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

[Detechtive]

She had a motive to keep those people in her world'​

Mr Mandy continued his closing address by saying a lack of motive made it more likely what happened was an accident.
But he said the defence had gone beyond that and presented “positive evidence” of a lack of motive, dubbing it an “anti-motive”.
Mr Mandy mentioned Don tutoring Erin’s son and how they completed science experiments together.
“She had a motive to keep these people in her world,” she said, adding that her in-laws supported her as well as her children.
“Why would she take wonderful, active, loving grandparents away from her own children?” he asked
Mr Mandy said his client, in early 2023, had a “big beautiful house” with a freshly landscaped garden, had sole custody of her children, was “very comfortable financially” and was looking forward to returning to study.
While her body image issues lingered, he said she was in a “good place”.
He said it was “most unlikely” she was planning to murder people.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-trial-live-closing-addresses-continue-in-mushroom-cook-case/live-coverage/2d6e483591ad308c611f94b4f9620a47#/entry/32265952

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago06.23 BST

'Not only is there no motive, there are very good reasons not to harm these people,' defence says​

Mandy says if Patterson was a murderer she would have known the “spotlight” would be on her when her guests were hospitalised.

He says it was “inevitable the focus will be on the cook”.

Mandy says it was not a secret that Patterson had invited the lunch guests to her house.

“It’s all out in the open,” he says.

“She decided to cook a lavish and complicated dish … Not just a simple bolognese. But something much more impressive.”

He says if Patterson was planning to murder her lunch guests she would not have bought a dehydrator from a local store under her own name, take photos of the dehydrator and mushrooms in the appliance and post these images in a Facebook group chat.

“Erin Patterson did the opposite of all those things because she didn’t plan it,” he says.

He says Patterson panicked after the meal because she knew the spotlight would be on her.

“Not only is there no motive, there are very good reasons not to harm these people,” he says.

“And if you do embark on this plan … you’ll lose the only people in the world who are any support to you and your children, you will lose your children and you will lose everything that’s important to you.”

“It’s very unlikely that anyone in those circumstances would make that choice.”

Erin Patterson mushroom trial day 33 – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[JBowie]

Will they ever release any of the evidence in this case, like photos and videos?

AFAIK, media can usually apply for access to such stuff after the case has been finalized.

 

[MrJ]

Key Event
Just now
Defence addressed claims about Erin Patterson's dehydrator

By Judd Boaz

Mr Mandy contests the prosecution’s arguments about Erin Patterson’s dehydrator.

“It’s purchase was broadcast on social media, the dehydrating of mushrooms was broadcast on social media,” Mr Mandy says.

He says it is unlikely that Ms Patterson would have knowingly posted photos of a murder weapon online to her friends, who were in a true crime Facebook group and thought of themselves as "invesitgators".

Mr Mandy also tells the jury that if murder was pre-meditated, she would have disposed of the dehydrator long before the actual lunch.

“If you’re planning a murder, what’s the one thing you should really plan to dispose of? That’s the murder weapon,” Mr Mandy says.

The defence argues that the blatant manner of its disposal, with Ms Patterson driving her own car to the tip and paying for disposal with her own bank card, reflect what “can only have been panic”.

 

[Megnut]

3.18pm

Child support payments a motive for murder ‘unpersuasive’​

By​

Shortly after Erin Patterson’s defence barrister, Colin Mandy, SC, took to his feet in courtroom four in Morwell, his closing address was briefly disrupted when a mobile phone began ringing in the front row.

It came only minutes after he was earlier asked to stop speaking when two members of the public walked in to look for seats to sit in.

He continues. Motive was very important, and usually fundamental, to proving intention in a case, he said.

“With an absence of a reason, an intention to kill is very unlikely,” Mandy said.

Mandy added that to prove intention, the prosecution needed to provide a motive. He said the prosecution had been scratching around to find some suggestion of animosity in the family dynamics, and referred to evidence in the trial about messages between Patterson, her estranged husband and her in-laws, about child support payments.


