Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #12 *Arrest*
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Erin becomes emotional in the witness box for the first time today after her police interview is read out.
Next, Dr Rogers launches into a series of suggestions put to Ms Patterson in rapid succession.
"I suggest that you didn't love them. Correct or incorrect?" Dr Rogers asks.
"That's not true," Erin responds.
Dr Rogers puts to Erin that she was angry about Gail and Don taking Simon's side in the dispute over finances.
"That's not true," Erin says.
Dr Rogers puts to Erin that this feeling of anger continued.
"Incorrect," Erin says.
"You had two faces. A public face of appearing to have a good relationship with Don and Gail, as shown to [various people]," Dr Rogers says.
"Are you asking me to agree if I had two faces?" Erin asks.
Dr Rogers repeats her initial question.
"I had a good relationship with Don and Gail," Erin says.
"I suggest that your private face was the one you showed in your Facebook messenger group," Dr Rogers says.
"Incorrect," Erin replies.
"And how you truly felt about Don and Gail was as you expressed it in your Facebook messages," Dr Rogers says.
"Incorrect," Erin responds.
Dr Rogers puts to her that how she truly felt about Simon Patterson was how she expressed it to Facebook friends.
"Incorrect," Erin says.
"You did not regard him as being a decent human being at his core," Dr Rogers says.
"Actually I still believe that," Erin says.
Erin's voice wavers and breaks during this exchange.
A good prosecutor will read the accuser very well and know when to attack
Next, Dr Rogers launches into a series of suggestions put to Ms Patterson in rapid succession.
"I suggest that you didn't love them. Correct or incorrect?" Dr Rogers asks.
"That's not true," Erin responds.
Dr Rogers puts to Erin that she was angry about Gail and Don taking Simon's side in the dispute over finances.
"That's not true," Erin says.
Dr Rogers puts to Erin that this feeling of anger continued.
"Incorrect," Erin says.
"You had two faces. A public face of appearing to have a good relationship with Don and Gail, as shown to [various people]," Dr Rogers says.
"Are you asking me to agree if I had two faces?" Erin asks.
Dr Rogers repeats her initial question.
"I had a good relationship with Don and Gail," Erin says.
"I suggest that your private face was the one you showed in your Facebook messenger group," Dr Rogers says.
"Incorrect," Erin replies.
"And how you truly felt about Don and Gail was as you expressed it in your Facebook messages," Dr Rogers says.
"Incorrect," Erin responds.
Dr Rogers puts to her that how she truly felt about Simon Patterson was how she expressed it to Facebook friends.
"Incorrect," Erin says.
"You did not regard him as being a decent human being at his core," Dr Rogers says.
"Actually I still believe that," Erin says.
Erin's voice wavers and breaks during this exchange.
A good prosecutor will read the accuser very well and know when to attack
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Key Event
1m ago
Why were Heather and Ian Wilkinson invited to the lunch?
By Joseph Dunstan
The focus then turns to the other two lunch guests, Ian and Heather Wilkinson.
Dr Rogers reminds the court that Heather was Gail Patterson's sister and they lived in the same region.
According to Erin's son, the relationship between the Wilkinsons and Erin was neither negative nor strong as of July 2023.
"Yeah that's probably fair," Erin says.
She agrees they hadn't been to her Leongatha home before.
Dr Rogers reminds the court that Mr Wilkinson gave evidence that he and his wife were excited to get the invitation to go to lunch.
"Why is it that you invited Ian and Heather to the lunch on the 29th of July?" Dr Rogers asks.
"There were a few reasons," Erin begins.
"Ian had been my pastor for years and years, and I would see and speak with Ian and Heather a lot after church and I really liked them and I wanted to have a stronger relationship with them.
"When I had invited Don and Gail for lunch in June, Gail had said that what I had done for the garden was really nice, and Heather would really like to see it."
Erin says she saw an opportunity to bring them closer together.
"I wanted to say thank you to them for being good to me over the years. Heather helped me a lot when [my daughter] was little ... and I was shy and didn't know many people," she says.
"I wanted to say thank you to her," Erin says, sobbing before reaching for a tissue to dab at both her eyes and sniff.
1m ago
Why were Heather and Ian Wilkinson invited to the lunch?
