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

[drsleuth]

Erin Patterson's alleged internet history shown to jury — as it happened

The Leongatha mother is charged with murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington meal that contained poisonous death cap mushrooms.

www.abc.net.au

6m ago

Welcome to the blog​

By Judd Boaz​

A new day of court proceedings is set to get underway in Erin Patterson's triple murder trial in Morwell.

On Tuesday, we concluded with telecommunications expert Matthew Sorell, who gave the court a detailed explanation of mobile phone networks and the alleged movement of Erin Patterson's phone.

We then heard from Detective Senior Constable Khuong Tran, who was tasked with investigating the alleged murders. His testimony will continue today, along with other experts.

The ABC's Kristian Silva is on the ground to provide updates from inside the courtroom at the Latrobe Valley Law Courts.

 

[MsMarple]

I can do some this morning

Thank you! I’ll be back later.

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-trial-live-updates-cctv-captures-accuseds-movements-day-after-fatal-lunch/news-story/278c0f326cf0c64d49fa0726724ec065?amp

 

[drsleuth]

Another handy link

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/your-guide-to-the-erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-all-the-evidence-witnesses-timeline-details-in-one-place/news-story/4437fc4fb4b4075a23ce67f2b5995f77

Your guide to the Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial: All the evidence, witnesses, timeline details in one place​

​

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago

A delay to today's court proceedings​

A new witness is set to be questioned at Erin Patterson's murder trial, but there's a slight delay first.

The jury hasn't yet been led in to the courtroom at the Latrobe Valley Law Courts and we're waiting for the day's proceedings to get underway.

Erin Patterson's alleged internet history shown to jury — as it happened

The Leongatha mother is charged with murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington meal that contained poisonous death cap mushrooms.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
1m ago

Q+A with the Mushroom Case Daily podcast​

By Judd Boaz​

Court reporter Kristian Silva and producer Stephen Stockwell are also answering all the questions you have about the trial.

To get in touch and ask the team something, write to [email protected].

Q: Is there any other evidence besides cell phone tower pings that put Erin Patterson in the areas that the mushrooms were? - Eliza in Bendigo

A: Based on the evidence that we've heard so far in the trial, everything we know about Erin Patterson potentially traveling to an area where mushrooms were growing, comes from that mobile phone tower evidence.

However looking back at the prosecution openings from three weeks ago, prosecutors did flag that Erin Patterson did a police interview.

We haven't seen that yet. It may be played to the court, and there could be information about her movements included in that.

But to answer the question, just the mobile phone towers potentially connects Erin to those areas.

Q: There's been a lot of time spent talking to experts who have detailed the toxins in the death cap mushrooms. What is the relevance of this, given both the prosecution and defense teams acknowledge that there were death cap mushrooms in the beef Wellington? - Peter in Bonneville

A: There's probably two components to answer that question. Firstly, the prosecution still has to lay out the evidence in the case they need, if they're going to allege that there were death cap mushrooms in the meal. They need to show the jury evidence of that. That's the first thing.

The second thing that's relevant, is that despite both prosecution and defence agreeing that the lunch guests suffered from death cap mushroom poisoning, the way that their bodies reacted were different, when you compare Erin Patterson's illness not being as serious as the other lunch guests.

Prosecutors claim that Erin Patterson did not ingest death cap mushroom toxins because they allege she ate a meal that was uncontaminated.

The defence has said in its openings that Erin did fall sick, but obviously not to the extent as the others. That's why we've had to go through the motions and go through what the toxins are, what they can do, and the impacts on people's bodies.

Erin Patterson's alleged internet history shown to jury — as it happened

The Leongatha mother is charged with murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington meal that contained poisonous death cap mushrooms.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Marg944]

2 August Dumped Dehydrator at Koonwarra transfer station

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.

Plenty of woods out there too….

 

[Detechtive]

I hope they have their lunch break early so we don't have to have a break 5 minutes into testimony.

 

[drsleuth]

I give up!

 

[Scooby-Doo]

It has been a delayed start to this morning's proceedings, with the jury still not in.

Boy, I hope they haven't eaten any mushrooms for breakfast..!

How long do they expect this trial to go??? Xmas..!!

 

[MsMarple]

I’m back. What did I miss?

 

[drsleuth]

I'd say there's some issue with the jurors or they're discussing some legal issues outside the presence of the jurors and that the media can't report

 

[Scooby-Doo]

I’m back. What did I miss?

