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

[Eloise]

1m ago

Grey plates weren't seen in police video​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

The jury returns and Ms Warren continues her questioning.

She's asking the informant about a video taken during the search of Erin's Leongatha home on August 5th, 2023.

We hear that the video shows the entire house, including the kitchen before it descends into more detail, taking a look at each of the cupboards, the pantry and inside the dishwasher.

"In the video that you viewed did you observe any plates that match the four grey plates that match the evidence that Ian Wilkinson gave in his evidence?" Ms Warren asks.

LSC Eppingstall replies no.

Ian had earlier given evidence that the four guests ate from grey plates while Erin ate from a different-coloured plate.

soooo the grey plates went straight in the bin, is what I take from that. but that's just me

Hmmm is it suspicious that I have always had a second phone for if my main one dies or needs repairs.

Sounds like commonsense to me.

many people keep a second phone around. or a third. usually their older ones, I suppose for most people. typically though I'd assume most people would just pop their usual sim in those phones should they have to repair their phone. having a second sim can be a red flag (eg the hidden burner phone a cheater would use, for example) unless its a phone you use for work etc.

3m ago

Police informant goes through various maps of key locations​

By Joseph Dunstan​

We return and LSC Eppingstall is taken to a map of Loch. The video of Erin's police interview has been stopped.

Visible on the map is an oval which appears to be to the east of the township.

LSC Eppingstall identifies it as a football oval.

Now we're zooming in on the locality of Outtrim, specifically a street where fungi expert Tom May had previously identified death cap mushrooms.

There's some laughter as the judge questions whether an exhibit titled "Whereis map of all locations" is a "good idea".

It's agreed to give it a more specific name.

kinda wish journalists wouldn't waste their time on silly details like that. Who cares. It has nothing to do with the end result

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Footage shows red car enter and leave Subway​

By Joseph Dunstan​

In the CCTV footage, we see a red car driving in and a boy getting out, who the court hears is Erin's son.

The red car then drives out of the Subway carpark area, onto the main street in Leongatha.

LSC Eppingstall says Erin's son went into the Subway restaurant.

Six minutes later, another clip shows Erin's son leaving the Subway restaurant and taking a seat on a bench outside.

Then, a third CCTV clip shows a red car pull into the carpark approximately 11 minutes after the start of the first clip. Erin's son gets into the red car, which is then reversed and driven out of the carpark.

 

[MsMarple]

Update was just edited:
2m ago

Police unsure where Erin drove to during 11 minute window​

By Joseph Dunstan​

We're now shown a map of Leongatha which includes a red pin for the Subway restaurant.

Erin Patterson's home address is marked on the map by LSC Eppingstall, south-west of the restaurant.

Prosecutor Jane Warren notes the 11-minute window between Erin Patterson dropping her son off and picking him up.

The court hears there was no footage to help police know with certainty where Erin was during this time.

Video of Erin Patterson's police interview played to murder trial jury — as it happened

Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering her estranged husband's parents and his aunt by feeding them poisonous death cap mushrooms in July 2023. Follow the evidence as it happened.

www.abc.net.au

 

[katydid23]

3m ago

CCTV of a visit to subway shown to court​

By Joseph Dunstan​

"I did say these are in no particular order, so I'll just flag that again," prosecutor Jane Warren says, before we jump to a different point in time.

We're hearing about a visit to a Subway restaurant.

LSC Eppingstall says he was told by Simon Patterson that on the day of the lunch, Erin Patterson had stopped with her son for dinner after dropping a friend of his at his home.

We're now being shown CCTV footage from the Subway in Leongatha.

It's from July 29, at 7:22pm, the night after the lunch took place.

THIS^^^is so confusing, imo.

1st it said 'on the day of the lunch...' which we know was July 29th.
then it says:

It's from July 29, at 7:22pm, the night after the lunch took place.


NO, THAT ^^^ IS INCORRECT---not from the night after. That's how this is all getting so confusing.

 

[JLZ]

soooo the grey plates went straight in the bin, is what I take from that. but that's just me

It's normal for people to misremember. The guests' plates were probably white and Erin's may have been red and black. The defence wants to use Ian's mistake to discredit his evidence more generally. IMO.

