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

[Eloise]

(this is addressed to Erin's original allegation, not any poster) That would imply that Asian grocers stock mushrooms that have been hand foraged from the wild, but they get their mushrooms from suppliers with mushroom farms same as big grocery chains. The small town I grew up in had mushroom farms, there's no means whatsoever for death caps to turn up by accident. As for mushrooms they import from Asian growers, death caps are already confirmed by evidence in this trial to not be from Asia. They're European.

 

[MsMarple]

The abc.net.au site is posting some Q&A and recaps while we wait. I’m not going to post them but here’s the link:

Erin Patterson told online friends she wanted 'nothing to do with' relatives, court told — as it happened

Erin Patterson is charged with murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington meal that contained death cap mushrooms. Follow the trial live.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Deleted member 363451]

What a waste of resources.

How could a woman that seemed to handle her daily life well enough (cooking complicated meals, taking son to flying lessons on time as examples) think it's reasonable to forget which store she actually visited?

I visit smaller grocers like that as well at times and would never forget where I bought an item from especially if it's only a fairly recent purchase.

I totally agree, but I'm sure someone will say that it's possible...

 

[Deleted member 363451]

I'm aware, I think that she tried to create the confusion by using two types of mushrooms in her dish. If a grocer were to accidentally sell Death Caps, wouldn't it be more likely to be in mixed box of exotic ones than by themselves?

Death Cap mushrooms do not grow in China.

 

[MsMarple]

Defence begins questioning​

By Judd Boaz​

The defence's Sophie Stafford is now up to cross-examine Mr Schonknecht.

She confirms he told the jury he visited 14 stores across the three suburbs, and 11 of those sold dried mushrooms.

Of those 11 stores, nine sold sliced mushrooms.

Ms Stafford then hones in on one particular store, the Golden Grocery, that repackaged products and applied their own label.

Key Event
2m ago

We're back from lunch​

By Kristian Silva​

Troy Schonknecht, an environmental health officer with the City of Monash council, is back on the stand and is taken to the conclusion of his report.

It addresses three key questions:

Question 1: Has there been any changes in supplier since April?

Answer: All premises visited, and that were identified as selling fresh (initially) or dried mushrooms, had not changed their supplier since April in 2023.

I asked further if they had anyone attend the premises trying to (wholesale) sell them mushrooms for the intention of on-selling and they all responded that they had not had anyone trying to sell them mushrooms

Question 2: Are there any products that do not have proper labels? If any that may be collected/dehydrated locally?

Answer: Only Golden Grocery was repackaging product and applying their own label. It was identified during the investigation the product was too large and were whole dried mushrooms as opposed to the sliced dried mushroom. Any non-compliances identified have been referred to the area officer to follow up with proprietor. No products were identified to the local or manufactured in Australia. All dried products were imported.

Question 3: Are any suppliers’ local producers?

Answer: All dried mushroom products investigated were imported and importer/supplier details identified.

 

[MsMarple]

Ey Event
1m ago

Mr Schonknecht finishes testimony​

By Kristian Silva​

During the cross-examination, Mr Schonknecht is taken to some of the pictures in his report.

The court is shown pictures of dried, repackaged mushrooms taken from one of the supermarkets.

Dried bags of Black Fungus and Dried Tea Tree mushrooms are shown to the court, contained in small, see-through plastic bags.

Ms Stafford notes that Mr Schonknecht did not visit any other stores, despite offering to do so.

The defence finishes their questioning and Mr Schonknecht is excused.

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
2m ago

Shamen Fox-Henry the digital forensic expert returns​

By Judd Boaz​

We heard the first part of his testimony yesterday, relating to a computer seized from Erin Patterson's house.

Now Mr Fox-Henry is returning to complete his testimony.

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Ey Event
1m ago

Mr Schonknecht finishes testimony​

By Kristian Silva​

During the cross-examination, Mr Schonknecht is taken to some of the pictures in his report.

The court is shown pictures of dried, repackaged mushrooms taken from one of the supermarkets.

Dried bags of Black Fungus and Dried Tea Tree mushrooms are shown to the court, contained in small, see-through plastic bags.

Ms Stafford notes that Mr Schonknecht did not visit any other stores, despite offering to do so.

The defence finishes their questioning and Mr Schonknecht is excused.

Is defence still alluding to the possibility that the Death Caps may have come from an Asian Grocery store?

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
1m ago

Samsung phone taken from Erin Patterson's home​

By Judd Boaz​

The prosecution presents a Samsung phone that was seized by police from Erin's home.

Data was then extracted by police.

The first pieces of evidence we see from the phone are Facebook messages.

A few weeks ago in the trial, we heard from three of Erin Patterson's Facebook friends about discussions they had in their group chat.

The names of some these witnesses are seen as participants in the chat: Danni Barkly, Jenny Hay, Bronwyn Rap, Joy Korrs and erin erin erin [alleged to be Erin Patterson].

 

[Yh5r]

Is defence still alluding to the possibility that the Death Caps may have come from an Asian Grocery store?

