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

[Deleted member 363451]

It’s my belief that she will have sprinkled the Death Cap powder into the mushroom mixture of each of 5 of the Pies, leaving the remaining mushroom mixture free of toxins.

If my memory serves me correctly, Ian said they were ‘encased in pastry’.

I suggest she :

Made a big batch of the sautéed mushroom mixture, it takes a while to dry right down
Cut off a piece of the fillet steak to use for the next night’s dinner with the kids
Then seared the remaining piece of fillet
Cut the fillet into 6 slices
Maybe she pasted some mustard over the beef
Prepared 6 sheets of thawed puff pastry - sitting 1 sheet off to the side
The prep for 5 of them possibly involved a tablespoon or 2 of mushroom mixture in middle of each sheet of pastry
Sprinkle a liberal amount of powdered DC over each
Top mushrooms with fillet steak, then a tbsp of mushrooms, a good seasoning of DC
and top with a final tbsp of mushroom mixture.
Bring up the sides of the puff pastry & seal on top. Egg wash - and admire.

Finally prep # 6 sitting off to the side - same steps Except no DC seasoning (none left anyway)
And just to be doubly sure, I’d Mark the Top of this one

Then into the oven they go.

I wonder how many death cap mushrooms she dried? I would say quite a few...

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

More of Ms Atkinson's evidence questioned​

By Melissa Brown​

They're now going through more texts from the following two days.

Ms Atkinson agrees she knew "there was a lot going on" for Erin at the time.

They talk about a 19 minute phone call between Ms Atkinson and Erin, and she agrees Erin answered all of her questions that day.

Mr Mandy takes Ms Atkinson to her efforts to try to help Erin remember where the Asian store was. They go back through what Ms Atkinson said to court yesterday.

He suggests she didn't make any reference to driving around 'that' day but was talking in general, but Ms Atkinson insists she did specify the day.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

His child support payments although extremely low, would be calculated on Erin's income as well as his, wouldn't they? She does receive rental payments on at least one of her properties from what I've heard somewhere. I do think he should have at least paid half of their son's medical expense and I do think that he took advantage of her re her loans to his siblings. However, it's still no reason to wipe half of his family out...

Of course it's not..! But this is her brain thinking.

Possibly, she was blinded by resentment and anger. It appears as though the family had been taking advantage of her financially.

Her husband’s parents seemingly won’t support her in the child support dispute. Simon changes his status to “separated,” which adds even more tension and goes against their current financial agreement.

My view it's been schemed, planned, and perfected her revenge for 4 odd years, starting with Simon

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Of course it's not..! But this is her brain thinking.

Possibly, she was blinded by resentment and anger. It appears as though the family had been taking advantage of her financially.

Her husband’s parents seemingly won’t support her in the child support dispute. Simon changes his status to “separated,” which adds even more tension and goes against their current financial agreement.

My view it's been schemed, planned, and perfected her revenge for 4 odd years, starting with Simon

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
1m ago

Bag of dried mushrooms found similar to Erin's description​

By Melissa Brown​

Mr Mandy brings up notes from a health department meeting in which one of her colleagues mentions that someone had gone into an Oakleigh store and found small bags of dried mushrooms with no label.

Ms Atkinson agrees she followed that up with Erin and Erin confirmed that that was the style of packaging that she meant when she provided her description.

Key Event
4m ago

Mt Waverley or Glen Waverley?​

By Melissa Brown​

They're now talking about whether Erin told Ms Atkinson she may have bought the mushrooms in Mt Waverley or whether she said Glen Waverley.

The two suburbs are side-by-side in Melbourne's south east.

Mr Mandy asks whether Ms Atkinson contacted the council when Erin changed the location to Glen Waverley.

She says she did, and also mentioned "Kingsway" as a street name Erin mentioned.

The defence makes comment that Kingsway is a street in Glen Waverley that has Asian grocers along it.

Mr Mandy is now pressing her on whether she asked the council officer to go and look at shops on Glen Waverley.

She says she doesn't know what the officer did with the new information.

