Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #10 *Arrest*

[MsMarple]

Erin Patterson's lawyers question trips to mushroom spots — as it happened

The triple murder trial of Erin Patterson continues in the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell. She's accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a meal that contained death cap mushrooms.

www.abc.net.au

6m ago

The jury is led out​

By Judd Boaz​

Justice Beale interjects and says there is a matter he wishes to discuss.

The jury is led out for a short break.

6m ago

More phone records​

By Judd Boaz​

Ms Warren continues, listing connections to the Poowong Central base station in May 2022, more than a year before the deadly lunch.

Much of the questioning focuses on detailed accounts of phone records, down to the exact second a phone connected with a base station.

We're still analysing potential visits to areas in August 2022, well before the alleged visits to Loch and Outtrim in May 2023.

• 12m ago

Several visits recorded near Poowong in March 2022​

By Judd Boaz​

The prosecution begins its recount of potential visits which were recorded near the Poowong Central base station in March 2022.

Dr Sorrel says the Poowong Central base station could be recorded during a visit to either Poowong or Loch.

Justice Beale interjects and says he is confused by the mass of data being presented, and asks Ms Warren to make the relevance clearer.

 

[Detechtive]

We're still analysing potential visits to areas in August 2022, well before the alleged visits to Loch and Outtrim in May 2023.

Wow wasn’t that around one of the times of Simon’s sickness?

 

[Eloise]

is the judge pulling it up because that's veering dangerously close to trying to give evidence for the dropped attempted murder charges on Simon's illnesses?

edit: and he wants her to explictly say its about establishing a record of picking mushrooms ergo she knows what to look for??

 

[MsMarple]

Phone movements after deadly lunch analysed​

By Judd Boaz​

The jury is led back into the courtroom.

Ms Warren zooms out her summary slightly and says in an 18 month period there several visits to the same area.

She then jumps forward in time to July 31, 2023, two days after the deadly beef Wellington lunch.

A list of phone records from that day shows connects to a base station in Leongatha during the morning, moving then to Koonwarra, then Outtrim later in the day, before returning to Leongatha later

 

[MsMarple]

4m ago

The defence is up to question mobile phone expert​

By Judd Boaz​

Colin Mandy SC is up to question Dr Sorell.

I’m out for 10 while I have dinner.

 

[Detechtive]

is the judge pulling it up because that's veering dangerously close to trying to give evidence for the dropped attempted murder charges on Simon's illnesses?

edit: and he wants her to explictly say its about establishing a record of picking mushrooms ergo she knows what to look for??

I think this is exactly what’s happening

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
4m ago

Event based monitoring data analysed​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr Sorell is asked about EBM data (event based monitoring data) that he was provided with by authorities.

He says he only received EBM data for specific days rather than all available data, and initially avoided looking at it to avoid bias in his analysis.

Mr Mandy says that if he wanted to, he could have received EBM data for the entirety of the past two years.

Dr Sorell says that is correct, but he did not request it.

Mr Mandy busts out some maps of his own, and Justice Beale jumps in to a request a break.

Back with more soon.

16m ago

No exact location given by phone records, expert says​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy again states that Dr Sorell did not provide exact locations after the phone connected to a base station, but merely a general area.

"The data can't exclude alternative propositions?" Mr Mandy asks.

"Yes that's right," Dr Sorell says.

19m ago

Defence casts doubt over July 31 phone records​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy zeroes in on the July 31, 2023 phone records.

He raises previous testimony from Dr Sorell where he told the court even movement around the house could affect which base station a phone connects to.

Mr Mandy notes the brief window of time in which the phone connected to base stations in Leongatha, Koonwarra and Outtrim during the morning.

Dr Sorell confirms there is no record of the phone's location between the connections, and Mr Mandy says that any guess at its location would be "entirely speculation".

26m ago

The defence is up to question mobile phone expert​

By Judd Boaz​

Colin Mandy SC is up to question Dr Sorell.

 

[Marg944]

Some pics I found of the oval where Ms McKenzie found death caps growing - Loch Memorial Reserve. The pics do give “mushroomy” vibes….

 

[Eloise]

Mr Mandy busts out some maps of his own, and Justice Beale jumps in to a request a break.

how I imagine that scenario playing out. I shouldn't be facetious but I swear they take 1000 breaks

 

[MsMarple]

View attachment 587200
how I imagine that scenario playing out. I shouldn't be facetious but I swear they take 1000 breaks

And it’s almost time for lunch.

 

[Marg944]

<modsnip: sub judice>



“Ms Warren continues, listing connections to the Poowong Central base station in May 2022, more than a year before the deadly lunch.”

Erin Patterson's lawyers question trips to mushroom spots — as it happened

The triple murder trial of Erin Patterson continues in the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell. She's accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a meal that contained death cap mushrooms.

www.abc.net.au

<modsnip: sub judice>

 

[MsMarple]

Back with maps and topography​

By Judd Boaz​

We return from the break with the defence outlining how antennas on base stations work.

In a similar fashion to how he has cross-examined witnesses during the whole trial, Mr Mandy is making assertions and having Dr Sorell confirm them.

He reiterates that base stations are often put at high elevation, and can cover wide swathes of the area.

Mr Mandy tells the court that it is easier to exclude the possibility of a phone being somewhere, than confirm it is somewhere, and Dr Sorell agrees.