 

[MsMarple]

4m ago

Court proceedings end for the day​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

We've run out of time today.

The jury are sent out of the court room and LSC Eppingstall is expected to return to the stand tomorrow to continue giving evidence.

 

[katydid23]

Highly unlikely' commercial mushrooms contaminated with death cap toxins, health official says​

Atkinson says the department’s investigation concluded it was “highly unlikely” that commercial mushroom supply chains were contaminated with death cap mushrooms.

She says the “commercial” supply chain referred to both Woolworths and Asian grocers.

The jury previously heard Patterson told Atkinson she had purchased the mushrooms used in the beef wellington from Woolworths in Leongatha and an Asian grocer in Melbourne.

Atkinson says the investigation found the risk to public health was deemed low.

She says the department did not receive any reports of other people becoming ill after consuming mushrooms and determined the case was an isolated incident.

Patterson’s defence lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, is cross-examining Atkinson.

Mandy asks about the conversation Atkinson recalled yesterday with Conor McDermott, a doctor at the Austin hospital on 31 July 2023 – two days after the lunch.

Atkinson says she rejects that McDermott said “Glen Waverley” when mentioning where some of the mushrooms may have been purchased from.

Mandy says his client did not provide Atkinson a specific date for when she purchased the mushrooms used in the beef wellington.

Atkinson says her understanding is Patterson had purchased the majority of the lunch ingredients on the Friday before the lunch.

But she agrees Patterson did not give a specific date for when she purchased the mushrooms.

Erin Patterson murder trial day 20 – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[MsMarple]

THIS^^^is so confusing, imo.

1st it said 'on the day of the lunch...' which we know was July 29th.
then it says:

It's from July 29, at 7:22pm, the night after the lunch took place.


NO, THAT ^^^ IS INCORRECT---not from the night after. That's how this is all getting so confusing.

Maybe they meant the night OF the lunch?

 

[katydid23]

Erin Patterson murder trial day 20 – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

Mandy asks Atkinson about her evidence Patterson told her the dried mushrooms may have been purchased in Oakleigh, Clayton or Mount Waverley.

Atkinson agrees Patterson was not sure where she had purchased the death cap mushrooms from.


Mandy asks Atkinson about her evidence that no dried mushrooms matched Patterson’s description of being 100g or less, in a non-resealable clear bag and with a white label. Patterson also told her the dried mushrooms were sliced and did not appear to be commercially available, Atkinson says.

Mandy shows Atkinson two photographs previously shown to the jury from an Asian grocer visited by a council health officer during the search to locate dried mushrooms.

The photographs show dried dark-coloured mushrooms in a clear bag with a white label.

He asks if she agrees the photograph is consistent with what Patterson told her. Atkinson says Patterson’s description was that it was “smaller than a ziplock bag”.

Under questioning by Mandy, Atkinson agrees that apart from the size everything else matches.

 

[katydid23]

Erin Patterson murder trial day 20 – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

Mandy asks Atkinson about her evidence Patterson told her the dried mushrooms may have been purchased in Oakleigh, Clayton or Mount Waverley.

Atkinson agrees Patterson was not sure where she had purchased the death cap mushrooms from.


Mandy asks Atkinson about her evidence that no dried mushrooms matched Patterson’s description of being 100g or less, in a non-resealable clear bag and with a white label. Patterson also told her the dried mushrooms were sliced and did not appear to be commercially available, Atkinson says.

Mandy shows Atkinson two photographs previously shown to the jury from an Asian grocer visited by a council health officer during the search to locate dried mushrooms.

The photographs show dried dark-coloured mushrooms in a clear bag with a white label.

He asks if she agrees the photograph is consistent with what Patterson told her. Atkinson says Patterson’s description was that it was “smaller than a ziplock bag”.

Under questioning by Mandy, Atkinson agrees that apart from the size everything else matches.

It seems to me that the defense is sticking with the possibility that EP did buy the mushrooms from an Asian market?

 

[mamamama9873]

It's normal for people to misremember. The guests' plates were probably white and Erin's may have been red and black. The defence wants to use Ian's mistake to discredit his evidence more generally. IMO.

