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

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Jury returns and we revisit Erin's medical records​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

The jury has returned to the court room and defence lawyer Colin Mandy continues asking LSC Eppingstall questions.

They're speaking about Erin's health records, which LSC Eppingstall earlier told the court he had looked into as part of his investigation.

He says he can't recall any records prior to 2023 which relate to concerns Erin may have had of cancer.

Mr Mandy introduces some medical records from October 21 2021, from a medical centre in Leongatha.

The last paragraph says: "Erin worries about ovary [sic] cancer. Has been Googling her symptoms."

An ultrasound and MRI were booked later in that same year.

 

[SouthAussie]

One highlighted call was on 30 July 2023 at 11.08am. Eppingstall says the call records show a phone call from Simon to Patterson.

Another highlighted call at 2.23pm shows a call from Simon to Patterson lasting six minutes and 6 seconds, Eppingstall says.

And there we go ... Erin probably knew about the severe sickness of her lunch guests at 11:08am the following day (if not before).

Considering that Simon was taking Heather and Ian to the hospital at around that time, and Gail and Don had already been admitted to hospital by then.

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Family history of ovarian cancer​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The defence takes the court to what it describes as Erin Patterson's medical records from 2021 and August 2023.

In a series of medical notes, a doctor describes Erin being worried about ovarian cancer in October 2021.

"Erin ... has been googling her symptoms, thinks her symptoms may suggestive of ovary [sic] cancer," the note says.

Tests were scheduled to investigate, with some early results "all fine", but further tests were ordered by doctors.

The record states she had a family history of ovarian cancer in aunties on both her dad and mum's side of the family.

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Erin raises heart concerns with estranged husband​

By Joseph Dunstan​

We're then taken to Signal messages between Simon and Erin between January 4 and 5 in 2022.

In the first one shown, Simon asks "How's your back today?"

Erin replies saying "it's getting better each day. It's my heart that's troubling me. I'm struggling with the energy to do basic things like get in and out of the car and after I have a shower I need to lie down and rest because the whole ordeal exhausts me. I think we need to upgrade our health insurance so I can start chewing through the waiting period".

She later tells him "it's a lot of things combined".

She says she has been doing "a lot of research" on right-sided heart failure and "the symptoms all fit what I've been experiencing".

Later in the exchange while discussing access to health services, Simon texts "we do actually do OK for health services where we live, compared to back waters such as tassie and WA."

 

[MrJ]

The record states she had a family history of ovarian cancer in aunties on both her dad and mum's side of the family.

lying about having cancer when you have a family history of ovarian cancer (from what she must've told the doctors) feels extremely cruel IMO

 

[SouthAussie]

1m ago

Family history of ovarian cancer​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The defence takes the court to what it describes as Erin Patterson's medical records from 2021 and August 2023.

In a series of medical notes, a doctor describes Erin being worried about ovarian cancer in October 2021.

"Erin ... has been googling her symptoms, thinks her symptoms may suggestive of ovary [sic] cancer," the note says.

Tests were scheduled to investigate, with some early results "all fine", but further tests were ordered by doctors.

The record states she had a family history of ovarian cancer in aunties on both her dad and mum's side of the family.

Reaching, reaching ... Oct 2021 is not July 2023. And her fear of cancer is not a reason to call her in-laws together to discuss how to tell the children.

 

[MsMarple]

Just now

More medical records are shown to the court​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The jury is then shown a record of Erin Patterson's Leongatha Hospital admission form on July 31, 2023.

This was two days after the fatal lunch.

On the form, Erin's religion is recorded as Christian and her marital status as listed as married.

Her next-of-kin contact is listed as Simon Patterson, and her emergency contact is Gail Patterson.

 

[katydid23]

Erin Patterson murder trial day 21 – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

Cross continued ...

Mandy asks Eppingstall about the evidence he obtained various health records for Patterson.

He asks Eppingstall about records in 2023 that related to ovarian cancer or a complaint about this.

Mandy asks if any records prior to this showed Patterson was concerned about ovarian cancer.

He says a March 2023 record showed she attended Leongatha Health and got a self-administered test. Mandy says this is for cervical cancer.



Eppingstall says police found no records that indicated Patterson’s concern about ovarian cancer.

Mandy then shows Eppingstall some of Patterson’s medical records between 2021 and 2023.

Eppingstall says they “look like medical records” and says he cannot remember reading this record.

One page shows a consultation on 21 October 2021 with a doctor in Leongatha.

The notes say “Erin worries about ovarian cancer. Has been googling her symptoms, thinks her symptoms have be suggestive of ovary [sic] cancer – US Ovaries ...”

US refers to ultrasound, the court hears.

The next note says some results were received and were “fine”. The notes say an “MRI” has been booked for 6 November.

Notes from an appointment with a doctor on 11 October 2021 say Erin has experienced “worsening swelling in feet”.

A “complete history” of Erin Patterson at Leongatha Healthcare is shown to the jury.

It says her father had pancreatic cancer, her paternal and maternal aunts had ovarian cancer and her daughter had a benign ovarian mass at 6 months.

 

[MrJ]

Just now

More medical records are shown to the court​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The jury is then shown a record of Erin Patterson's Leongatha Hospital admission form on July 31, 2023.

This was two days after the fatal lunch.

On the form, Erin's religion is recorded as Christian and her marital status as listed as married.

Her next-of-kin contact is listed as Simon Patterson, and her emergency contact is Gail Patterson.

What??? wow. BBM at the things I was surprised by

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Erin discharged herself from hospital​

By Joseph Dunstan​

Colin Mandy then takes LSC Eppingstall to the events around Erin discharging herself against medical advice from Leongatha Hospital.

