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

[Megnut]

It might take 9 second to pop the cork on a champagne bottle.

I don't wish to extrapolate.

JMO

 

[Porky1]

You know what isn't an antidote to nausea and diarrhea? Gas station food.

Did she buy anything? I can’t recall. Might have been perusing to appear to enter the service station to purchase rather than just use the bathroom. Generally sign posted for ‘customers only’.

I do know that salty biscuits or chips work well if your desperate to settle your stomach outside the house (yes, gas station food) but leaving the house for a long journey plus wearing white pants does seem odd. It was 24+ hrs after lunch, her symptoms might have settled whereas her guests were deteriorating. I realise that these points all suggest she was perfectly fine and free of toxins but I don’t think every action screams guilt either.

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Did she buy anything? I can’t recall. Might have been perusing to appear to enter the service station to purchase rather than just use the bathroom. Generally sign posted for ‘customers only’.

I do know that salty biscuits or chips work well if your desperate to settle your stomach outside the house (yes, gas station food) but leaving the house for a long journey plus wearing white pants does seem odd. It was 24+ hrs after lunch, her symptoms might have settled whereas her guests were deteriorating. I realise that these points all suggest she was perfectly fine and free of toxins but I don’t think every action screams guilt either.

Oh dear...

 

[MsMarple]

Did she buy anything? I can’t recall. Might have been perusing to appear to enter the service station to purchase rather than just use the bathroom. Generally sign posted for ‘customers only’.

I do know that salty biscuits or chips work well if your desperate to settle your stomach outside the house (yes, gas station food) but leaving the house for a long journey plus wearing white pants does seem odd. It was 24+ hrs after lunch, her symptoms might have settled whereas her guests were deteriorating. I realise that these points all suggest she was perfectly fine and free of toxins but I don’t think every action screams guilt either.

We don’t know who ate what but here’s what she bought:

Stopping at a petrol station just over 24 hours after the fatal lunch, Erin Patterson visited the bathroom and bought snacks, her triple murder trial has been told.

In the footage, Ms Patterson can be seen arriving at the petrol station in her red MG car and making a beeline for the bathroom wearing a grey long-sleeved top and white pants.

She leaves the rest room 9 seconds later, before spending about two minutes roaming the store picking items before paying and leaving.
…
That afternoon, the jury was told, Ms Patterson drove her teenage son to Tyabb – about a 90 minute drive away – for a flying lesson.

On the journey, she stopped at a BP service station in Caldermeade, where Ms Patterson purchased sour confectionery, a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and a sweet chilli chicken wrap, after stepping into the bathroom for 9 seconds.

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/erin-patterson-trial-jury-shown-2-minute-visit-to-bp-service-station-in-caldermeade/news-story/1e0f47969b1f65664d6a8ff4f5896f0c

 

[Porky1]

We don’t know who ate what but here’s what she bought:

On the journey, she stopped at a BP service station in Caldermeade, where Ms Patterson purchased sour confectionery, a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and a sweet chilli chicken wrap, after stepping into the bathroom for 9 seconds.

I wonder whether we will hear who ate the sandwich and wrap. A teen at that age might devour both.

 

[Deleted member 363451]

We don’t know who ate what but here’s what she bought:

Stopping at a petrol station just over 24 hours after the fatal lunch, Erin Patterson visited the bathroom and bought snacks, her triple murder trial has been told.

In the footage, Ms Patterson can be seen arriving at the petrol station in her red MG car and making a beeline for the bathroom wearing a grey long-sleeved top and white pants.

She leaves the rest room 9 seconds later, before spending about two minutes roaming the store picking items before paying and leaving.
…
That afternoon, the jury was told, Ms Patterson drove her teenage son to Tyabb – about a 90 minute drive away – for a flying lesson.

On the journey, she stopped at a BP service station in Caldermeade, where Ms Patterson purchased sour confectionery, a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and a sweet chilli chicken wrap, after stepping into the bathroom for 9 seconds.