Key Event
8m ago

Court shown photo of a packet of mushrooms​

By Melissa Brown and Joseph Dunstan​

They're now talking about information Erin provided Ms Atkinson about the mushroom packaging and what they looked like.

Mr Mandy reminds her of her evidence this morning that as far as she was concerned, there were no mushrooms found by the council at any Asian stores matching the description Erin gave her.

The court is shown a photo of what appear to be dried, dark-coloured mushrooms in individual clear plastic bags, sitting in a box on a shelf.

A white label on each bag reads "Black fungus 50g $3.99".

Ms Atkinson agrees it did match Erin's description but says she believes it would be a larger size than the packet that Erin says she bought.

She says Erin later explained the mushrooms were not dark brown in colour.

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Key Event
1m ago

Bag of dried mushrooms found similar to Erin's description​

By Melissa Brown​

Mr Mandy brings up notes from a health department meeting in which one of her colleagues mentions that someone had gone into an Oakleigh store and found small bags of dried mushrooms with no label.

Ms Atkinson agrees she followed that up with Erin and Erin confirmed that that was the style of packaging that she meant when she provided her description.

Key Event
4m ago

Mt Waverley or Glen Waverley?​

By Melissa Brown​

They're now talking about whether Erin told Ms Atkinson she may have bought the mushrooms in Mt Waverley or whether she said Glen Waverley.

The two suburbs are side-by-side in Melbourne's south east.

Mr Mandy asks whether Ms Atkinson contacted the council when Erin changed the location to Glen Waverley.

She says she did, and also mentioned "Kingsway" as a street name Erin mentioned.

The defence makes comment that Kingsway is a street in Glen Waverley that has Asian grocers along it.

Mr Mandy is now pressing her on whether she asked the council officer to go and look at shops on Glen Waverley.

She says she doesn't know what the officer did with the new information.

Key Event
8m ago

Court shown photo of a packet of mushrooms​

By Melissa Brown and Joseph Dunstan​

They're now talking about information Erin provided Ms Atkinson about the mushroom packaging and what they looked like.

Mr Mandy reminds her of her evidence this morning that as far as she was concerned, there were no mushrooms found by the council at any Asian stores matching the description Erin gave her.

The court is shown a photo of what appear to be dried, dark-coloured mushrooms in individual clear plastic bags, sitting in a box on a shelf.

A white label on each bag reads "Black fungus 50g $3.99".

Ms Atkinson agrees it did match Erin's description but says she believes it would be a larger size than the packet that Erin says she bought.

She says Erin later explained the mushrooms were not dark brown in colour.

"She says Erin later explained the mushrooms were not dark brown in colour."

No, they certainly weren't...

Death Cap –Amanita phalloides

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria plays a leading role in the conservation of plants through biodiversity research, programs to protect rare and threatened plants, and the study of habitats. This work is supported by education and visitor programs about the importance of plants to life. The...

www.rbg.vic.gov.au

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Sally Ann Atkinson asked Erin Patterson to look at maps in an attempt to jog her memory as to where she bought the dried mushrooms used in her beef wellington meal.

Ms Patterson identified the Victorian suburbs of Oakleigh, Mount Waverley and Clayton as potential areas where she may have purchased the mushrooms from an Asian grocer.

Under cross-examination by defence barrister Colin Many SC, Ms Atkinson agreed she asked Ms Patterson to look at maps, or streets to see which ones she may have parked on.

However, Ms Patterson still could not recall precisely where bought the dried mushrooms, the court heard.

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/crime/erin-patterson-murder-trial-more-witnesses-give-evidence-as-alleged-mushroom-poisoning-case-continues-in-victoria/live-coverage/c01320604d215f974e26be53befd88f9

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Break is over, jury is back​

By Melissa Brown​

The break is over and Mr Mandy has one more question for Sally Ann Atkinson.

We're taken to texts between Erin and Ms Atkinson.

It's a long list of detailed questions, which were shared with the court yesterday and includes a question asking her about the store's location — notably, it confirms that at this stage, Ms Atkinson was only communicating with Erin about Oakleigh, Mount Waverley and Clayton, with no reference to Glen Waverley.

Mr Mandy finishes questioning Ms Atkinson and the prosecution returns for a few more questuons.

