Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #14 *Arrest*

[Jess D]

It depends firstly whether manslaughter is 'on the table'.

I believe in Victoria, that a majority verdict is possible in a manslaughter case - so, 11 jurors only need to agree on manslaughter after a minimum of 6 hours of deliberation.
They either need 12 for murder, or 11 for manslaughter if that is an option allowed - which I don't think we will know until the judge instructs the jury before deliberations. IMO

This practice is governed by the Juries Act 2000 (Vic), which outlines the conditions under which majority verdicts are permissible in criminal trials.

Procedure When Unanimity Isn't Achieved (Manslaughter)
Initial Deliberation: The jury attempts to reach a unanimous verdict.

Judge's Direction: If unanimity isn't achieved after six hours, the judge may direct the jury that a majority verdict is acceptable.

Outcome:

Majority Verdict Reached: The verdict is accepted and recorded.

No Majority Verdict: If the jury cannot reach a majority verdict, the judge may declare a hung jury, leading to the possibility of a retrial.

Manslaughter Trials: Majority verdicts (11–1) are allowed after six hours of deliberation.

*Not a lawyer.

Jury trial - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I'm leaning towards manslaughter if it's on the table. I hope it's a stronger verdict.

 

[Klclevi]

I was not aware of that case but I am not in VIC. I see from an article in The Age in 1998 that Coroner later said that he felt 'hoodwinked' by police and that the inquest was being re-opened.

I'd have to search to find what resulted from that but, from what I have read already, it stinks of police corruption.

Yep - you are spot on. I have been fascinated by this case since I was a teenager - our family friend was a cop in Melbourne at the time all this happened . You can join the dots..

There is not alot online about it - its best to read Robin Bowles book 'Blind Justice' as a starting point. Not sure of its availability now. You could probably find it on Ebay.

Server Busy

 

[Tweet57]

I was not aware of that case but I am not in VIC. I see from an article in The Age in 1998 that the Coroner later said that he felt 'hoodwinked' by police and it's reported that the inquest was being re-opened.

I'd have to search to find what resulted from that but, from what I have read already, it stinks of police corruption.

There is a book on this case that I have read. Good read.

 

[brisbanemum]

Sorry, what?! She did a POST LUNCH AMA?

 

[Jess D]

Was friends for a few years. I don't know if any of her current friends are on this forum, and I doubt it. They are too busy at court each day. The majority of her friends pulled the plug on the friendship in the lead up to the charges when they questioned her about the lunch incident - these are all crime sleuth types like us here on this forum, so she was quizzed, hard by (some) of them. She did a post lunch "AMA" (ask me anything) with the friends group. That is where as we know, some of the cruicial evidence for the prosecution case came from as we know from the trial. The rest pretty much backed away after the charges were laid.

Prior to the charges they were out in force on social media attacking anyone who thought she was guilty. It was quite bizarre to witness.

Most were scared to cooperate with police, but four eventually did.

I have daily contact with a bunch of people from our previous joint friend circle. We are all watching the case and discussing it in shock and awe, one of us is a crime journalist so we get to updated about the events he witnesses in front of the jury, which has been really interesting! None of us can stop watching - it's so bizarre to have known someone accused of such things.

It must of been such a shock to find out that she'd been arrested on 3 charges of murder and 1 attempted murder. What's that saying? "Inside every person you know is a person you don't know."...

 

[Klclevi]

Was friends for a few years. I don't know if any of her current friends are on this forum, and I doubt it. They are too busy at court each day. The majority of her friends pulled the plug on the friendship in the lead up to the charges when they questioned her about the lunch incident - these are all crime sleuth types like us here on this forum, so she was quizzed, hard by (some) of them. She did a post lunch "AMA" (ask me anything) with the friends group. That is where as we know, some of the cruicial evidence for the prosecution case came from as we know from the trial. The rest pretty much backed away after the charges were laid.

Prior to the charges they were out in force on social media attacking anyone who thought she was guilty. It was quite bizarre to witness.

Most were scared to cooperate with police, but four eventually did.

I have daily contact with a bunch of people from our previous joint friend circle. We are all watching the case and discussing it in shock and awe, one of us is a crime journalist so we get to updated about the events he witnesses in front of the jury, which has been really interesting! None of us can stop watching - it's so bizarre to have known someone accused of such things.

OMG ARE YOU SERIOUS!! No way. a post lunch AMA? WTF

 

[Detechtive]

OMG ARE YOU SERIOUS!! No way. a post lunch AMA? WTF

Yep! In writing, of all things..

 

[Siko]

Yes it was!! It still is. We were all very close, some were closer than others.