The point is that he remembered the plates of the guests were of a different colour to Erin’s plate - Heather also stated this to Simon that the plates were a different colour IIRC.
It’s not reasonable for someone to remember the exact colour of plates, especially after being in hospital for weeks and on the verge of dying. This doesn’t make Ian an unreliable witness at all IMO.

 

[katydid23]

The prosecution has called their next witness, Detective Sergeant Luke Farrell.

Farrell works in the homicide unit, the court hears.

Detective describes search of Erin Patterson's home​

Farrell conducted a search of Patterson’s Leongatha property on 5 August 2023 – a week after the lunch. Patterson was present during the search. Farrell says officers arrived at about 11.40am.

The jury is shown photographs taken during the search. One photograph shows kitchen drawers in Patterson’s home.

Farrell says an instruction manual for the Sunbeam dehydrator was located in a bottom drawer.

Another photograph shows digital kitchen scales with a glass bowl in a pantry.

The jury is then shown a photograph of a RecipeTin Eats: Dinner cookbook located on the kitchen countertop.

Farrell says it had a “piece of tissue used as a bookmark” inside. He says on a separate page, not bookmarked, there was a beef wellington recipe. He says:

That page was spattered with cooking liquids.

Officers also located a jug containing liquid in the pantry and a platter with cut fruit in the fridge.

 

[Lisa4]

The point is that he remembered the plates of the guests were of a different colour to Erin’s plate - Heather also stated this to Simon that the plates were a different colour IIRC.
It’s not reasonable for someone to remember the exact colour of plates, especially after being in hospital for weeks and on the verge of dying. This doesn’t make Ian an unreliable witness at all IMO.

I agree. It's feasible to me that he remembered the plates as dark grey, and in fact they are the four black plates shown in the video.

 

[katydid23]

Maybe they meant the night OF the lunch?

Probably, but it's a bad mistake because it nullifies the point they are trying to prove by saying it was video from the night AFTER the lunch.

I think they are trying to set up the possibility that she took that extra 6 minutes to go dump something in the trash. It would have been the FIRST time she was in her vehicle away from the home since lunch was served.

 

[katydid23]

1m ago

Footage shows red car enter and leave Subway​

By Joseph Dunstan​

In the CCTV footage, we see a red car driving in and a boy getting out, who the court hears is Erin's son.

The red car then drives out of the Subway carpark area, onto the main street in Leongatha.

LSC Eppingstall says Erin's son went into the Subway restaurant.

Six minutes later, another clip shows Erin's son leaving the Subway restaurant and taking a seat on a bench outside.

Then, a third CCTV clip shows a red car pull into the carpark approximately 11 minutes after the start of the first clip. Erin's son gets into the red car, which is then reversed and driven out of the carpark.

This^^^ would be the very first time that EP would be in a vehicle and away from her home since the luncheon. She was home up until she drove her son and his friend into town.

IF she had anything incriminating to get rid of, this was the perfect opportunity. Her son runs into Subway and she drives off and looks for a full public garbage can outside a restaurant or marketplace?

 

[MsMarple]

Probably, but it's a bad mistake because it nullifies the point they are trying to prove by saying it was video from the night AFTER the lunch.

I think they are trying to set up the possibility that she took that extra 6 minutes to go dump something in the trash. It would have been the FIRST time she was in her vehicle away from the home since lunch was served.

This from the Guardian clarifies that it was the night of the lunch:

28m ago02.18 EDT
Eppingstall says on 8 August 2023 he attended Subway in Leongatha.

He says Simon told police that on evening after the lunch on 29 July 2023, Pattersondropped her son’s friend at home and then stopped at Subway in Leongatha.

Eppingstall says police obtained CCTV footage captured at 7.22 pm on 31 July 2023.

Jurors are shown the footage which begins with Patterson’s red four-wheel drive in the car park. Patterson’s son is then seen entering Subway. The red vehicle then drives out of the car park.

In the second clip, Patterson’s son leaves Subway minutes later. The final clip shows Patterson’s car pulling back into the Subway car park.