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
1m ago

Ms Atkinson finishes her evidence​

By Melissa Brown​

Prosecutor Jane Warren goes back over the evidence about whether Erin said Mt Waverley or Glen Waverley.

Ms Atkinson says Erin first mentioned Glen Waverley on August 3.

They're now going through some of the texts with Erin about trying to locate the store in which Ms Atkinson wrote Mt Waverley.

Ms Atkinson is asked if Erin corrected her to say Glen Waverley and she says Erin did not.

Ms Atkinson is now finished her evidence.

 

[ch_13]

Key Event
1m ago

Bag of dried mushrooms found similar to Erin's description​

By Melissa Brown​

Mr Mandy brings up notes from a health department meeting in which one of her colleagues mentions that someone had gone into an Oakleigh store and found small bags of dried mushrooms with no label.

Ms Atkinson agrees she followed that up with Erin and Erin confirmed that that was the style of packaging that she meant when she provided her description.

Key Event
4m ago

Mt Waverley or Glen Waverley?​

By Melissa Brown​

They're now talking about whether Erin told Ms Atkinson she may have bought the mushrooms in Mt Waverley or whether she said Glen Waverley.

The two suburbs are side-by-side in Melbourne's south east.

Mr Mandy asks whether Ms Atkinson contacted the council when Erin changed the location to Glen Waverley.

She says she did, and also mentioned "Kingsway" as a street name Erin mentioned.

The defence makes comment that Kingsway is a street in Glen Waverley that has Asian grocers along it.

Mr Mandy is now pressing her on whether she asked the council officer to go and look at shops on Glen Waverley.

She says she doesn't know what the officer did with the new information.

Key Event
8m ago

Court shown photo of a packet of mushrooms​

By Melissa Brown and Joseph Dunstan​

They're now talking about information Erin provided Ms Atkinson about the mushroom packaging and what they looked like.

Mr Mandy reminds her of her evidence this morning that as far as she was concerned, there were no mushrooms found by the council at any Asian stores matching the description Erin gave her.

The court is shown a photo of what appear to be dried, dark-coloured mushrooms in individual clear plastic bags, sitting in a box on a shelf.

A white label on each bag reads "Black fungus 50g $3.99".

Ms Atkinson agrees it did match Erin's description but says she believes it would be a larger size than the packet that Erin says she bought.

She says Erin later explained the mushrooms were not dark brown in colour.

The way the defense is harping on the Asian store mushrooms makes me believe that they will claim that Erin didn't lie about shopping there.

I think they may say the mushrooms she foraged and dried were confused with the Asian store mushrooms. Maybe they got mixed together somehow. Of course, it still doesn't explain a lot--like how Erin didn't get sick--but from a defense perspective it would help neutralize the prosecution's claim of intent.

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
3m ago

Detective Sergeant Luke Farrell is the next witness.​

By Melissa Brown​

Sergeant Farrell is attached to the Homicide Squad.

He investigated the case, including going to Erin's home in Leongatha with a search warrant.

 

[MsMarple]

Just now

Search of Erin's home​

By Melissa Brown​

Sergeant Farrell says the officers searched Erin's home on August 5, the Saturday after the lunch in question, for leftovers, mobile phones and digital devices.

He says Erin was present during the search.

The court is now being shown photos taken during that search.

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
Just now

Food scales, dehydrator manual and recipe book found during search​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The court is shown a series of photographs. The first one shows a kitchen, with a set of four drawers under a benchtop.

On the fridge at the side, there's a colourful piece of rainbow art along with a calendar, and on the bench is a toaster, kettle and coffee jar.

Another photo shows the contents of the bottom-left drawer: a set of manuals, including a manual for a Sunbeam Food Lab Electronic Dehydrator.

Another photo shows what's identified as a butler's pantry, with what the witness identifies as food scales on some drawers.

Then we're taken to another photo of a benchtop, with a cookbook on the bench. It's the RecipeTin Eats cookbook titled "Dinner" by Nagi Maehashi.