He refers to her historical dealings with hospitals, before bringing up a "discharge at own risk" form for Erin from January 24, 2015.

The template printed form has handwritten entries including Erin Patterson's name and states that she left Gippsland Southern Health Service under full mental capacity.

Mr Mandy raises with the court more medical notes related to that episode described Ms Patterson as "agitated" in the time before she left.

"Patient became fidgety and anxious, stating she wanted to be discharged," the note says.

"Patient was now out of bed, walking around, pacing, and asked nurse to stop IV and disconnect so she could leave."

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Court has been adjourned​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

We've run out of time for the day's proceedings.

We expect Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall to return to the stand tomorrow for more questioning by Erin Patterson's defence lawyer Colin Mandy.

 

[MsMarple]

What??? wow. BBM at the things I was surprised by

Wasn’t she aware that Gail was terrible ill by then? Why name her as her emergency contact? Why not her sister?

 

[Lisa4]

I was curious as to why so much filo pastry was purchased, so I googled "beef wellington filo pastry".

The below is from the top result of my search.

Thought I would share as I have noticed others also very surprised about the filo pastry.




I guess shortcuts were needed due to the extra assembly required in making multiple individual servings..

*Edited to add: I just googled "beef wellington shortcuts" and this same Serious Eats recipe came up second from top.

 

[tmar]

Have they asked Erin where is this other phone? All sounds sloppy to me

I'm pleased EP is losing money, trying to deceive.
She often mentions the cost of things, yet she has sufficient: several properties.
She disposed of her dehydrator, and her "expensive, as she states Samsung phone": possibly to hide evidence.
Now, the cost of this trial.!!!
WHY????

 

[katydid23]

Erin Patterson murder trial day 21 – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

The jury is then shown Signal messages between Erin and Simon Patterson from 4-5 January 2022.

Mandy says this is while Patterson was on a trip to Tasmania.

On 4 January 2022 Simon writes: “How’s your back today?”

Erin replies on the same day:

It’s getting better each day. It’s my heart that’s troubling me. I’m struggling with the energy to do basic things like get in and out of the car and after I have a shower I need to lie down and rest because the whole ordeal exhausts me …

Later that day Erin messages Simon:

It feels like my heart is working overtime to deliver oxygen to my body and not doing it very well. I’m breathing so hard after everything I do.”

Simon replies:

Holy crap, that sure is a whole lot more extreme than “low energy.” That’s making it really difficult to do normal life …

On 5 January 2022 Erin messages Simon:

I’ve been reading a lot about echocardiograms, which is the ultrasound of the heart that I need, that I’m scheduled for at korumburra [sic] hospital on Feb 3rd …

Detective agrees text messages consistent with Patterson Googling symptoms

Under cross-examination by Mandy, Eppingstall agrees the messages are consistent with Patterson being very concerned about her health and Googling her symptoms.

Under questioning by Mandy, Eppingstall says he understands Patterson had previously discharged herself from a medical setting.

Mandy shows a discharge at own risk form for Patterson dated 24 January 2015.

 

[katydid23]

I don't think any of the above info proves that EP was telling the truth about having 'Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer' diagnosis.


I can see why she may have had fears about it, if it was prominent in her family. But that doesn't excuse calling a lunch meeting to announce her diagnosis and get help concerning telling the children, etc. IMO

 

[Old Soul]

And there we go ... Erin probably knew about the severe sickness of her lunch guests at 11:08am the following day (if not before).

Considering that Simon was taking Heather and Ian to the hospital at around that time, and Gail and Don had already been admitted to hospital by then.

Yep, and yet still allegedly fed leftovers from the lunch to her children that evening.

 

[MrJ]

would it be fair to say there's a bit of hypochondria or a dramatic personality in Erin, like googling symptoms? imo her group texts do have a bit of dramatic flair to them and quite aggressive language. twice we have documented evidence she left hospital against medical advice - why? I'm thinking/typing out loud here but some of her behaviour does point to something in her personality i haven't really pinpointed.

 

[SouthAussie]

"He said three web pages of the citizen science website iNaturalist were visited by a browser on the computer on May 28, 2022, from about 7.21pm to 7.23pm.

Constable Eppingstall confirmed that he searched for these web pages, with the URLs that had been extracted from the device.

The court heard the title of one of the URLs was: “Deathcap from Melbourne, VIC, Australia on May 18, 2022, at 2.36pm by Ivan Margitta. Bricker Reserve Moorabbin – iNaturalist”.

The jury has been shown a screenshot of this web page taken by Constable Eppingstall on December 9, 2024."

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-trial-live-homicide-squad-detective-takes-the-stand/live-coverage/c9d01ec22488a41785151bbc694b1fea

 

[katydid23]

And there we go ... Erin probably knew about the severe sickness of her lunch guests at 11:08am the following day (if not before).

Considering that Simon was taking Heather and Ian to the hospital at around that time, and Gail and Don had already been admitted to hospital by then.

If so, it is shocking and I hope the P spells it out during closing statements.

If she was told on Sunday, that her lunch guests were all in the hospital, and very unwell, how could she just go about her business that day with the kids?

If it was truly an accident, then EP would have no idea why her lunch guests were suddenly so ill. It could have been bad meat with salmonella poisoning, or bad shallots from the salad?

Her kids ate that meat. I'd have taken my kids in for an examination right then, to make sure it wasn't something everyone ate or drank.

Not only did she wait until the next afternoon before they could convince her to bring them in, she actually gave them leftovers from the same meal, after being told the others were seriously ill.

For someone who seems so concerned with health and possible illnesses, she was pretty lax about her kids that day. IMO