By Joseph Dunstan
The focus then turns to the other two lunch guests, Ian and Heather Wilkinson.
Dr Rogers reminds the court that Heather was Gail Patterson's sister and they lived in the same region.
According to Erin's son, the relationship between the Wilkinsons and Erin was neither negative nor strong as of July 2023.
"Yeah that's probably fair," Erin says.
She agrees they hadn't been to her Leongatha home before.
Dr Rogers reminds the court that Mr Wilkinson gave evidence that he and his wife were excited to get the invitation to go to lunch.
"Why is it that you invited Ian and Heather to the lunch on the 29th of July?" Dr Rogers asks.
"There were a few reasons," Erin begins.
"Ian had been my pastor for years and years, and I would see and speak with Ian and Heather a lot after church and I really liked them and I wanted to have a stronger relationship with them.
"When I had invited Don and Gail for lunch in June, Gail had said that what I had done for the garden was really nice, and Heather would really like to see it."
Erin says she saw an opportunity to bring them closer together.
"I wanted to say thank you to them for being good to me over the years. Heather helped me a lot when [my daughter] was little ... and I was shy and didn't know many people," she says.
"I wanted to say thank you to her," Erin says, sobbing before reaching for a tissue to dab at both her eyes and sniff.
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8m ago12.35 AEST
“That’s not true,” Patterson says.
Rogers says those feelings continued.
“Incorrect,” Patterson says.
Rogers says Patterson had “two faces”. She says Patterson had a “public face of appearing to have a good relationship with Don and Gail” which she showed to people like Simon and his siblings.
Patterson says: “I had a good relationship with Don and Gail.”
Rogers says: “I suggest your private face was the one you showed in your Facebook messenger use. Correct or incorrect?”
“Incorrect,” Patterson replies.
Rogers presses further: “And how you truly felt about Don and Gail was how you expressed it in your Facebook messages...”
“Incorrect,” Patterson says.
A visibly upset Patterson is biting her lower lip.
Patterson denies having 'two faces' regarding relationship with Simon's parents
Rogers says she suggests Patterson didn’t love Don and Gail and that they took Simon’s side in their child support dispute.“That’s not true,” Patterson says.
Rogers says those feelings continued.
“Incorrect,” Patterson says.
Rogers says Patterson had “two faces”. She says Patterson had a “public face of appearing to have a good relationship with Don and Gail” which she showed to people like Simon and his siblings.
Patterson says: “I had a good relationship with Don and Gail.”
Rogers says: “I suggest your private face was the one you showed in your Facebook messenger use. Correct or incorrect?”
“Incorrect,” Patterson replies.
Rogers presses further: “And how you truly felt about Don and Gail was how you expressed it in your Facebook messages...”
“Incorrect,” Patterson says.
A visibly upset Patterson is biting her lower lip.
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Imagine what Simon and Mr Wilkinson must be thinking during this, hearing more lies and shaking their heads
I'm surprised (unless I've missed it) that the prosecution haven't asked her why she thinks the beef wellingtons eaten by the guests had a lethal dose but hers didn't? Or that an expert with statistical probability hasn't been called to explain the extreme unlikelihood of this occurring if it was all mixed together?
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Starting to think every denial reveals more than she thinks.
Key Event
1m ago
Prosecution suggest invites to Heather and Ian were strategic
By Judd Boaz
Dr Rogers suggests that Erin invited Heather and Ian Wilkinson in order to make it more likely that Don and Gail Patterson would attend the lunch.
Erin denies this, saying Don and Gail would have come to the lunch because they loved her.
Dr Rogers then suggests she also invited Heather and Ian so that Simon would attend the lunch.
Erin denies this also.
Key Event
1m ago
Prosecution suggest invites to Heather and Ian were strategic
By Judd Boaz
Dr Rogers suggests that Erin invited Heather and Ian Wilkinson in order to make it more likely that Don and Gail Patterson would attend the lunch.
Erin denies this, saying Don and Gail would have come to the lunch because they loved her.
Dr Rogers then suggests she also invited Heather and Ian so that Simon would attend the lunch.
Erin denies this also.
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Prosecution suggest invites to Heather and Ian were strategic
Dr Rogers suggests that Erin invited Heather and Ian Wilkinson in order to make it more likely that Don and Gail Patterson would attend the lunch.Erin denies this, saying Don and Gail would have come to the lunch because they loved her.