The police officer says he opened the cookbook, and the page for the beef Wellington recipe was spattered with cooking liquid

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
1m ago

More item seized from Erin's home​

By Melissa Brown and Joseph Dunstan​

Sergeant Farrell says the officers also found cut fruit on a platter in the fridge and a white jug with brown liquid.

He says a computer was found in a bedroom on the upper floor.

He says he thinks it was Erin's son's bedroom.

The jury is shown various photos of the "Cooler Master" PC, which was in a drawer in a bedroom but was taken out by police officers and placed on the carpet, before being photographed from every angle.

It's a fairly standard-looking black desktop PC.

The court is shown a photo of an open wardrobe, and a black Samsung phone sitting on a shelf.

Sergeant Farrell says the photographer was a bit too short to capture the phone on the top shelf (a comment which prompts a ripple of courtroom laughter) but confirms a later photo of the phone on a table is the same one.

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
1m ago

Images of Erin's plates shown to court​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The court is now being shown some still images from a video of the search of Erin Patterson's house on August 5, 2023.

The first photo shows the living room of Ms Patterson's Leongatha home, where the lunch was held. As we've had described previously, the kitchen is to one side and the lounge room the other, in an open-plan design.

We are then shown a photo of an open dishwasher.

There are several plates which are red on top and black on the bottom, as well as a white plate with some colour on it. They are all neatly stacked into the dishwasher.

Another photo shows a drawer in the kitchen, first closed, then opened.

At the back of the drawer is a stack of four dark-coloured plates, and in the front is a single multi-coloured plate with stripes of blue, black and orange against a white background.

Key Event
6m ago

Device found in child's bedroom​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The next photo shows a tablet device on a carpeted floor.

Sergeant Farrell says this was found in a bedroom belonging to one of the children.

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
2m ago

Court shown video taken during search​

By Joseph Dunstan​

In the video Erin and Sergeant Farrell are seated at her dining table.

Erin is wearing a light, beige-coloured jumper and is sitting with her face propped up in one hand and elbows on the table.

Sergeant Farrell is sitting in front of an open notebook and has a mobile phone in front of him.

The video shows her handing him her phone, he appears to check he can open it and then places it on the table in front of Erin.

Erin leans over the table, which is fairly wide, to assist him with the phone and then the video ends.

Key Event
3m ago

Police seize Erin's phone​

By Melissa Brown​

Sergeant Farrell says the search took a considerable time.

He says he sat down with Erin and took possession of her mobile phone, asking her if there was a pin code required to open it.

He says she provided a four digit code and a six digit code that she thought might unlock it, but no code was needed.

"On attempting to open the phone I didn't require any passcode at all," he says

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
2m ago

Mt Waverley home searched​

By Melissa Brown​

Sergeant Farrell says police left the Leongatha house after that video was filmed.

They're now turning to another search.

This was conducted on the same day but at Erin's Mt Waverley home.

He says no one was present during this search.

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
1m ago

Court hears Erin 'expressed surprise' to learn of Heather Wilkinson's death​

By Melissa Brown​

Sergeant Farrell says no food items or packaging of interest was found at either.

Defence lawyer Colin Mandy is now on his feet.

He confirms Erin's children were home during the search of the Leongatha home.

Sergeant Farrell says Erin was told that Heather Wilkinson had died and "she expressed surprise".

He was unsure whether Erin was told Gail Patterson had died.

 

[MsMarple]

2m ago

More photos from the search at Erin's Leongatha home shown to court​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The first is of a corner-couch type piece of furniture, and contains a powerboard with a number of cables plugged in. Items on the couch include headphones and a tablet.

Mr Mandy asks Sergeant Farrell about a black item sitting on the windowsill.

"I don't recall whether I saw it or not," Sergeant Farrell says, when asked if he'd noticed it.

Nobody identifies to the court what the black, brick-shaped item is.

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Homicide detective questioned about Erin's plates​

By Melissa Brown​

We're brought back to images of plates at Erin's home.

Mr Mandy asks Sergeant Farrell whether he directed the officer filming the search to video the plates.

He says he didn't but agrees they were of interest to him.

He confirms police didn't take photos of all of the plates in the house and none of the plates were seized, bar one in the fridge with fruit on it.

He says none of the plates were measured.