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

[Monstradamus]

No, I have not. Regardless, even if she had, I don't believe for a minute that she could "misremember" leaving the baby with Simon 5,000 km from home and flying home alone.

If Simon had to drive back to Perth from North QLD nursing a young baby I'm very sure that he would have vivid memories of that trip.

That's quite the distance, if that was the case.

 

[Monstradamus]

That's what I have been led to understand, too. The baby was around 4 months old at the time, so the feeding regime must have been difficult for Simon. In his shoes I'd be on a plane back to Perth quick smart.

10 months old. Baby born Jan 09, trip back to Perth from Townsville Nov 09

 

[Monstradamus]

Is Erin’s entire life story and chronicling every single trauma and slight in her life the reason for that Monday court recess to figure out how to condense the evidence?

The accused seems to always be saddled with problems, anxiety and constant hurts by the people around her. And why would she decide that she should continue to be included in every event of her essentially ex relatives? To the point of causing drama over a missed invitation?

Separated parents certainly have an obligation to create the best environment for their children but don’t they also need to respect each other’s privacy? What was going to happen if Simon got interested in another woman?

Maybe that was what made her snap?
MOO

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Interesting. Jodi also took the stand, mainly because there was so much devastating evidence against her---including pictures and videos she had taken herself during the brutal murder of her boyfriend. But she still chose to take the stand for days, and speak in great detail about her life.

Ditto Sarah Boone in the USA ... weeks went by filled with her stories ... she was even facilitated to verbally abuse the victim and family, even read out a long 'forgiveness statement' to everyone despite being guilty of torturing and murdering her victim and is now serving life with no parole. I'm not sure why the courts are getting into this level of detail and background. JMO MOO

 

[Cliff Hardy]

My thoughts on this move by the defence is the exact opposite to this...

To me this is a sign of a defence team that is very confident their client will be acquitted of the charges.

Trying to see that but can't.

I think it is a mixture of desperation and delusionment on Erin's part and a move likely to have been discouraged by Colin Mandy.

 

[Baby baby Jane]

My thoughts on this move by the defence is the exact opposite to this...

To me this is a sign of a defence team that is very confident their client will be acquitted of the charges.

Defense relying on her claims of explosive diarrhea & cork
as proof of her own poisoning…. Because imo that’s all she’s got.

 

[MrJ]

Defense relying on her claims of explosive diarrhea & cork
as proof of her own poisoning…. Because imo that’s all she’s got.

Can’t wait for the cross-examination of THAT!

 

[SouthAussie]

Trying to see that but can't.

I think it is a mixture of desperation and delusionment on Erin's part and a move likely to have been discouraged by Colin Mandy.

I wonder what "legal studies" Erin did. I wonder if she thinks she knows how to overcome the charges against her.

She undertook a veterinary science course and also did some legal studies work

 

[BreakingNews]

BBM : I wonder if there is any evidence of this.

Had she tried other methods of weight loss??

Did she see her GP & get a referral to a bariatric surgeon?

Did she meet the criteria?

Gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass surgery helps you lose weight by changing how your stomach and small intestine absorb food. It is usually very effective.

www.healthdirect.gov.au

Mushrooms are known for weight and fat loss.

Weight Loss: Top 9 Vegetables To Include In Your Diet To Burn Belly Fat

Weight Loss Tips: On a weight-loss diet? These 9 vegetables can help you fight belly fat effectively and keep it off! How many are up your diet chart?

www.ndtv.com

 

[BreakingNews]

I wonder whose idea it was that Erin will testify?

Ultimately is is up to her if she testified or not. Baden Clay testified against advice from his own legal team. It was his downfall.

 

[Eloise]

Plenty of women have traumatic or somewhat traumatic births. That's nature. It's place in a murder trial confuses me.

Agree. Its not that uncommon. I have several friends and family members who've had traumatic births. One thing they have in common is seeking a different form of prenatal care for future babies. For a couple it changed how they perceive relationships with medical professionals, but at no time did any of them check out of hospital against medical advice, and none went on to kill any relatives, accidentally or otherwise. None lost their job or stopped working (other than the usual mat leave, of course), or became estranged from relatives. I don't see it as a relevant excuse for anything, really. 'Erin can't cope with the things life throws at many people' doesn't mean anything with regard to the poisonings, imo.

Erin isn't exactly obese.

I don't know that I believe she was gearing toward an actual gastric bypass but what does ring true -- her having one, then blaming weight loss on a new cancer, stalling any divorce.

I mean this is someone with four family members she at least purported to care about in the throes of organ failure and death, and she says, you don't know the trouble this has caused me, what with information only trickling in. Her situation is, oh, soooooooo much worse than the four who are dying.

That is one expansive ego.

JMO

Erin would definitely be medically obese. People are often surprised by how 'small' obese medically speaking actually is. I know a couple of people who've had weight loss surgery at her size.

I think it's to appeal to the jurors by mentioning things that most adults have experienced to some degree - oh, she's self conscious about her weight; she's struggled with self-esteem; she wanted to study to pursue a career!

Except... most people who go through these very same things don't allegedly murder three people in an (allegedly) deliberate poisoning method.

Yeah I agree. Nothing she's said is that unusual. By the time you get to 50ish, most people have gone through stuff. Nothing she's said so far would make me think 'oohhhhh so this is why she accidentally poisoned a bunch of people, understandable'. For me its more like, so you're an adult person who's had adult stuff happen. Okay, and? But that's just me, maybe the jury is more sympathetic. I'm super curious where they're going with this tbh.