Nothing. Lol, the jury has gone AWOL

 

[MsMarple]

Erin Patterson's alleged internet history shown to jury — as it happened

The Leongatha mother is charged with murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington meal that contained poisonous death cap mushrooms.

www.abc.net.au

1m ago

Revisiting this week's proceedings - Christine McKenzie​

By Judd Boaz​

It looks like we're in for an extended break, which gives us an opportunity to look back at the week so far.

Monday began with poisons expert Christine McKenzie, who told the court about her hobby of observing and logging flora and fauna to the iNaturalist website.

If that sounds familiar, it's the same website that mushroom expert Tom May also regularly posted to.

Ms McKenzie told the court about a day in April 2023 when, after visiting family in Loch, she observed death cap mushrooms growing and posted photos of them online.

She said she removed as many mushrooms as she could, out of fear that foragers might mistake them for edible mushrooms. But she did not return to the site, and did not rule out the mushrooms growing back.

 

[MsMarple]

4m ago

Revisiting this week's proceedings - Matthew Sorell​

By Judd Boaz​

The testimony of Dr Matthew Sorell, a telecommunications expert, took up much of both Monday and Tuesday.

We started from the very basics of how mobile phones work, before zooming out to the mobile phone network that Telstra operates using base stations across Gippsland in Victoria.

Dozens of maps, phone records and charts were shown to the court to illustrate possible phone coverage.

The prosecution's examination honed in on a phone registered to Erin Patterson, which was recorded connecting to base stations in Loch and Outtrim on May 22, 2023.

The prosecution will allege Ms Patterson travelled to Loch and Outtrim after posts were made to iNaturalist showing death cap mushrooms growing in those areas.

When the defence cross-examined Dr Sorell, they underlined the unreliability of many phone records, with the data only able to support the argument that Erin Patterson was in those areas, but not outright confirm it.

The defence also established that a range of factors can affect where a phone signal is recorded, including terrain, network issues and the weather.

 

[Shortfusepsb]

This pause without the jury is great. The jury will currently be in the jury room with nothing to do but to debate points to date. Most days, they only have short recesses to do this, as they are let out for lunch to do what they want.
Already, there will be some "friendships" or natural alignment between some people, yet usually only with those seated close to you - or, if someone is presenting information and debate in a way that resonates with some other jurors. In the jury room, you sit in the same seat as your first day, around a boardroom type table, every day. The only one that is moved on day one is the elected jury chair.
This extended break and lock-in will naturally bring about greater conversation than they have had the opportunity to do thus far.

 

[MsMarple]

Just now

Revisiting this week's proceedings - Khuong Tran​

By Judd Boaz​

Our latest witness was Detective Senior Constable Khuong Tran, who was tasked with investigating the alleged homicides.

Detective Senior Constable Tran told the court he had been tasked with obtaining CCTV footage dated to July 30, 2023 — the day after the deadly lunch.

The footage, which was played to the court, showed Erin Patterson calmly entering a BP service station at Caldermeade, entering and exiting the toilets in about 10 seconds, and browsing for items.

Earlier in the trial, we heard Ms Patterson had driven her son to a flying lesson that day, and had complained to hospital staff of experiencing diarhoeaa and vomiting in the days after the lunch.

There will be more evidence to come from Detective Senior Constable Tran, so expect him to appear again either later today or during the week.

 

[MsMarple]

Digital forensics expert called as witness​

By Judd Boaz​

The jury is led into the courtroom, and we're underway for today.

Justice Beale explains to the jury that another witness will be interposed for Detective Senior Constable Khuong Tran.

The prosecution call Shamen Fox-Henry, a digital forensics expert with Victoria Police, as a witness.

 

[MsMarple]

Just now

Who is Shamen Fox-Henry?​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Fox-Henry details to the court his training as a computer expert with the Victoria Police cybercrime unit.

He explains the various software used by the police to extract data from mobile phones and computers.

He's been with Victoria Police since October 2020, mainly working on data recovery.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

Digital forensics expert called as witness​

The jury is led into the courtroom, and we're underway for today.

Justice Beale explains to the jury that another witness will be interposed for Detective Senior Constable Khuong Tran.

The prosecution call Shamen Fox-Henry, a digital forensics expert with Victoria Police, as a witness.