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

[drsleuth]

12.27pm

‘This family I swear’: Erin Patterson on the message she regrets sending​

By​

The accused has again tried to hold back tears when some of her Facebook friend group messages were read to the court including one in particular: “This family i swear to God”.

An emotional Erin Patterson told the jury of her regret, saying that she wished she had never written that message and felt ashamed about it. “I wish the family did not have to hear that I said that. They did not deserve it,” she said.

The jury was shown a series of messages between Erin, Simon, Don, and Gail Patterson. Erin Patterson discussed ongoing issues around her children’s schooling and child support fees with the group.

In the messages, Patterson told the group that Simon appeared to believe that child support payments would cover every expense “under the sun,” but they only covered basic schooling and care.

In the message, she said she and Simon could go 50/50 on paying school fees, or she could take the children out of the school, or seek a court order.

Patterson told the court she was stressed about her son and his schooling at the time and wanted the matter resolved before they went to New Zealand.

Day 25, as it happened: Patterson concedes death cap mushrooms were in beef Wellington she fed guests

Accused killer cook Erin Patterson has conceded death cap mushrooms were in a beef Wellington she fed her lunch guests after telling a jury she often foraged for fungi and enjoyed buying exotic varieties because they tasted better.

www.theage.com.au

 

[MrJ]

1m ago
Court hears of family holiday to New Zealand

By Joseph Dunstan

A series of messages between Erin and Simon is shown to the court from December 2022.

Erin sent images to Simon during a trip she was on with the children in New Zealand.

Erin says the kids were on a toboggan-style luge in Rotorua, which they had done before.

"I sent him video and photos of them doing that, because I knew he'd be really happy to see that," she says.

In a reply, Simon said "Fantastic, thanks heaps for sending those through. And you're an expert camera operator from that vantage point with much experience over the years."

Erin says he's referring to her dislike of "adrenaline things", and that she usually spectates those kind of activities rather than taking part.

Mr Mandy notes the tone has no "heat in it" and asks how all the financial matters were between Erin and Simon by mid-December 2022.

"Child support was sorted out," Erin says, adding the school fee issue was sorted shortly afterwards.

She says she remembers sending the messages from a place the whole family had previously visited together.

She says that reminded her of the "happy holidays" she and Simon had enjoyed in the past, and was hoping to extend a message of "sorry" and wanting communication to be better.

She says he took it "graciously".

 

[drsleuth]

13 minutes ago - 12:17 PMMax Corstorphan

‘This family, I swear to f..king god’: Patterson’s ‘private’ Facebook vent​

Ms Patterson said she felt “desperate” after feeling that Mr Patterson and his family were not working with her to resolve financial issues and concerns over a child’s schooling.

The court heard how Ms Patterson turned to a Facebook group, something she described as a “safe venting space”, to share her feelings.

A message from Ms Patterson, shared in December 2022, suggested Mr Patterson and his family would “only pray” for her kids.

“This family, I swear to f..king god,” Ms Patterson wrote online.

Ms Patterson broke down, saying she wished she “never sent” the message, which she said she felt was private.

“They didn’t deserve it,” she added tearfully.

7 minutes ago - 12:22 PMMax Corstorphan

‘I’m sick of this sh.t’: Patterson tells Facebook group she wanted ‘nothing to do’ with ex, in-laws​

The court has now heard about more “frustrated” messages she shared online.

“I’m sick of this ,” Ms Patterson wrote on a Facebook group, adding she wanted “nothing to do” with Mr Patterson’s family.

She said she was “really frustrated with Simon” and needed to “vent”.

Ms Patterson said she turned to the Facebook group to feel “heard”, saying it was either the Facebook group or the “sheep”.

She emotionally explained she wished she hadn’t shared the messages, as they were later “resolved”.

Accused mushroom killer testifies about fatal lunch

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

thenightly.com.au

 

[LinasK]

I'm not even sure it was emotional support she craved, more like validation for her victim complex. IMO

I'm laughing to myself thinking of the image of emotional support sheep.

 

[MrJ]

1m ago
Erin says relationships returned to normal following trip

By Joseph Dunstan

Mr Mandy asks how the relationship with Don and Gail Patterson was once Erin returned from the NZ holiday with the kids.

Erin says it was strong and supportive as it had always been, and she attended a Patterson family birthday with the kids and "it was great".