Mushroom trial live: Erin Patterson denied owning dehydrator in video interview despite police finding manual during search

Follow live

www.theguardian.com

 

[katydid23]

Jury shown video of detective speaking to Patterson about accessing mobile phone

Farrell says at the conclusion of the search he requested Patterson hand over her mobile phone. He says the pair spoke at 3.29pm and Patterson provided her mobile phone.

Farrell says Patterson provided a four-digit and six-digit number as possible pin numbers. But he said the phone did not require a pin.

The jury is then shown a video of Patterson speaking to Farrell at the conclusion of the search.

The pair are seated at the dining room table where the lunch occurred a week earlier.

Patterson is wearing a beige coloured jumper with her face propped up in one hand and elbows on the table. Farrell asks Patterson if a pin is required for the mobile.

Patterson replies “yeah” and gives two options. “I can’t remember which one,” she says.

Patterson then puts her glasses on and leans over the table to look at her mobile.

Farrell says officers then left the address after the conversation with Erin.

Patterson ‘expressed surprise’ when told Heather Wilkinson had died, court hears​

Patterson’s defence lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, begins to cross-examine Farrell.

Mandy asks if Patterson was aware during the first search on 5 August 2023 that some of her lunch guests had died.

Farrell says Patterson was told Heather Wilkinson had died and she “expressed surprise”.

 

[MsMarple]

Mushroom trial live: Erin Patterson denied owning dehydrator in video interview despite police finding manual during search

Follow live

www.theguardian.com

5m ago02.54 EDT

Here’s a recap of what the jury heard today​

The court has adjourned for the day.

Here’s a recap of what the jury heard on day 20 of Erin Patterson’s trial:

1. A Victorian Department of Health official said the investigation into the fateful lunch concluded it was “highly unlikely” that commercial mushroom supply chains were contaminated with death cap mushrooms toxins.

2. A homicide detective said Patterson “expressed surprise” when she learned that some of her guests had died while police conducted a search of her property on 5 August 2023.

3. The prosecution called their final witness in the trial, Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall, who led the police investigation into the lethal lunch. During his testimony, the prosecution played jurors a video of Patterson’s police interview recorded on 5 August 2023.

4. In the video, Patterson told police she did not own a dehydrator but owned manuals for lots of things. The court was previously shown photographs of a manual for a Sunbeam dehydrator that police located in a kitchen drawer during the search of Patterson’s Leongatha house on 5 August 2023.

5. Eppingstall said police tried to track Patterson’s vehicle during an 11-minute window between her dropping her son at Subway in Leongatha and picking him up on the evening following the lunch. He said police were unable to find any footage to determine where she had gone during this time.

We’ll bring you live updates tomorrow from 10.30am.

 

[katydid23]

Prosecution calls final witness​

Justice Christopher Beale says the prosecution is calling their final witness in the trial.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall, from the Victoriapolice homicide squad, begins giving evidence.


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.

Detective recounts investigation of Erin Patterson’s bank records

The jury hears that as the police informant in the case, Eppingstall was the lead investigator.

He says on 3 August 2023 the homicide squad led the investigation as it was understood that some of the lunch guests were fatally ill.

Eppingstall says his team began to investigate the circumstances of the lunch and the movement of Patterson.

On 4 August at 7.30am, Eppingstall received notice that Heather Wilkinsonhad died overnight, the court hears. He later was informed that Gail Patterson had died.

He says a colleague began to look at bank records of Patterson and identified a transaction of interest from 2 August at a local tip, the Koonwarra Transfer Station And Landfill.

Jury shown photos of beef wellington recipe

Eppingstall says during the search at Patterson’s house on 5 August, he spoke to the accused about the RecipeTin Eats cookbook located in the kitchen.

Patterson told Eppingstall she had used the beef wellington recipe in the cookbook.

The jury is shown photographs of the recipe which contains a number of images.

Warren asks Eppingstall about evidence from Ian Wilkinson that Patterson’s beef wellington meal was served on a different coloured plate than the guests.

Wilkinson previously told the jury that the four lunch guests ate the beef wellington meal on grey-coloured plates.

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.

Erin Patterson murder trial day 20 – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[JLZ]

Atkinson says Patterson’s description was that it was “smaller than a ziplock bag”.

Smaller than what size ziplock bag? It's frustrating that Erin gets away with such crap.