My thoughts on this move by the defence is the exact opposite to this...

To me this is a sign of a defence team that is very confident their client will be acquitted of the charges.

I think they probably told her not to. But, just as she thought she knew better than medical professionals on more than one occasion, she's doing it anyway because Erin knows best and Erin controls the narrative. And ultimately just like her plea, it is all her choice, not theirs. JMO.

Interesting. Will have to wait and see more for that to eventuate. I'm a layperson after all but I'm not so sure she'll be acquitted.

I hope they keep manslaughter on the table. Especially involuntary manslaughter: "Involuntary manslaughter is an unlawful killing without intent.... For a court to find a person guilty of involuntary manslaughter, the prosecution must prove that the death was the result of an illegal act, omission or an act of neglect, or a failure to take reasonable care." IMO that would be pretty trivial to prove compared to murder, where the intent can be a lot more nebulous to prove beyond reasonable doubt.

 

[Jess D]

Here is a re-enactment of Erin's evidence in her own words when she was on the stand in court yesterday.

 

[iridized]

SNIP


Erin would definitely be medically obese. People are often surprised by how 'small' obese medically speaking actually is. I know a couple of people who've had weight loss surgery at her size.

One only has to look at her to say she is obese. Nothing says "small" or "just a little obese". Erin knew she needed to lose a couple hundred pounds (14 plus stones).

 

[Eloise]

I think she'd probably look a lot more sleek if she'd dress a little less matronly/dowdy. No judgement from me on looks, she's the one that brought up on the stand her own low self-esteem related to weight etc.

 

[MrJ]

Getting underway in a few minutes.

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-trial-live-mushroom-cook-returns-to-the-witness-box/live-coverage/d38ddeff9157a7fe0ede32b695044a4f

LIVE

Erin Patterson trial LIVE: Mushroom cook returns to the witness box​

Long queues have formed outside the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell as members of the public jostle to hear accused murderer Erin Patterson speak.

Welcome to day 25 of the trial of Erin Patterson, live from Morwell.

30 minutes ago
HIGHLIGHT
Queues form outside Morwell court
Dozens of members of the general public have queued outside Latrobe Valley Law Courts to try and hear accused murderer Erin Patterson speak as she takes the stand for the second day.
The most dedicated shivered through the crisp Morwell air, arriving at 6am to secure a seat.
By 9am, the public were allowed into the courthouse to queue in another line outside Court 4.
Erin is expected to take the stand at 10:30am.



People have braved the chilly Morwell morning to line up to get a seat in court. Picture: Supplied

 

[drsleuth]

Accused mushroom killer testifies about fatal lunch

LIVE UPDATES: Erin Patterson has returned to the witness box to discuss the fatal lunch that left three people dead.

thenightly.com.au

12 minutes ago - 10:19 AMMax Corstorphan

When Erin Patterson will return to the stand​

Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson will return to the witness box from 10.30am AEST.

In her evidence on Monday, Ms Patterson gave background on meeting her now former-partner Simon Patterson, meeting his family, the couple’s wedding and honeymoon and the birth of her first son.

Ms Patterson is yet to give evidence on the fatal lunch, with that evidence expected today.

 

[drsleuth]

Australia mushroom trial live: Erin Patterson to continue giving evidence on day 25 of her triple murder trial

Victorian woman, 50, has pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder and one of attempted murder over a fatal 2023 beef wellington lunch. Follow live

www.theguardian.com

1m ago10.31 AEST

What the jury heard yesterday​

While we wait for today’s proceedings to get underway, here’s a recap of what the jury heard on Monday:

1. Patterson entered the witness box to begin testifying in her triple murder trial. Members of the Patterson and Wilkinson families, including Ian Wilkinson, were in the court.
2. The accused said in the months prior to the July 2023 lunch she felt her relationship with the Patterson family, particularly her in-laws Don and Gail, had “a bit more distance”. She said from the start of 2023 her relationship with her estranged husband, Simon, was “functional” and the pair communicated mainly about logistical matters.
3. Patterson had a “never-ending battle of low self-esteem” for most of her adult life, she told the court. She said around the time of the lunch she was planning to have gastric bypass surgery for weight loss.
4. Defence lawyer Colin Mandy SC asked his client about the tension in her relationship with Simon, which involved multiple separations between 2009 and 2015. She said the pair “just couldn’t communicate well” when they had a disagreement. “We would just feel hurt,” she said.
5. The prosecution closed its case on Monday afternoon before Patterson entered the witness box.

 

[MrJ]

Just now
A second day of Erin Patterson's testimony has begun

By Joseph Dunstan

Erin Patterson has returned to the witness box to begin a second day of evidence at her triple-murder trial.

She's wearing a dark top with white polka dots.

As she did yesterday, she's got her glasses sitting by her side and a cup of water on the table before her.

Every seat in courtroom 4 appears to be filled.

As he has throughout the trial, surviving lunch guest Ian Wilkinson is sitting at the back of the courtroom with family.

 

[SouthAussie]

Every seat in courtroom 4 appears to be filled.

That is not really a tough thing to do .... fill all the seats in that tiny courtroom.

I wonder if some public are allowed to sit in the overflow room with the journos.