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/erin-patterson-trial-jury-shown-2-minute-visit-to-bp-service-station-in-caldermeade/news-story/1e0f47969b1f65664d6a8ff4f5896f0c

This doesn't align with what Erin's son said in his evidence:
2. He explained he and his mother drove for an hour to a flying lesson in Tyabb the day after the lunch but it was cancelled when they were 10 minutes away so they turned around. They stopped once and bought dim sims and a hot dog and his mother had a coffee but did not use the toilet.

Erin Patterson took son on hours-long drive despite feeling sick, murder trial hears — as it happened

Erin Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington that contained death cap mushrooms. Look back at how the day in court unfolded.

www.abc.net.au

 

[SouthAussie]

This doesn't align with what Erin's son said in his evidence:
2. He explained he and his mother drove for an hour to a flying lesson in Tyabb the day after the lunch but it was cancelled when they were 10 minutes away so they turned around. They stopped once and bought dim sims and a hot dog and his mother had a coffee but did not use the toilet.

Erin Patterson took son on hours-long drive despite feeling sick, murder trial hears — as it happened

Erin Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington that contained death cap mushrooms. Look back at how the day in court unfolded.

www.abc.net.au

I think the service station receipts may be more accurate. The police could probably track back for the actual purchases, as many receipts (and cash register records) state what a person bought.

For all we know, the son may be confusing what she bought and did on that trip to flying lessons with a different trip to his flying lessons.

 

[tmar]

At least we know what food they bought the day after the deadly lunch. I wonder if Erin ate any of it, or was she too ill?


“To the wayside doughnut stop at Koo Wee Rup where Erin Patterson and her children stopped for dim sims, a hot dog and coffee on a trip to the Tyabb airport the day after the fateful lunch”…(July 30)

Mushroom trial: Local road map to murder charges

NAMES and places familiar to South Gippsland residents have been a feature of Erin Patterson’s triple murder trial in the Supreme Court in Morwell during the first eight days of the trial. From the Betta Home Living store in Leongatha where Erin...

www.sgst.com.au

“CCTV footage from a Caldermeade BP station, about 70km southeast of Melbourne, was played to the jury, depicting Ms Patterson entering the store shortly after 3.20pm on July 30, 2023.

Prosecutors allege the BP visit occurred during a 1 hour 40 minute drive to Tyabb for Ms Patterson’s son’s flying lesson.

They say she purchased a type of sour confectionary, a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and a sweet chilli chicken wrap.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/erin-patterson-trial-phone-placed-in-vicinity-of-loch-outtrim-after-death-cap-sightings/news-story/6a9bc1f64a75656a29128c1d186cafc7

BUT if she is such a good cook, complains about expensive meal she cooked, wouldn't she have bread etc at home (saving money). I imagine, the purpose of the BP stop, was to throw her phone into sanitary bin. She used this stop, to buy sandwiches etc, never thinking the toilet stop would be noted, timed.

 

[Detechtive]

This doesn't align with what Erin's son said in his evidence:
2. He explained he and his mother drove for an hour to a flying lesson in Tyabb the day after the lunch but it was cancelled when they were 10 minutes away so they turned around. They stopped once and bought dim sims and a hot dog and his mother had a coffee but did not use the toilet.

Erin Patterson took son on hours-long drive despite feeling sick, murder trial hears — as it happened

Erin Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington that contained death cap mushrooms. Look back at how the day in court unfolded.

www.abc.net.au

It sounds like on the way they bought:

On the journey, she stopped at a BP service station in Caldermeade, where Ms Patterson purchased sour confectionery, a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and a sweet chilli chicken wrap, after stepping into the bathroom for 9 seconds.

On the way back they got the dimsims, coffee, etc.

A lot of food for a sick person.

 

[tmar]

To be fair, they are probably not used to people remotely wiping phones.

NOR investigating possible murders of relatives with deadly mushrooms

 

[Detechtive]

Possibly the SIM was already removed & it was just a matter of its disposal. (Were the kids in the car ? I don’t recall them being asked about this stop )

it’s been said that Police couldn’t find the other ‘phone’, but that could be a reporting thing causing confusion.

