple, Amazon and other large multinationals.
Prefect and deputy head boy turned corrupt baggage handler sentenced for major meth scheme
The organised criminal group wanted to smuggle 500kg of meth through Auckland Airport.
'She did not look well': Defence tries to flip 'silly old fool' narrative at Polkinghorne murder trial
The eye surgeon is accused of having fatally strangled wife Pauline Hanna in Auckland.
Polkinghorne's lawyer rips into 'intoxicated' police as defence takes the offensive at murder trial
The surgeon is accused of having murdered wife Pauline Hanna then staging a suicide.
'Are you suggesting I'm lying?' Prosecution casts doubt on suicide claim by Hanna's sister
The surgeon is accused of having strangled his wife to start a new life with an escort.
Polkinghorne murder trial not sitting today, defence to open tomorrow
The trial will resume on Friday at 10am.
Where's Madison? Crown wrapping up, but star witness nowhere to be seen
The surgeon is accused of having strangled his wife to start a new life with an escort.
Surprise Crown witness casts doubt on claim Hanna's phone used to draft 4am messages
The surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna and staging a suicide.
Police intercepted Polkinghorne's calls before he was charged, jury told
Philip Polkinghorne is accused of having strangled his wife in their Remuera home.
Tribesman wanted respite from gang warfare. His solution: Shoot his own leader
The motive for the bizarre shooting had been a mystery, until recently.
Phone records show aborted 4am mystery messages on day of Pauline Hanna's death
Philip Polkinghorne is accused of having strangled his wife in their Remuera home.
Pauline Hanna started message on phone at 4am morning of death, defence says
The Auckland eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna.
'You know damn well': Tense cross-examination at Polkinghorne trial
Polkinghorne's lawyer has engaged in a tense exchange with a detective in court.
'Can't think of a worse crime': Adoptive mum confronts woman who caused infant's severe brain damage
This month's hearing marked the second time Shana Tooman has been sentenced.
'Friendship' or 'double life'? Polkinghorne jury views intimate messages with tabloid star escort
The eye surgeon is accused of having murdered his wife before staging a suicide.
'I want you in my life' Polkinghorne told escort girlfriend after wife's death
The Auckland surgeon is accused of having murdered his wife and staging her suicide.
'We are going to last 100 years,' Polkinghorne told escort after wife's death
A detective revealed Hanna had set a calendar reminder for the night of April 5.
Polkinghorne's phone revealed secret ‘strangulation’ search, love notes with escort after wife's death
The surgeon's internet history included secret 'strangulation' search.
Polkinghorne searched 'leg edema after strangulation', 'how to delete iCloud storage'
The surgeon is accused of having murdered his wife and staged a suicide.
'I cannot live': Dramatic new letter from Hanna to husband emerges
The pair exchanged letters a year before Hanna was found dead in their Remuera home.
Jurors peek into Polkinghorne's laptop: Spousal letters and extra-marital sex videos
The eye surgeon is accused of having murdered his wife then staging a suicide scene.
‘You do spoil me’: Private letters between Polkinghorne and wife released
The Auckland eye surgeon is accused of having murdered his wife Pauline Hanna.
Kiwi study says meth users twice as likely to assault partner, trial hears
The Auckland eye surgeon is accused of having fatally strangled wife Pauline Hanna.
Police never found the 450kg of meth; Hells Angels member pleads guilty anyway
Police were able to trace back Brandon Cole's extravagant purchases after the P windfall.
$106k to a sex worker, $5k on hair: Extravagant spending revealed at Polkinghorne murder trial
The Auckland eye surgeon is accused of having fatally strangled wife Pauline Hanna.
Pauline Hanna spent tens of thousands of dollars on hair, beauty, skin cream and dry cleaning
The eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife Pauline Hanna in their Remuera home.
Polkinghorne paid Aussie escort Madison Ashton over $100k, trial hears
The Auckland eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife Pauline Hanna.
Unmarked car: Company quietly tested surgeon's office after wife's suspicious death
The Auckland eye surgeon is accused of having murdered wife Pauline Hanna.
Police forensic accountant gives evidence on Polkinghorne's finances
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled his wife before staging a suicide.
Jailed pair identified two years after teen dragged to death outside nightclub
The pair had name suppression through trial and well beyond sentencing.
Meth detected on air con in Polkinghorne's consult room, jury hears
The jury weren't required in the High Court yesterday.
Jurors in Philip Polkinghorne murder trial given day off as halfway point reached
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna.
'Very odd exchange': Co-worker called out Polkinghorne for erratic behaviour weeks before wife's death
Meth use has become a recurring topic at the Auckland eye surgeon's murder trial.
Polkinghorne trial: Third week comes to end, witness on accused's comments about sex life and drugs
The eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna.
Pauline Hanna considered driving into a truck, GP reveals
Today the trial shifts to a new venue as Pauline Hanna's GP faces questions.
Prozac and a Christmas crisis: Pauline Hanna's GP quizzed at Polkinghorne murder trial
The surgeon is acccused of having strangled his wife then masked the death as a suicide.
'She had to be very careful around him': What Hanna told worried friend about husband
The Auckland eye surgeon is accused of having strangled wife Pauline Hanna.
'Justice for Pauline': Friend grilled on motivation for murder trial testimony
Pauline Hanna's friend continues giving evidence on day 14 of the murder trial.
Pauline Hanna planned to 'see a lawyer and write a will' prior to her death, friend tells court
The eye surgeon is accused of murdering his wife then staging a suicide.
'He tried to strangle me': What Pauline Hanna told friends before she died
The eye surgeon is accused of strangling his wife then staging it to look like a suicide.
Polkinghorne previously put hands around wife's neck as a threat, trial hears
The eye surgeon is accused of strangling his wife then staging a suicide.
Man who shot Daniel Eliu six times at point-blank range in ‘targeted’ murder sentenced
Thomas Tahitahi shot Mob captain outside a church in front of 200 people.
Comanchero admits helping facilitate largest meth haul ever intercepted in NZ
Police and Customs seized 613kg of the drug wrapped in tea bags on a flight from Malaysia.
Disappearing belt mark on Pauline Hanna's neck was unusual, two pathologists say
The eye surgeon is accused of strangling his wife then staging a suicide.
Pathologist testifies: ‘no indication… there was a violent attack’ on Polkinghorne’s wife
The eye surgeon is accused of strangling his wife then staging a suicide.