Dr Rogers then suggests she also invited Heather and Ian so that Simon would attend the lunch.
Erin denies this also.
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Unbelievable.
Key Event
1m ago
Erin doesn't remember any web searches for death cap mushrooms
By Joseph Dunstan and Judd Boaz
Dr Rogers now asks Erin about her research skills, and Ms Patterson agrees she "can be" a good researcher, as her Facebook friends have suggested to the court.
Erin says she doesn't think finding information quickly online is "particular" to her.
Earlier in the trial, Victoria Police digital forensic expert Shamen Fox-Henry gave evidence about data found on hard drives in a Cooler Master computer in Erin Patterson's house.
Digital analysis showed records of access to the iNaturalist map of death cap mushrooms.
The court is shown a report generated as part of that analysis, which suggests that on May 28, 2022, the Bing search engine was used to look up the iNaturalist site.
"It does look like somebody did that, yes," Erin says. "I don't remember doing it. It's possible it was me. The only thing that gives me pause is I didn't use Internet Explorer or Bing, but I accept that maybe I did this time, I'm not sure."
Dr Rogers suggests she was not "randomly browing the internet" and knew what website she was looking for.
"I can't say that because I don't remember this," Erin says.
Dr Rogers says Erin knew what search term to enter to find iNaturalist because she had used the website before.
"I don't know," Erin says.
Key Event
1m ago
Erin doesn't remember any web searches for death cap mushrooms
By Joseph Dunstan and Judd Boaz
Dr Rogers now asks Erin about her research skills, and Ms Patterson agrees she "can be" a good researcher, as her Facebook friends have suggested to the court.
Erin says she doesn't think finding information quickly online is "particular" to her.
Earlier in the trial, Victoria Police digital forensic expert Shamen Fox-Henry gave evidence about data found on hard drives in a Cooler Master computer in Erin Patterson's house.
Digital analysis showed records of access to the iNaturalist map of death cap mushrooms.
The court is shown a report generated as part of that analysis, which suggests that on May 28, 2022, the Bing search engine was used to look up the iNaturalist site.
"It does look like somebody did that, yes," Erin says. "I don't remember doing it. It's possible it was me. The only thing that gives me pause is I didn't use Internet Explorer or Bing, but I accept that maybe I did this time, I'm not sure."
Dr Rogers suggests she was not "randomly browing the internet" and knew what website she was looking for.
"I can't say that because I don't remember this," Erin says.
Dr Rogers says Erin knew what search term to enter to find iNaturalist because she had used the website before.
"I don't know," Erin says.
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WHY MIGHT SHE WANT TO KNOW?
Key Event
1m ago
Erin says she wanted to know about death cap growth in Gippsland
By Joseph Dunstan
Dr Rogers continues to follow the report, and suggests Erin then navigated to a more specific map about death cap mushrooms on the iNaturalist site.
"I don't have a specific memory of this day or this internet search, but my evidence is it's possible," Erin says.
"Because I remember at some point wanting to find out if death cap mushrooms grow in Gippsland, and finding out that they do not.
"So it might have been this search."
Key Event
1m ago
Erin says she wanted to know about death cap growth in Gippsland
By Joseph Dunstan
Dr Rogers continues to follow the report, and suggests Erin then navigated to a more specific map about death cap mushrooms on the iNaturalist site.
"I don't have a specific memory of this day or this internet search, but my evidence is it's possible," Erin says.
"Because I remember at some point wanting to find out if death cap mushrooms grow in Gippsland, and finding out that they do not.
"So it might have been this search."
D
Deleted member 363451
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I actually have a friend who had a similar relationship with his wife after they separated. They would continue to go on holidays together and she was invited to all of his family functions. They don't have children together, so it was even stranger. They don't go on holidays together now and she rarely gets invited to his family functions. They still see each other about once a fortnight and I doubt that they will ever divorce.
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2m ago12.56 AEST
Patterson tearfully says she wanted to thank the Wilkinsons ‘for being good to me over the years’
Rogers turns to Patterson’s relationship with Simon’s maternal aunt, Heather Wilkinsonand her husband, Ian Wilkinson.