 

[Deleted member 363451]

3 minutes ago

Erin's tears as messages about family read to court
Mr Mandy takes Erin to a Signal chat with herself, Simon and his parents from December 4.
“Erin be lovely if we could catch up with you, (and the children) before you go to New Zealand,” Gail wrote.
Erin tells the court there was trip to New Zealand planned about a week later, agreeing she thought it was important the children saw their grandparents before they left.
Around that time, she said her children were not seeing their grandparents as much as she would have liked, usually about once a month at church.
“Earlier in the year, it was probably weekly or fortnightly,” she said.
Mr Mandy takes her through more messages with her in-laws relating to the financial dispute with Simon.
He then reads another message to her Facebook friends in which she complains about Simon’s family.
Erin started to quietly sniffle as Mr Mandy reads her messages to the court.
Erin’s message read: “Simon’s 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 to pray for the children (emoji) (emoji) this family I swear to f–ing god.”
“How are you feeling when you when you wrote this message?” Mr Mandy asks.
“I was really hurt and I was really frustrated, and felt a little bit desperate,” she replies.
After answering the question, Erin wiped her eye with her hand and grabbed a tissue.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-trial-live-mushroom-cook-returns-to-the-witness-box/live-coverage/d38ddeff9157a7fe0ede32b695044a4f#/entry/32012979

3 minutes ago

Erin's tears as messages about family read to court
Mr Mandy takes Erin to a Signal chat with herself, Simon and his parents from December 4.
“Erin be lovely if we could catch up with you, (and the children) before you go to New Zealand,” Gail wrote.
Erin tells the court there was trip to New Zealand planned about a week later, agreeing she thought it was important the children saw their grandparents before they left.
Around that time, she said her children were not seeing their grandparents as much as she would have liked, usually about once a month at church.
“Earlier in the year, it was probably weekly or fortnightly,” she said.
Mr Mandy takes her through more messages with her in-laws relating to the financial dispute with Simon.
He then reads another message to her Facebook friends in which she complains about Simon’s family.
Erin started to quietly sniffle as Mr Mandy reads her messages to the court.
Erin’s message read: “Simon’s 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 to pray for the children (emoji) (emoji) this family I swear to f–ing god.”
“How are you feeling when you when you wrote this message?” Mr Mandy asks.
“I was really hurt and I was really frustrated, and felt a little bit desperate,” she replies.
After answering the question, Erin wiped her eye with her hand and grabbed a tissue.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-trial-live-mushroom-cook-returns-to-the-witness-box/live-coverage/d38ddeff9157a7fe0ede32b695044a4f#/entry/32012979

"Around that time, she said her children were not seeing their grandparents as much as she would have liked, usually about once a month at church."

Well her children won't be seeing their grandparents at all now, sadly...

 

[drsleuth]

Just now - 12:32 PMMax Corstorphan

‘I was sorry’: Patterson’s holiday messages to ex​

While on a holiday in NZ with the kids in December 2022, Ms Patterson shared a video with her former partner, Simon Patterson, of their children on a “log ride”.

“I was trying to reach out to him and try to communicate to him that I was sorry,” Ms Patterson said, adding she wanted their communication between the two to be “better”.

Thought this time, Ms Patterson said financial issues and school fee negotiations were resolved or didn’t need further communication directly with Mr Paterson.

Accused mushroom killer testifies about fatal lunch

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

thenightly.com.au

 

[mamamama9873]

1m ago03.11 BST

Erin Patterson says son struggled in ‘a lot of aspects of his life’​

Barrister Colin Mandy SC takes Erin to messages exchanged with her estranged husband Simon on 6 December 2022.

In one message, Simon says he understands Erin has invited his parents to her house the prior day to discuss how their son is going and “finances for our kids”.

Erin says she asked Don and Gail Patterson for a discussion because she was “struggling to achieve good communication with Simon about a few things.”



Erin says her in-laws had previously meditated between the couple.

She says her son was struggling in “a lot of aspects of his life” including school.

Erin also wanted to discuss the school fees for the children.

She says prior to the child support disagreement in late 2022, Simon had been paying their school fees.

After this, Simon wanted her to pay all of the school fees, Erin says.

Erin says when Don and Gail visited on 5 December 2022 they offered to pay the children’s school fees if money was an issue.

“Which wasn’t what I needed,” she says.

She says they encouraged the couple to discuss the issue between them.


They didn’t want to become official mediators.

Erin Patterson trial day 25 – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

The poor teenage son to have all this aired in court and known to the public, as if he hadn’t suffered enough trauma…

 

[mamamama9873]

Anyone would think that Erin was a struggling single mother on a pension...

She was a wealthy and non working heiress using the system imo, how is that helping her.