We figured out it was her before it was published in the press - before that video surfaced (the media interview by the car, where she mixes up Ian and Don) and we hardly recognised her. It's been surreal ever since. She actually bought us all back together through these proceedings which is a strange ironic twist in all of this. We are all going to get together for a Beef Wellington and some wine when this is all over!

I can only imagine how it must feel for those (family) closer to her than us.

Thank you. I really appreciate your openness! It is my impression that she lies compulsively, manipulates and uses people. In your opinion, why are these few friends of hers remaining by her side? Are they sycophants “under her spell” or so close that they are sticking with her no matter what? It might be a hard one to answer but it just baffles me.

 

[Baby baby Jane]

This is so implausible to me. Explosive diarrhoea necessitating a stop on the side of the road, but cream pants are intact and, when faced with an actual toilet, doesn’t have further diarrhoea, doesn’t need to clean up a bit more and doesn’t wash her hands

Just the logistics of her quick-step waddling into the bush, hoping her cork doesn’t fail.
Finding a spot and doing her business without getting dirty from the poops or the outdoors. Balancing thru waves of cramps …
Probably not the quickest in the woods.

(I do have issue with her not washing hands at petrol station [hygiene!!] and surprised she didn’t magic-up hand sanitizer wipes or say she put poo bags over her hands. All her testimony tied up nicely in a poo bag)

And son fails to mention.

 

[Klclevi]

Yep! In writing, of all things

I am lost for words right now.

 

[Klclevi]

There is a book on this case that I have read. Good read.

Yes - best source of any info .

 

[Detechtive]

Thank you. I really appreciate you openness! It is my impression that she lies compulsively, manipulates and uses people. In your opinion, why are these few friends of hers remaining by her side? Are they sycophants “under her spell” or so close that they are sticking with her no matter what? It might be a hard one to answer but it just baffles me.

I am really trying hard not to allow my personal experiences colour my answers, but it's impossible not to.. I am not a fan, let's put it that way, and for some very serious reasons which affected my family. So, with that disclaimer out of the way, it is my personal opinion that she is very good at mirroring and manipulating less intelligent people. My opinion only.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

Yes she will.

You'll be fine, we'll look after you here

 

[lazymaiden07]

I am lost for words right now.

I am too. Three people have died, Ian most likely still very unwell and she's holding QandA sessions like an influencer on YouTube.

 

[Baby baby Jane]

Was friends for a few years. I don't know if any of her current friends are on this forum, and I doubt it. They are too busy at court each day. The majority of her friends pulled the plug on the friendship in the lead up to the charges when they questioned her about the lunch incident - these are all crime sleuth types like us here on this forum, so she was quizzed, hard by (some) of them. She did a post lunch "AMA" (ask me anything) with the friends group. That is where as we know, some of the cruicial evidence for the prosecution case came from as we know from the trial. The rest pretty much backed away after the charges were laid.

Prior to the charges they were out in force on social media attacking anyone who thought she was guilty. It was quite bizarre to witness.

Most were scared to cooperate with police, but four eventually did.

I have daily contact with a bunch of people from our previous joint friend circle. We are all watching the case and discussing it in shock and awe, one of us is a crime journalist so we get to updated about the events he witnesses in front of the jury, which has been really interesting! None of us can stop watching - it's so bizarre to have known someone accused of such things.

Did EP seem to be comfortable being centre of all the excitement and the AMA?

 

[BreakingNews]

Closings are happening now! We might even get a verdict next week
The prosecution aren't calling any more witnesses!

No. Everyones had their turn. Just the summing up starting on Monday, I believe. Was my jury experience that summing up by the Prosecution, Defence and finally the Judge's direction to the jury can take a few days.

 

[Detechtive]

I am too. Three people have died, Ian most likely still very unwell and she's holding QandA sessions like an influencer on YouTube.

From what I understand, it was to "tie up any loose ends" because after the lunch, she just went radio silent. People in the friendship group were going "wtf" and then when it appeared in the press everyone went a bit mental, and needed to know answers. IMO

 

[lazymaiden07]

From what I understand, it was to "tie up any loose ends" because after the lunch, she just went radio silent. People in the friendship group were going "wtf" and then when it appeared in the press everyone went a bit mental, and needed to know answers. IMO

Thank you. I really appreciate your responses.

 

[Detechtive]

Did EP seem to be comfortable being centre of all the excitement and the AMA?

She was calm.

 

[JBowie]

Yep - you are spot on. I have been fascinated by this case since I was a teenager - our family friend was a cop in Melbourne at the time all this happened . You can join the dots..

There is not alot online about it - its best to read Robin Bowles book 'Blind Justice' as a starting point. Not sure of its availability now. You could probably find it on Ebay.

Server Busy

There's a YouTube video of Ron Tanner talking about the book "Blackened Tanner" written by his mate, another former cop. Maybe you could start a thread on the case.