The ‘phone’ is actually the handset, the usage data will all be in the obtainable network data as transmitted via the SIM (which determines the mobile #), even though they record the respective IMEI (handset identification) - unless looking for contents of text messages etc.

I think it’s a valid question to ask Why, IF she was using 2 different mobile numbers over the same time period.
Having 2 connections on her phone account potentially means nothing. She had a 14 year old child, that may have been his phone - one would expect that was all clarified.

IMO.

I don't think they would have taken the kids phones. They were not POI's and it wouldn't be easy to get a court to grant that.

 

[Detechtive]

NOR investigating possible murders of relatives with deadly mushrooms

This is true - and originally, I honestly think the police were convinced it was some terrible accident - they even inferred so. Until Erin's inexplicable behaviour dumping the dehydrator, etc.

 

[LinasK]

BUT if she is such a good cook, complains about expensive meal she cooked, wouldn't she have bread etc at home (saving money). I imagine, the purpose of the BP stop, was to throw her phone into sanitary bin. She used this stop, to buy sandwiches etc, never thinking the toilet stop would be noted, timed.

Exactly! And someone who is also such a good cook isn't likely to be consuming gas station sandwiches.

 

[MsMarple]

I’ll be unavailable for the first part of today’s updates. I’ll try to finish up quickly but feel free to jump in.

 

[Jake18]

It sounds like on the way they bought:

On the journey, she stopped at a BP service station in Caldermeade, where Ms Patterson purchased sour confectionery, a ham, cheese and tomato sandwich and a sweet chilli chicken wrap, after stepping into the bathroom for 9 seconds.

On the way back they got the dimsims, coffee, etc.

A lot of food for a sick person.

I agree. If I’m driving my children somewhere under 4 hours we stop once, max, for food/drinks. Unless they need to visit the toilet, but even then they’re encouraged to hold it before the scheduled stop.

 

[Detechtive]

At a glance.....
It looks like she upgraded her phone in February.
New phone is phone A and old phone is phone B.
She gave phone B to one of the kids then took it back on August 2nd did a factory reset and then put her sim card in that phone on August 3rd.
Whatever was on the phone from August 3rd to August 5th - she didn't want known.
Nor did she want phone A scrutinised at all.

2 August 2023
Erin Dumped Dehydrator at Koonwarra transfer station paying with eftpos for e-waste and cctv
2 August 2023
Erin does a factory reset on phone B
3 August 2023
Erin puts phone A simcard in Phone B handset

It looks like phone A might have gone missing on the same day she dumped the dehydrator. Interesting. Flinging it out of the window in the woods would work.

 

[Shortfusepsb]

You can do it via ICloud. It’s a safety feature for stolen phones. She could have done it via her iPad or “other” phone. Or her kids phone/s

The police in Western Australia put phones in flight mode and then intp a box that blocks incoming signal. Surely VicPol would have the same SOP for electronic device custody. This point has always irked me.

 

[Detechtive]

The police in Western Australia put phones in flight mode and then intp a box that blocks incoming signal. Surely VicPol would have the same SOP for electronic device custody. This point has always irked me.

I wasn't aware of that. It certainly makes sense as a safety measure.

 

[drsleuth]

I’ll be unavailable for the first part of today’s updates. I’ll try to finish up quickly but feel free to jump in.

I can do some this morning

 

[drsleuth]

Searches on Patterson’s laptop shown to the court

Erin Patterson is accused of killing three people with poisonous death cap mushrooms.

7news.com.au

Day three of week four of the Patterson trial kicks off​

Welcome to 7NEWS.com.au’s live blog of the Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial.

Here is a recap of what the court has heard so far from the trial:

WEEK 1

Day one: It was revealed that three charges of attempted murder against Patterson in relation to her estranged husband had been dropped by the prosecution.

Day two: The prosecution and defence gave their opening addresses to the jury.

The court heard the prosecution will allege Patterson used a fake cancer diagnosis as the pretense for hosting the lunch, that the guests were served on different coloured plates to her, and she travelled to areas where death cap mushrooms were sighted in early 2023.