 

[drsleuth]

3 minutes ago
HIGHLIGHT
Erin 'played up the emotion to get support' from Facebook friends
Mr Mandy takes Erin to another Facebook message in which she says the family are a “lost cause”:
“I’m sick of this . I want nothing to do with them. I thought his parents would want him to do the right thing, but it seems their concern about not wanting to feel uncomfortable and not wanting to get involved in their son’s personal matters are overriding that. So f—k em,” she said in the message.
Erin admits she wrote the message.
“I needed to vent. I needed to get my frustration off my chest. And the choice was either go into the paddock and tell the sheep or vent to these women,” she said.
“But I regret the language that I used, but I knew that they would rally around me and I probably, you know, played up the emotion of that a bit to get that support.”
Asked if she meant those words, Erin says “no”.
She said she was frustrated with Simon but the dispute wasn’t entirely his fault and she also played a part.
“I think at the time I thought I was right and he was wrong but I reflected on it a lot in New Zealand and I realised that it was wrong to try and involve Don and Gail and I should’ve approached it differently with Simon,” she tells the court.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-trial-live-mushroom-cook-returns-to-the-witness-box/live-coverage/d38ddeff9157a7fe0ede32b695044a4f#/entry/32013100

 

[MrJ]

Key Event
2m ago
'Conciliatory' talks between Erin and Simon Patterson

By Joseph Dunstan

Mr Mandy brings up a message from Erin to Simon during the NZ trip, where she asked him for a favour about a tree being down across the fence at her property back in Victoria.

In the message, Erin starts off by saying "I understand we don't really have the kind of relationship right now where I can ask for favours but I don't have anywhere else to turn".

In his response, Simon says he can't help with this particular issue today because he's in Brisbane, but can help the next day.

"I'm always your husband no matter how we're doing, so no probs with you asking!" he says.

Erin agrees with Mr Mandy that the tone was "conciliatory".

 

[Detechtive]

Key Event
2m ago
'Conciliatory' talks between Erin and Simon Patterson

By Joseph Dunstan

Mr Mandy brings up a message from Erin to Simon during the NZ trip, where she asked him for a favour about a tree being down across the fence at her property back in Victoria.

In the message, Erin starts off by saying "I understand we don't really have the kind of relationship right now where I can ask for favours but I don't have anywhere else to turn".

In his response, Simon says he can't help with this particular issue today because he's in Brisbane, but can help the next day.

"I'm always your husband no matter how we're doing, so no probs with you asking!" he says.

Erin agrees with Mr Mandy that the tone was "conciliatory".

This is just reaffirming over and over again what a great person Simon was - and no doubt, because his family were very nice people.

 

[Megnut]

Yes is unquestionably obese.

This is what the World Health Organization classify as obesity :

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese.

Obesity

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. In 2019, an estimated 5 million noncommunicable disease (NCD) deaths were caused by higher-than-optimal BMI.

www.who.int

I am not trying to be judgmental but let's keep it real.

I was mistaken.

 

[Megnut]

This is just reaffirming over and over again what a great person Simon was - and no doubt, because his family were very nice people.

Can I marry him?

 

[Detechtive]

Can I marry him?

Get in line!

 

[drsleuth]

I'm laughing to myself thinking of the image of emotional support sheep.

At least the sheep would all follow her

 

[JBowie]

This is insane to me. Why does she make everything about herself? This isn't a normal reaction, IMO.

Easy: narcissism.

 

[Megnut]

She's looking more and more petty.

JMO

 

[MrJ]

Key Event
1m ago
Erin Patterson shares body image issues

By Joseph Dunstan

Mr Mandy says he'll now move to ask Erin about her body image, and asks her why she had an issue.

"I've had it ever since I was a teenager, as long as I can remember," Erin says.

"I tried every diet under the sun ... it's been a rollercoaster over the years.

"When I was a kid, Mum would weigh us every week to make sure we weren't putting on too much weight and so I went to the extreme of barely eating then, to through my adulthood going the other way and binging, I suppose, for want of a better word.

"I never had a good relationship with food, a healthy relationship."

Erin becomes visibly emotional as she says she was bulimic, binge eating two to three times a week through her 20s.

She says nobody knew about it, but says "everybody" knows now.

As the evidence turns to the discussion of body image, a reminder you can access the Butterfly Foundation if this raises any issues for you

Reach The Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673 or webchat.

 

[Detechtive]

At least the sheep would all follow her

It seems like the facebook friends were sheep, also. IMO.