There are holding onto straws to create reasonable doubt on this point IMO

 

[Jake18]

1m ago

More notes on the bowel movements​

By Judd Boaz​

Notes made by Ms Cespon during Erin's stay in hospital are read to the court.

In her notes, she states that all the bowel movements looked like urine, despite Erin stating it was poo.

She clarifies that the volume measurements of "small" or "medium" bowel movements are subjective and based on a reading of the levels in the toilet pan that samples are collected in.

My interpretation of this is that EP was desperately trying to produce a bowel motion and was straining hard, but produced only tiny amounts of faeces and mainly urine. If an experienced nurse thinks a sample looks like urine, it probably is

 

[Yh5r]

Key Event
1m ago

Samsung phone taken from Erin Patterson's home​

By Judd Boaz​

The prosecution presents a Samsung phone that was seized by police from Erin's home.

Data was then extracted by police.

The first pieces of evidence we see from the phone are Facebook messages.

A few weeks ago in the trial, we heard from three of Erin Patterson's Facebook friends about discussions they had in their group chat.

The names of some these witnesses are seen as participants in the chat: Danni Barkly, Jenny Hay, Bronwyn Rap, Joy Korrs and erin erin erin [alleged to be Erin Patterson].

How telling is the name that she chose for herself: erin erin erin - another pointer towards an egocentric personality

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
1m ago

Facebook group chat read aloud to court​

By Judd Boaz​

Online chat messages from Erin Patterson to some of her Facebook friends are read aloud to the court.

This conversation took place about seven months before the fatal lunch, and is timestamped from 6/12/2022.

“Simons dad contacted me this morning to say that he and Gail had tried to talk to Simon about the matters I raised and to get “his side” but he refused to talk about it other than to signal he disagreed with what i said. Beyond that he won’t talk about it. So don said they can’t adjudicate if they don’t know both sides and Simon won’t give his side (emoji). So he said all he can ask is that simon and i get together pray for the children (emoji) (emoji). This family i swear to f***ing god.”

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
1m ago

Frustration with Simon Patterson aired in group messages​

By Judd Boaz​

A long series of messages are read to the court, expressing frustrations with Simon Patterson and his family.

The terms "gaslighting" "abusive" and "weasel words" are used in the messages, with Erin Patterson claiming that her son hated his father.

"I'm sick of this s***, I want nothing to do with them," one of the messages said.

 

[Deleted member 363451]

There are holding onto straws to create reasonable doubt on this point IMO

I don't know how they can do this when Erin has admitted to foraging mushrooms and that she lied about it?

 

[SouthAussie]

And if I was the prosecutor I’d drive home how Erin’s lies negatively affected so many in the community. Sending authorities on wild goose chases is terrible.

Yes, I think that is what they were doing when they had Troy Schonknecht testify. Showing how Erin wasted so much time, effort, reputations and lives, when she could have fessed up to foraging much earlier.

With every witness who testifies, it is so apparent that the delays Erin caused couldn't have been more detrimental.

 

[Yh5r]

Key Event
1m ago

Frustration with Simon Patterson aired in group messages​

By Judd Boaz​

A long series of messages are read to the court, expressing frustrations with Simon Patterson and his family.

The terms "gaslighting" "abusive" and "weasel words" are used in the messages, with Erin Patterson claiming that her son hated his father.

"I'm sick of this s***, I want nothing to do with them," one of the messages said.

Mind boggling that she chose to plead not guilty

 

[SouthAussie]

Key Event
1m ago

Frustration with Simon Patterson aired in group messages​

By Judd Boaz​

A long series of messages are read to the court, expressing frustrations with Simon Patterson and his family.

The terms "gaslighting" "abusive" and "weasel words" are used in the messages, with Erin Patterson claiming that her son hated his father.

"I'm sick of this s***, I want nothing to do with them," one of the messages said.

Right. First she is so upset because the family are distancing themselves from her. Then she says she wants nothing to do with them.

Flip, flop.

 

[MsMarple]

Sorry for the duplicate, apparently the reporter edited to add that last bit.

Key Event
6m ago

Frustration with 'deadbeat' Simon Patterson aired in group messages​

By Judd Boaz​

A long series of messages are read to the court, expressing frustrations with Simon Patterson and his family.

The terms "gaslighting" "abusive" and "weasel words" are used in the messages, with Erin Patterson claiming that her son hated his father.

"I'm sick of this s***, I want nothing to do with them," one of the messages said.

Another message read:

"His mum was horrified I had claimed child support. Why isn’t she horrified her son is such a deadbeat that I had no choice but to claim?"

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Key Event
1m ago

Facebook group chat read aloud to court​

By Judd Boaz​

Online chat messages from Erin Patterson to some of her Facebook friends are read aloud to the court.

This conversation took place about seven months before the fatal lunch, and is timestamped from 6/12/2022.

It sounds as though Simon's parents were allegedly called on by EP to get involved in her disputes with Simon.