3 hours ago
The court also heard he was provided “targeted dates” of event-based monitoring records.
He confirmed he analysed records relating to the Loch and Outtrim areas.
The jury has previously heard observations of death cap mushrooms in Loch and Outtrim were posted to the citizen science website iNaturalist in April and May 2023.
“In the first instance of those four-and-a-half years of records, (we were) asked to identify periods where the phone could have been in the Outtrim area,” he said.
2 hours ago
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The jury has previously heard mycologist Dr Tom May observed death cap mushrooms in Outtrim the day before on May 21 and posted their location on iNaturalist.
Dr Sorell told the court he first concluded there was “unlikely a visit” to Outtrim, but he noted that call charge records have several limitations.
The court heard he “revised” his opinion when granted access to Erin’s event-based monitoring records from May 22, 2023, which have been presented to the jury in a table.
“Possible visit to northern Outtrim (from) 11.24am to no later than 11.49am,” the table reads.
According to the EBM records, her mobile phone connected with the Outtrim base station at 11.18am, 11.19am, 11.20am, 11.24am, 11.31am, 11.36am, 11.41am and 11.49am.
The court heard it connected with other base stations including at Kardella, Koonwarra and Mirboo North in-between those times.
Dr Sorell said it was his opinion the mobile phone was “relatively stationary” in the Outtrim area until 11.49am before the connection stabilises around Leongatha about 12pm.
A map of the Outtrim area, which has been outlined in blue, has also been presented to the jury.
The Outtrim base station is located in the northernmost part of the map.
Dr Sorell has marked Neilson St, which the jury previously heard was the location Dr May observed the death caps, on the map.
The jury can see the street is located nearby, to the south of the base station.
“(It’s) possible there was a visit to Neilson St at that time,” he said of the EBM records from May 22.
1 hours ago
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Retired poisons information specialist Christine McKenzie, who gave evidence this morning, observed death cap mushrooms in Loch on April 18 and posted their location on iNaturalist.
According to the records, Dr Sorell said it was his opinion there was a possible visit by the mobile phone to Loch originating from and returning from Korumburra, no earlier than 9.06am and no later than 10.07am that day.
According to the EBM records, the mobile phone connected to base stations at Loch or Loch South at 9.08am, 9.09am and 10.01am.
“When you look at the EBM records, it gives us more refined detail,” he said.
Dr Sorell has also been asked about Erin’s call charge and event-based monitoring records from May 22, 2023, also in relation to the Loch area.
He said the mobile phone connected with the Loch South base station “about every five minutes” from 9.19am until about 10am that day.
“While it could be moving in and around that area, it can’t be moving very far,” he said of the mobile phone.
The court heard the connections to the base station were “consistent”, The court heard the connections to the base station were “consistent” with the mobile phone remaining “relatively stationary”.
Dr Sorell will continue giving evidence on Tuesday.
1. Retired pharmacist Christine McKenzie, who previously worked at the Victorian Poisons Information Centre, confirmed she observed death cap mushrooms near an oval in Loch on April 18, 2023, and posted them to citizen science website iNaturalist. She told the court she removed the death caps due to their toxicity, but was concerned more could grow in the area over the “subsequent weeks”.
2. Digital forensics expert Dr Matthew Sorell gave the jurors a lesson on mobile phone networks. He said communication records or “call charge records” (CCR) provide basic detail relating to calls, texts and data usage, while “event-based monitoring” (EBM) records provide “more high-level detail” related to signalling.
3. Dr Sorell confirmed he had been provided years of call charge records, from January 2019 to August 2023, relating to a phone belonging to Erin. The court also heard he was provided “targeted dates” of event-based monitoring records, including April 28 and May 22. Observations of death caps in Loch and Outtrim were posted to iNaturalist on April 18 and May 21 by Ms McKenzie and mycologist Dr Tom May, respectively.
4. The jury heard it was Dr Sorell’s opinion that the mobile phone belonging to Erin made a “possible visit” to northern Outtrim from 11.24am to no later than 11.49am on May 22, one day after the iNaturalist post was logged in Outtrim. He told the court he believed the mobile phone was “relatively stationary” in the area until 11.49am due to its repeated connections to the nearby Outtrim base station.
5. Dr Sorell told the court it was also his opinion that the mobile phone made a “possible visit” to Loch no earlier than 9.06am and no later than 10.07am on April 28, 10 days after the iNaturalist post was logged in Loch. The jury heard the mobile phone also returned to the area on May 22, with repeated connections to a nearby Loch South base station consistent with the mobile phone being “relatively stationary” in the area.
Dr Matthew Sorell explained to the jury how phone data records work. Picture: Brenton Edwards
Erin's phone records analysed
Dr Sorell confirmed he had been provided four-and-a-half years of call charge records, from January 2019 to August 2023, relating to a phone belonging to Erin.The court also heard he was provided “targeted dates” of event-based monitoring records.
He confirmed he analysed records relating to the Loch and Outtrim areas.
