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

[Lisa4]

I can see that being the answer IF she hadn't specifically invited them to attend. Like if she had only invited Simon's parents but they showed up with the other 2 as well. Of course, this wouldn't ever happen and even if it did, the dish she had made wasn't one that would easily accommodate two unexpected additional guests. And even if she somehow could manage it, there would have been no reason why she would have served them poisoned food as well. So this is all moot, because for all practical purposes, it wouldn't happen. But I'm saying collateral damage might make sense to explain it if it did, but it doesn't make any sense at all when we know that she specifically invited them along with the Pattersons.

She didn't HAVE to invite them. I doubt she had any reason to think that the Pattersons would only come if the Wilkinsons did too. They were, AFAICS, a completely superfluous addition to the luncheon guest list. So I really wonder what was in her mind when she asked them. Seems like she must have had some real reason in her mind to include them. But she could even have invited them but not served them anything harmful! I'll probably never understand it.

In general, I find it easier as the host to have at least two parties who can chat with each other if I'm occupied with the food.

 

[Lisa4]

I do find it somewhat concerning that there has been some emphasis in court on the RT recipe, including the image being shown of the one complete BW.

Does anyone know how clear it was made earlier in the trial that each person got an individual one? Were there images if the leftovers that would have helped firm up this point in the minds of the jury?

 

[Scuffy35]

I do find it somewhat concerning that there has been some emphasis in court on the RT recipe, including the image being shown of the one complete BW.

Does anyone know how clear it was made earlier in the trial that each person got an individual one? Were there images if the leftovers that would have helped firm up this point in the minds of the jury?

I am sure points like this will be firmed up in the prosecution's closing arguments. A lot of pieces like this one are starting to line up now. Joining the dots.

 

[MrJ]

I do find it somewhat concerning that there has been some emphasis in court on the RT recipe, including the image being shown of the one complete BW.

Does anyone know how clear it was made earlier in the trial that each person got an individual one? Were there images if the leftovers that would have helped firm up this point in the minds of the jury?

Or it could be a strategy by the prosecution to show much the eventual dish deviated quite a bit from the recipe in the book and therefore they could allege EP wasn't being truthful. JMO

 

[SouthAussie]

Just a couple of things mentioned in the article from The Australian today. I haven't noticed them mentioned here yet. Apologies if I have missed them.

(paraphrased)

When Detective Senior Constable Eppingstall was interviewing Erin after they searched her home on 5th August, Erin told him that she had done a big clean out of her pantry.

And she was asked if she had dehydrated food. She shook her head.

(Keeping in mind, the police had located the dehydrator at the tip the day before the interview. And had also obtained video of her dumping it there.)

Mushroom detective ‘star’ of police probe as Erin Patterson’s interview played for jury

 

[Bats]

I do find it somewhat concerning that there has been some emphasis in court on the RT recipe, including the image being shown of the one complete BW.

Does anyone know how clear it was made earlier in the trial that each person got an individual one? Were there images if the leftovers that would have helped firm up this point in the minds of the jury?

From Ian Wilkinson's testimony.

"Ian also told the court that Gail had not finished her portion of beef Wellington. He said the servings were individually wrapped "like a pasty", and that Don had finished Gail's serving."

Dying lunch guest's 'extremely abnormal' blood test results raised hospital alarm, court hears — as it happened

Ms Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[SouthAussie]

Gosh, the last of the prosecution's witnesses! What an epic list that was! I'm not expecting the defence to have many, if any. Perhaps closing arguments start tomorrow or Thursday?

Detective Senior Constable Eppingstall will be on the stand tomorrow, continuing to give evidence (according to The Australian).

Then I would think that the defence will cross examine him. Try to poke some holes in his testimony.

Apparently, he has been in court every day. Sitting right behind the prosecution, as the police informant.

Mushroom detective ‘star’ of police probe as Erin Patterson’s interview played for jury

 

[SouthAussie]

Probably when she wiped her phone during the search.

"He said police allowed Patterson to use a mobile phone in a room on her own for 20 to 30 minutes during the search."

Mushroom cook Erin Patterson's interview played to jury

Mushroom cook Erin Patterson denied owning a dehydrator and claimed she loved her former in-laws "a lot" in...

www.9news.com.au

 

[Bats]

Detective Senior Constable Eppingstall will be on the stand tomorrow, continuing to give evidence (according to The Australian).

I had a little chuckle to myself reading this below.....

As questioning by prosecutor Jane Warren gets under way, Beale tells Eppingstall he doesn’t need to continue saying “ma’am” in his answers.