Dr Sorell repeats, as he has many times over the past two days, phone records can support and be consistent with the claim that a phone was in a particular place, but can not confirm it alone.

Erin Patterson's lawyers question trips to mushroom spots — as it happened

The triple murder trial of Erin Patterson continues in the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell. She's accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a meal that contained death cap mushrooms.

www.abc.net.au

 

[MsMarple]

Defence again attacks usefulness of phone records as evidence​

By Judd Boaz​

The defence spends the next few minutes casting doubt over how much can be gleaned from phone records.

Mr Mandy again confirms with Dr Sorell that phones do not have to be in use to make a connection record, and that we have no knowledge of periods between when these connection records are made.

Very little of the questioning today appears to deal directly with the actual case or the events surrounding the lunch at which Erin Patterson is accused of poisoning four people.

 

[MsMarple]

And now we're talking about the weather​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy has driven home several points about how unreliable phone reception and records can be, and now has moved onto the weather.

Dr Sorell confirms that sometimes inclement weather can affect base station reception.

It is not mentioned what the weather was like on the days in question relating to the case.

It has been a slow, technical day in courtroom 4.

 

[Detechtive]

And now we're talking about the weather​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy has driven home several points about how unreliable phone reception and records can be, and now has moved onto the weather.

Dr Sorell confirms that sometimes inclement weather can affect base station reception.

It is not mentioned what the weather was like on the days in question relating to the case.

It has been a slow, technical day in courtroom 4.

They probably didn't mention the weather due to the fact nothing of real note happened during that period weather-wise. It was however, perfect mushroom growing weather.

Weather Summary: Outtrim & Loch, VIC – 28 April to 22 May 2023​

---

Outtrim (VIC):

• Max temps: Ranged from 11.5°C to 22.4°C
• Min temps: Ranged from 2.5°C to 12.3°C
• Mild autumn temperatures shifting toward early winter chill
• Intermittent rainfall, especially early May

Loch (VIC):

• No BOM station data specific to Loch
• Similar elevation and location to Outtrim = similar weather conditions
• Expect near-identical temperature and rainfall patterns

---

Monthly Climate Highlights (Victoria – Bureau of Meteorology):

April 2023

• Max temps: Near average
• Min temps: Slightly above average
• Rainfall: Above average in many parts of VIC

May 2023

• Temps: Below average overall
• Rainfall: Variable – above average in parts of Gippsland

---

Source: BOM Climate Summaries – VIC

 

[MsMarple]

Back to the Outtrim base station​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy draws us back to the Outtrim base station, which the prosecution outlined was a recorded connection in Erin Patterson's phone.

Mr Mandy says the base station could also theoretically connect with phones in areas such as Foster North and Mirboo North, which Dr Sorell agrees with.

 

[sunspun]

Phone movements after deadly lunch analysed​

By Judd Boaz​

The jury is led back into the courtroom.

Ms Warren zooms out her summary slightly and says in an 18 month period there several visits to the same area.

She then jumps forward in time to July 31, 2023, two days after the deadly beef Wellington lunch.

A list of phone records from that day shows connects to a base station in Leongatha during the morning, moving then to Koonwarra, then Outtrim later in the day, before returning to Leongatha later

Confused.

Are they saying she visited that same area where she got death caps from in the two days after the lunch??

Why??

 

[MsMarple]

m ago

The value of EBM records examined​

By Judd Boaz​

In a roundabout session of questioning, Mr Mandy drills down on the alleged visit to Outtrim.

Dr Sorell says while the initial call charge records did not indicate a visit, later analysis of the EBM records were consistent with the phone visiting Outtrim.

As a quick refresher, EBM or event based monitoring records are made whenever a phone performs a task that requires a data connection, such as when your phone scans for new emails or a Facebook notification.

Mr Mandy then summarised that the EBM records are a useful tool in establishing a phone's position, and Dr Sorell agrees.

If you're following any of this, you'll remember that Dr Sorell was only provided with EBM records of Erin's phone for certain dates related to the investigation, rather than all the EBM records for the past few years.

Mr Mandy noted that he although he could have requested all the records, he did not.

It's been a very dry morning, and Justice Beale signals for a break.

We'll be back after lunch.

 

[Scuffy35]

Mr Mandy says the base station could also theoretically connect with phones in areas such as Foster North and Mirboo North, which Dr Sorell agrees with.

I wonder if Dr Sorell has shown triangulation with these other towers and also signal strength in relation to pinpointing the area that the phone in shown to be in? Hard to know as we are only getting high level summaries in the media,

Also, as this not a precise methodology due to the irregularity of the pings / EBMS data, signal strength, etc, but possibly the map areas could be overlayed with probability calculations. I would be nice if we got a copy of some of these diagrams/maps via the media like we did for the Whereis maps yesterday.

 

[MsMarple]

Confused.

Are they saying she visited that same area where she got death caps from in the two days after the lunch??

Why??

Good question, one I can’t answer.

Unfortunately since the trial isn’t being televised we’re at the mercy of the reporters, which isn’t always the clearest. I checked the Daily Mail updates and found nothing. Maybe it’ll get cleared up after lunch?

Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial LIVE updates

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage of accused mushroom chef Erin Patterson's murder trial here.

www.dailymail.co.uk