“The reason why it was led by the prosecution is because they want to try to show that there was some kind of difficulty in the relationship between Erin and Simon, and that might provide a reason to murder his parent and then his aunt and uncle seven months later,” Mandy said.

Mandy described that argument as “unpersuasive”, adding that animosity occurred between a handful of days in December 2022.

“Obviously, Erin was upset. She really acknowledged that. She was venting to her online mate for a few short days, seven months before the lunch.” Mandy said.

Erin Patterson murder trial day 33 as it happened: Accused mushroom cook lied to authorities and in witness box, prosecutor says in concluding argument; defence argues no intent, panic explains actions

Inside courtroom four in Morwell, Patterson, on trial for murder, listened intently as prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, concluded her closing argument, and defence barrister Colin Mandy, SC, commenced his.

www.theage.com.au

Bbm

His closing was interrupted by a cellphone ringing?

Oh, please! For me! If it could have been EP's missing Phone A come home to momma.

Ring, ring, EP. Justice is calling.

JMO

 

[JBowie]

Shortly after Erin Patterson’s defence barrister, Colin Mandy, SC, took to his feet in courtroom four in Morwell, his closing address was briefly disrupted when a mobile phone began ringing in the front row.

Phone A by chance?

 

[MrJ]

Key Event
1m ago
Defence says prosecution claims around lunch leftovers is 'speculation'

By Joseph Dunstan

Mr Mandy recaps the prosecution's theory of the individually parcelled beef Wellingtons, telling the jury that if the prosecution can't prove a non-poisoned beef Wellington existed then that theory fails.

He says the prosecution case requires that Ms Patterson ate all of her beef Wellington, because otherwise leftovers without poison would have been found in her bin.

"This is an example of creating a theory where no evidence exists to support it," Mr Mandy tells the jury.

"To continue the charade, the prosecution says that what is in the bin adds up to one whole beef Wellington pasty.

"There is no evidence at all as to how big these beef Wellingtons were."

Mr Mandy tells the jury to "watch out" for the word "clearly" in the prosecution's argument when they asserted that the leftovers comprised two halves of a beef Wellington.

He says it's "speculation" not supported by evidence.

 

[Detechtive]

Key Event
Just now
Defence addressed claims about Erin Patterson's dehydrator

By Judd Boaz

Mr Mandy contests the prosecution’s arguments about Erin Patterson’s dehydrator.

“It’s purchase was broadcast on social media, the dehydrating of mushrooms was broadcast on social media,” Mr Mandy says.

He says it is unlikely that Ms Patterson would have knowingly posted photos of a murder weapon online to her friends, who were in a true crime Facebook group and thought of themselves as "invesitgators".

Mr Mandy also tells the jury that if murder was pre-meditated, she would have disposed of the dehydrator long before the actual lunch.

“If you’re planning a murder, what’s the one thing you should really plan to dispose of? That’s the murder weapon,” Mr Mandy says.

The defence argues that the blatant manner of its disposal, with Ms Patterson driving her own car to the tip and paying for disposal with her own bank card, reflect what “can only have been panic”.

Broadcast on social media in a tiny chat group with what Erin considered were her most loyal friends who would NEVER share ANYTHING with police EVER (and the majority didn't).

 

[Megnut]

2m ago06.23 BST

'Not only is there no motive, there are very good reasons not to harm these people,' defence says​

Mandy says if Patterson was a murderer she would have known the “spotlight” would be on her when her guests were hospitalised.

He says it was “inevitable the focus will be on the cook”.

Mandy says it was not a secret that Patterson had invited the lunch guests to her house.

“It’s all out in the open,” he says.

“She decided to cook a lavish and complicated dish … Not just a simple bolognese. But something much more impressive.”