The prosecution will also allege Patterson dumped a food dehydrator – which was found to contain traces of death cap mushrooms – at a local tip in the days after the lunch, and that she set up two phones in early 2023 but only one was recovered by police during a search of her home.

The defence will argue the deaths were an “accidental terrible tragedy” and Patterson did not intentionally poison her guests.

The defence say Patterson lied to police because she “panicked”.

Day three: Erin Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon, took the stand as the prosecution’s first witness. The court heard about the former couple’s relationship, Patterson’s inheritance, and were shown texts the pair exchanged about the lunch and child support.

Day four: Simon Patterson returned to the stand for cross-examination. He became emotional as he described the court process as “very difficult”. The court heard Patterson suffered from mental illness, that she was “very hurt” after an “afterthought invite” to Gail’s birthday party, and was shown more heated texts about child support payments.

WEEK 2

Day five: Three friends Patterson made in a true crime Facebook group took the stand. They said Patterson shared photos of her food dehydrator online and that she consulted the group for advice on beef wellington recipes around July 2023.

Day six: Ian Wilkinson, who was the only guest to survive the lunch, took the witness stand. He described his relationship with Patterson, what happened at the lunch, and the symptoms he and his late wife, Heather, later suffered.

Day seven: The court heard evidence from the children of the four lunch guests as well as doctors who oversaw the two couple’s treatment. Don and Gail Patterson’s daughter, Anna Terrington, became emotional on the stand while recalling conversations with her parents about the lunch. The court was also shown CCTV of Patterson leaving the hospital against medical staff’s advice and heard a triple 0 call a doctor made to police after she discharged herself.

Day eight: The court heard from nurses and paramedics who tended to Patterson at hospital. They said she did not seem “unwell” and that they did not witness her making frequent trips to the toilet, despite her reportedly suffering from diarrhoea. The court also saw a pre-recorded interview of Patterson’s daughter speaking to a detective in August 2023 Her daughter told the officer her mother was sick the day after the lunch and she saw her go to the toilet around “ten times”.

Day nine: The court was shown a pre-recorded interview of Patterson’s son speaking to a detective. During the conversation, the teenage boy spoke about disputes between his parents and said his mother reported having diarrhoea after the lunch.

WEEK 3

Day 10: The court heard evidence from a mushroom expert, mycologist Thomas May, who provided information about the growth and distribution of death cap mushrooms in Australia. The court heard that he shared photos of death cap mushrooms on iNaturalist, a website where citizen scientists share observations of wild mushrooms, in May 2023. His observation was made in Outtrim, in Victoria’s Gippsland region. The prosecution will allege Patterson travelled to that area in the days after the sighting.

Day 11: CCTV footage of Patterson allegedly dropping a food dehydrator to a tip in the days after the lunch was shown in court. A mycologist who examined leftovers of beef wellington recovered from Patterson’s bin revealed the food remnants only contained field mushrooms. The court also heard from a medical expert who found Patterson’s hospital records did suggest she was suffering from a diarrhoeal illness.

Day 12: The court heard from a child protection worker who interviewed Patterson in the days after the lunch. She said Patterson described Simon as “controlling”, spoke about the beef wellington recipe, the lunch, and her bid to prevent a diarrhoea accident. The court also heard from a toxicologist who revealed traces of death cap mushroom toxins were found in the lunch leftovers and a dehydrator recovered from a tip.

Day 13: The court heard from a plant expert who examined the lunch leftovers and food dehydrator. He told the court death cap DNA was found in samples from the dehydrator, but not in the leftovers.

WEEK 4

Day 14: The court heard from a fungi expert who observed death cap mushrooms in Loch in April 2023 then reported the sighting on iNaturalist. The court also heard analysis from a digital forensic expert found Patterson’s mobile data showed she visited Loch and Outtrim in the days after death cap sightings were posted online.

Day 15: Under cross-examination, digital forensic expert Matthew Sorell confirmed analysis placing Patterson’s mobile phone in Loch and Outtrim in autumn 2023 was not conclusive. The court was also shown CCTV of Patterson making a nine second bathroom trip at a service station the day after the lunch.