The jury has previously heard observations of death cap mushrooms in Loch and Outtrim were posted to the citizen science website iNaturalist in April and May 2023.
“In the first instance of those four-and-a-half years of records, (we were) asked to identify periods where the phone could have been in the Outtrim area,” he said.
2 hours ago
Highlight
Erin's phone records reveal 'possible' visit to site of death caps
Dr Sorell is now being asked about Erin’s call charge records from May 22, 2023.The jury has previously heard mycologist Dr Tom May observed death cap mushrooms in Outtrim the day before on May 21 and posted their location on iNaturalist.
Dr Sorell told the court he first concluded there was “unlikely a visit” to Outtrim, but he noted that call charge records have several limitations.
The court heard he “revised” his opinion when granted access to Erin’s event-based monitoring records from May 22, 2023, which have been presented to the jury in a table.
“Possible visit to northern Outtrim (from) 11.24am to no later than 11.49am,” the table reads.
According to the EBM records, her mobile phone connected with the Outtrim base station at 11.18am, 11.19am, 11.20am, 11.24am, 11.31am, 11.36am, 11.41am and 11.49am.
The court heard it connected with other base stations including at Kardella, Koonwarra and Mirboo North in-between those times.
Dr Sorell said it was his opinion the mobile phone was “relatively stationary” in the Outtrim area until 11.49am before the connection stabilises around Leongatha about 12pm.
A map of the Outtrim area, which has been outlined in blue, has also been presented to the jury.
The Outtrim base station is located in the northernmost part of the map.
Dr Sorell has marked Neilson St, which the jury previously heard was the location Dr May observed the death caps, on the map.
The jury can see the street is located nearby, to the south of the base station.
“(It’s) possible there was a visit to Neilson St at that time,” he said of the EBM records from May 22.
1 hours ago
Highlight
Accused's phone pinged near second toxic mushroom location
Dr Sorell is now being asked about Erin’s call charge and event-based monitoring records from April 28, 2023, in relation to the Loch area.Retired poisons information specialist Christine McKenzie, who gave evidence this morning, observed death cap mushrooms in Loch on April 18 and posted their location on iNaturalist.
According to the records, Dr Sorell said it was his opinion there was a possible visit by the mobile phone to Loch originating from and returning from Korumburra, no earlier than 9.06am and no later than 10.07am that day.
According to the EBM records, the mobile phone connected to base stations at Loch or Loch South at 9.08am, 9.09am and 10.01am.
“When you look at the EBM records, it gives us more refined detail,” he said.
Dr Sorell has also been asked about Erin’s call charge and event-based monitoring records from May 22, 2023, also in relation to the Loch area.
He said the mobile phone connected with the Loch South base station “about every five minutes” from 9.19am until about 10am that day.
“While it could be moving in and around that area, it can’t be moving very far,” he said of the mobile phone.
The court heard the connections to the base station were “consistent”, The court heard the connections to the base station were “consistent” with the mobile phone remaining “relatively stationary”.
Dr Sorell will continue giving evidence on Tuesday.
Thanks for following along!
Court has adjourned for the day. Here’s a recap of the today’s key moments:1. Retired pharmacist Christine McKenzie, who previously worked at the Victorian Poisons Information Centre, confirmed she observed death cap mushrooms near an oval in Loch on April 18, 2023, and posted them to citizen science website iNaturalist. She told the court she removed the death caps due to their toxicity, but was concerned more could grow in the area over the “subsequent weeks”.
2. Digital forensics expert Dr Matthew Sorell gave the jurors a lesson on mobile phone networks. He said communication records or “call charge records” (CCR) provide basic detail relating to calls, texts and data usage, while “event-based monitoring” (EBM) records provide “more high-level detail” related to signalling.
3. Dr Sorell confirmed he had been provided years of call charge records, from January 2019 to August 2023, relating to a phone belonging to Erin. The court also heard he was provided “targeted dates” of event-based monitoring records, including April 28 and May 22. Observations of death caps in Loch and Outtrim were posted to iNaturalist on April 18 and May 21 by Ms McKenzie and mycologist Dr Tom May, respectively.
4. The jury heard it was Dr Sorell’s opinion that the mobile phone belonging to Erin made a “possible visit” to northern Outtrim from 11.24am to no later than 11.49am on May 22, one day after the iNaturalist post was logged in Outtrim. He told the court he believed the mobile phone was “relatively stationary” in the area until 11.49am due to its repeated connections to the nearby Outtrim base station.
5. Dr Sorell told the court it was also his opinion that the mobile phone made a “possible visit” to Loch no earlier than 9.06am and no later than 10.07am on April 28, 10 days after the iNaturalist post was logged in Loch. The jury heard the mobile phone also returned to the area on May 22, with repeated connections to a nearby Loch South base station consistent with the mobile phone being “relatively stationary” in the area.
Dr Matthew Sorell explained to the jury how phone data records work. Picture: Brenton Edwards