Rogers takes the court through Ian’s evidence. He described his relationship with Patterson as “more like acquaintances” and said they did not see each other frequently.
Patterson agrees and says they mainly saw each other and church.
Asked about Ian’s evidence that Heather and Patterson were not close, she says “that’s probably fair”.
Patterson agrees Heather and Ian had not been to her house before as a couple.
Patterson says Heather had been to her house before.
Rogers asks why she invited Heather and Ian to the fateful lunch on 29 July 2023.
Patterson says there were a “few reasons”:
Share
3m ago12.55 AEST
Rogers asks about Simon’s evidence about a phone call with Patterson the day after the lunch - 30 July 2023.
Patterson rejects Rogers’ suggestion that she never asked how unwell Don and Gail were at this point.
Patterson tearfully says she wanted to thank the Wilkinsons ‘for being good to me over the years’
Rogers turns to Patterson’s relationship with Simon’s maternal aunt, Heather Wilkinsonand her husband, Ian Wilkinson.
Rogers takes the court through Ian’s evidence. He described his relationship with Patterson as “more like acquaintances” and said they did not see each other frequently.
Patterson agrees and says they mainly saw each other and church.
Asked about Ian’s evidence that Heather and Patterson were not close, she says “that’s probably fair”.
Patterson agrees Heather and Ian had not been to her house before as a couple.
Patterson says Heather had been to her house before.
Rogers asks why she invited Heather and Ian to the fateful lunch on 29 July 2023.
Patterson says there were a “few reasons”:
She recalls Gail telling her, while at Patterson’s Leongatha home in June, that Heather would love to see her garden. She says:
Patterson becomes teary as she says she wanted to “say thank you for being good to me over the years”. She continues:
Patterson reaches for a tissue.
Share
3m ago12.55 AEST
Rogers asks about Simon’s evidence about a phone call with Patterson the day after the lunch - 30 July 2023.
Patterson rejects Rogers’ suggestion that she never asked how unwell Don and Gail were at this point.
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Just now
Screenshots of iNaturalist shown to Erin Patterson
By Joseph Dunstan
The court is shown a screenshot of an iNaturalist page, taken in December 2024 by police investigators.
It shows a map of Melbourne, extending into the Victorian region around it. Red dots mark out death cap mushroom sightings.
The URL is one Dr Rogers alleges Erin Patterson looked at in May, 2022 on the Cooler Master computer.
Again, Erin says it could be, but she's not sure.
That's followed by a URL for a specific listing for a death cap mushroom sighting in Moorabbin, in Melbourne's south-east.
Again, Erin says "it's possible, I don't know".
Dr Rogers puts to Erin that she was the one who used the Cooler Master computer to search for these things. She says "I don't know" when asked if it could be her children.
BBM. Throwing her kids under the bus!
Screenshots of iNaturalist shown to Erin Patterson
By Joseph Dunstan
The court is shown a screenshot of an iNaturalist page, taken in December 2024 by police investigators.
It shows a map of Melbourne, extending into the Victorian region around it. Red dots mark out death cap mushroom sightings.
The URL is one Dr Rogers alleges Erin Patterson looked at in May, 2022 on the Cooler Master computer.
Again, Erin says it could be, but she's not sure.
That's followed by a URL for a specific listing for a death cap mushroom sighting in Moorabbin, in Melbourne's south-east.
Again, Erin says "it's possible, I don't know".
Dr Rogers puts to Erin that she was the one who used the Cooler Master computer to search for these things. She says "I don't know" when asked if it could be her children.
BBM. Throwing her kids under the bus!
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Key Event
Just now
Court adjourned
By Judd Boaz
As mentioned, Friday is a shortened day of proceedings.
Justice Beale jumps in and calls an end to proceedings.
Before they leave, he tells the jury that there are still some lengthy legal discussions ahead of them after the long weekend.
Justice Beale also reminds them to not discuss the case with anyone else besides other jurors.
Court is adjourned.
Just now
Court adjourned
By Judd Boaz
As mentioned, Friday is a shortened day of proceedings.
Justice Beale jumps in and calls an end to proceedings.
Before they leave, he tells the jury that there are still some lengthy legal discussions ahead of them after the long weekend.
Justice Beale also reminds them to not discuss the case with anyone else besides other jurors.
Court is adjourned.
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