“It’s habit,” he replies.

Warren asks if Eppingstall saw any plates in the video captured of the search that matched the four grey-coloured plates identified by Wilkinson.

“No ma’am,” Eppingstall says.

 

[MrJ]

Just a couple of things mentioned in the article from The Australian today. I haven't noticed them mentioned here yet. Apologies if I have missed them.

(paraphrased)

When Detective Senior Constable Eppingstall was interviewing Erin after they searched her home on 5th August, Erin told him that she had done a big clean out of her pantry.

And she was asked if she had dehydrated food. She shook her head.

(Keeping in mind, the police had located the dehydrator at the tip the day before the interview. And had also obtained video of her dumping it there.)

Mushroom detective ‘star’ of police probe as Erin Patterson’s interview played for jury

Great pickup, I hadn't seen these details before. Suspicious doesn't begin to cover it. JMO

 

[Megnut]

Baseball cards, yes, but who collects owner's manuals for appliances they've never owned?

No one.

JMO

 

[Scuffy35]

At the time of the poisonings, he hadn't been with her in a defacto relationship for 7-8 years

I just caught this post. I haven't heard this before. Do you have a link for this please?

I thought they separated from marriage in 2015?

 

[dothetime]

I have to go put something in the oven, be back later…

Individual servings . . . ?

 

[Porky1]

On the other hand... every piece falls into place when you look at it through the lens of deliberate intent.

IMO

I agree.

It will be interesting to see how the final week(s) pan out and the jury’s decision.

I personally still think it could go either way. I believed she was guilty from the beginning, the prosecution’s case seems strong but it leaves a lot of doubt for me, so much can be explained if you step back, as @Lisa4 has mentioned.

 

[dothetime]

I do find it somewhat concerning that there has been some emphasis in court on the RT recipe, including the image being shown of the one complete BW.

Does anyone know how clear it was made earlier in the trial that each person got an individual one? Were there images if the leftovers that would have helped firm up this point in the minds of the jury?

Would EP be likely to have splattered the BW recipe page with food spillage on purpose . . . ? If so, why?

 

[dothetime]

Regarding SP speaking about his wife in court in a positive way, i think it is an ingrained habit from growing up with his parents being sincere Christians. It is very difficult to be critical of a spouse when coming from that background, even in a court setting. It goes against the grain completely.

 

[SouthAussie]

I personally still think it could go either way.

Either way being (alleged) murder or (alleged) manslaughter, for me.

Due to the crucial information which was withheld by Erin. We will never know if lives could have been saved if she had fessed up to foraging mushrooms right away. But there is a good chance that lives might have been saved.

imo

 

[Kemug]

When Detective Senior Constable Eppingstall was interviewing Erin after they searched her home on 5th August, Erin told him that she had done a big clean out of her pantry.

RSBM
Bollocks! This woman had prepared food for, and then entertained 4 lunch guests, supposedly suffered nausea and diarrhoea, been in hospital, been running her children here and there, even driving them nearly to Tyabb and back, driving more miles to a tip to dispose of a dehydrator that she never had - and she wasn't known to be an energetic housewife. No way after all that would she think "Gee, I think I'll do a thorough clean out of the pantry today". However, I'm sure she did get rid of a few things, maybe some remnants of dried mushrooms (remember the kids' brownies?), some plates. And whatever it was that made her reluctant to let Heather and Gail have a look.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

Would EP be likely to have splattered the BW recipe page with food spillage on purpose . . . ? If so, why?

Nerves

 

[Two SCents]

Just a couple of things mentioned in the article from The Australian today. I haven't noticed them mentioned here yet. Apologies if I have missed them.

(paraphrased)

When Detective Senior Constable Eppingstall was interviewing Erin after they searched her home on 5th August, Erin told him that she had done a big clean out of her pantry.

And she was asked if she had dehydrated food. She shook her head.

(Keeping in mind, the police had located the dehydrator at the tip the day before the interview. And had also obtained video of her dumping it there.)

Mushroom detective ‘star’ of police probe as Erin Patterson’s interview played for jury

Not the pantry at the Leongatha property though, the pantry which was cleaned out was at the Mount Waverly property

"The police noted Patterson had a second property in Mount Waverley, in Melbourne, and asked her if they would find any Asian-grocer style food there, but she explained they would not because she was in the process of cleaning it out to sell it and had recently emptied that pantry."

Details accused mushroom killer Erin Patterson told detectives revealed in court

‘We are trying to understand what could have made them so ill, which is why we are asking you questions.’

7news.com.au