Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #11 *Arrest*

[MsMarple]

1m ago

When police became interested in Outtrim​

By Melissa Brown​

Now they move to a conversation Mr Eppingstall had with mushroom expert Tom May, and the post the mycologist made about death cap mushrooms at Outtrim in regional Victoria.

Mr Eppingstall was asked if that was the first time police became interested in Outtrim.

He says it wasn't, and that they'd already spotted Outtrim on phone records before Dr May mentioned the town.

 

[Yh5r]

It’s alarming to me that she wanted her kids lives to go on like normal when their grandparents were in ICU. Ballet and flying lessons can be paused in such a situation, surely.

Surely you’d want the kids to visit them in ICU, seeing as they loved them so much?

That's such a good point actually. I have children of similar ages that grew up being close to their grandparents and yes, personally we would pause everything if they were very sickly in hospital. But then again, everyone is different and EP would likely say she didn't want to frighten the children and keep their lives as normal as possible. However going on as normal about your daily lives when someone you deeply care about is in ICU, is indeed alarming.

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Jury taken through phone messages​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The prosecution then takes LSC Eppingstall through more detailed logs of phone records, including a report generated during digital analysis of Ms Patterson's devices.

The prosecution references messages between Erin and her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, before the court is shown some messages previously read out in last week's evidence.

They include a back-and-forth between Gail and Erin a month before the beef Wellington lunch.

Gail is checking in on Erin, who'd told her mother-in-law she was receiving some medical tests.

 

[Detechtive]

That's a big change of schools. Over an hour away from Leongatha, along the Bass Highway. Google Maps
I have to wonder if that caused consternation among the rest of the family.


"Detective Eppingstall ..... mentions that he did not see a lot of food from Asian or Indian grocers at her home.

“Did you look in my fridge? I’ve got a lot of Asian cooking stuff in my fridge,” she replies

The detective then follows up by asking if Ms Patterson has “more of that kind of stuff” at her second home in the Melbourne suburb of Mount Waverley.

But she tells him no, she cleaned out the pantry and fridge there because she’s “got to sell that place”.

Ms Patterson tells the officer she’s thinking of selling it to buy a home on Phillip Island where her children are now going to school."

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-jury-shown-accused-womans-police-interview-a-week-after-fatal-lunch/news-story/092b8220ba6f0ba839821334a71f629c

I believe what caused consternation around the schooling was that she took them out of the private Anglican school and put them in an out of area public school, without consultation with Simon.

 

[HoneyBunOne]

1m ago

Police witness shown hospital documents​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The prosecution now takes the police witness to records from Leongatha Hospital from July 31, 2023 when Erin Patterson attended after the lunch.

LSC Eppingstall is taken to a document that says it was printed on this date, and lists Simon Patterson as a next-of-kin contact, with his address named as Erin's Leongatha home.

The prosecution asks if evidence from the police investigation supported the idea that Mr Patterson was living at that address in 2023.

LSC Eppingstall says "no".

A couple of my thoughts.

It's probably not the first time Erin had presented to the hospital, and potentially her old records listed Simon as next of kin, and his address would have been current for the times he did live there. Perhaps she was asked if her next of kin was still Simon and she said yes. I'd imagine she'd then be asked is his details were correct, but maybe not.

To be fair, who else is she going to have listed as next of kin? She apparently has no real family, at least ones she's close to. No bestie. No really great neighbour. No work friend. No associates.
So Simon it is.

 

[Detechtive]

That's such a good point actually. I have children of similar ages that grew up being close to their grandparents and yes, personally we would pause everything if they were very sickly in hospital. But then again, everyone is different and EP would likely say she didn't want to frighten the children and keep their lives as normal as possible. However going on as normal about your daily lives when someone you deeply care about is in ICU, is indeed alarming.

When my grandparents were dying when I was in my 30s, I took my own children out of school and extra curricular activities so we could be by their side. It was devastating and I’m so glad I got to say goodbye.

It’s very strange to me that her life just carried on as normal.

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Questions turn back to police search of Erin's home​

By Joseph Dunstan​

Further messages are read out to the court. They appear to involve setting up catch-ups with the grandchildren.

The topic then switches to the search warrant on Erin's house and the conduct of that search.

The prosecutor take the police witness to a still from footage taken during the search of Erin Patterson's Leongatha home a week after the lunch.

The photo shows a desk and white shelves in a room. On the desk is a desktop PC and monitor, with white boxes containing various items on the drawers.

The prosecutor moves to embark on a line of questioning about this, but the defence objects.

The court hears that LSC Eppingstall's role was to remain with Erin Patterson during the search, and so there is a question about whether he should be asked about specific details relating to how the search was conducted.

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Court hears how police searches work​

By Joseph Dunstan​

LSC Eppingstall runs through how a police search unfolds.

He says officer gets in, secures the area, explains the circumstances of the warrant to people (usually on video tape), and then takes photos and videos of the property before moving evidence.

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago

Purpose of police search procedures​

By Joseph Dunstan​

LSC Eppingstall is asked about the digital devices police might be looking for in a search.

"Anything that can store data, so we're looking for laptops, we're looking for memory cards, USB sticks, you know, tablet devices, phones, watches sometimes now, can store data, so we're looking for all of those types of items," he tells the court.

He's asked what police generally do when they find such items.

"We will record it ... we'll photograph it and we will secure it," he replies.

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
1m ago

Police witness finishes giving evidence​

By Joseph Dunstan​

After some more questions on small details concerning the search, the prosecution wraps up its questioning of LSC Eppingstall.

He's told this concludes his evidence and he leaves the witness stand.

 

[MsMarple]

!!

Key Event
1m ago

Erin Patterson to give evidence​

By Melissa Brown​

Erin's lawyer has told the jury that Erin Patterson will given evidence.

He did not say when that will happen.

 

[PingTheRouter]

yup Erin to be called but i suspect we don't have much time left for today, it's going to end at 4:15 will probably continue tomorrow

 

[Tricia]

Erin Patterson is being called to the stand shortly by the defense. This should be good.

 

[drsleuth]

!!

Key Event
1m ago

Erin Patterson to give evidence​

By Melissa Brown​

Erin's lawyer has told the jury that Erin Patterson will given evidence.

He did not say when that will happen.

Cue the acting & tears

 

[MsMarple]

Key Event
1m ago

Prosecution rests its case​

By Melissa Brown​

Before we heard that Erin will take the stand, some further pieces of information were formally admitted to assist the jury in interpreting evidence.

This included a tool to help converting between time zones, which the trial previously heard can sometimes vary on devices depending on their settings.

Agreed evidence was then read to the court.

They included that a fingerprint specialist conducted an examination for prints on the food dehydrator recovered from Koonwarra transfer station. The specialist concluded the prints matched Erin Patterson's.

 

[MsMarple]

Cue the acting & tears

I’m shocked, I didn’t expect this.

 

[MsMarple]

2m ago

The court is on a brief afternoon break​

By Melissa Brown​

The jury has been led out.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

 

[MrJ]

how I imagine this will go:
'Erin, why did you forage mushrooms?'
'When did I say that?'
'You... you admitted it...'
'When did I? You must have it all wrong, I'm going to say nasty things about you to my group chat!'
'Erin, just answer the question, please.'
'I'M GETTING MY PHONE OUT RIGHT NOW!'

 

[PingTheRouter]

We will be back from break any minute