He says if Patterson was planning to murder her lunch guests she would not have bought a dehydrator from a local store under her own name, take photos of the dehydrator and mushrooms in the appliance and post these images in a Facebook group chat.

“Erin Patterson did the opposite of all those things because she didn’t plan it,” he says.

He says Patterson panicked after the meal because she knew the spotlight would be on her.

“Not only is there no motive, there are very good reasons not to harm these people,” he says.

“And if you do embark on this plan … you’ll lose the only people in the world who are any support to you and your children, you will lose your children and you will lose everything that’s important to you.”

“It’s very unlikely that anyone in those circumstances would make that choice.”

Erin Patterson mushroom trial day 33 – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

And yet... here we are.

 

[Detechtive]

Key Event
1m ago
Defence says prosecution claims around lunch leftovers is 'speculation'

By Joseph Dunstan

Mr Mandy recaps the prosecution's theory of the individually parcelled beef Wellingtons, telling the jury that if the prosecution can't prove a non-poisoned beef Wellington existed then that theory fails.

He says the prosecution case requires that Ms Patterson ate all of her beef Wellington, because otherwise leftovers without poison would have been found in her bin.

"This is an example of creating a theory where no evidence exists to support it," Mr Mandy tells the jury.

"To continue the charade, the prosecution says that what is in the bin adds up to one whole beef Wellington pasty.

"There is no evidence at all as to how big these beef Wellingtons were."

Mr Mandy tells the jury to "watch out" for the word "clearly" in the prosecution's argument when they asserted that the leftovers comprised two halves of a beef Wellington.

He says it's "speculation" not supported by evidence.

Was dumping the dehydrator on CCTV and with eftpos receipts also speculation?!

 

[MrJ]

I love how the defence talks about speculation, considering the many lies that EP both confirmed and allegedly told on the stand

 

[Megnut]

Key Event
Just now
Defence addressed claims about Erin Patterson's dehydrator

By Judd Boaz

Mr Mandy contests the prosecution’s arguments about Erin Patterson’s dehydrator.

“It’s purchase was broadcast on social media, the dehydrating of mushrooms was broadcast on social media,” Mr Mandy says.

He says it is unlikely that Ms Patterson would have knowingly posted photos of a murder weapon online to her friends, who were in a true crime Facebook group and thought of themselves as "invesitgators".

Mr Mandy also tells the jury that if murder was pre-meditated, she would have disposed of the dehydrator long before the actual lunch.

"If you’re planning a murder, what’s the one thing you should really plan to dispose of? That’s the murder weapon,” Mr Mandy says.

The defence argues that the blatant manner of its disposal, with Ms Patterson driving her own car to the tip and paying for disposal with her own bank card, reflect what “can only have been panic”.

Bbm

Did her own defense attorney name the food dehydrator the murder weapon?

Ouch.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

1m ago
No reason for Erin to rob children of 'wonderful' grandparents, defence tells jury

By Joseph Dunstan

Ms Patterson's defence barrister Colin Mandy SC tells the jury there has been evidence of the warm relationship between his client and her in-laws.

"Erin Patterson had a motive to keep these people in her world so that they could keep supporting her and her children," he says.

"And there's absolutely no doubt that Don and Gail had a great relationship with [their grandchildren] ... absolutely no doubt that Erin was devoted to her children.

"Why would she take wonderful, active, loving grandparents away from her own children?"

Mr Mandy, Erin Patterson was told her relatives were sick in the hospital after lunch, but she did not check on them. She wasn't interested

Sergeant Farrell told the court he did not know what Erin Patterson was aware of at the time, but she had "expressed surprise" when informed of Heather Wilkinson's death.

There was no love in her response to her relatives, and she wanted Simon there as well

 

[JBowie]

Was dumping the dehydrator on CCTV and with eftpos receipts also speculation?!

Mandy's got nothing, but he's paid (well) to make a noise.

 

[Detechtive]

I love how the defence talks about speculation, considering the many lies that EP both confirmed and allegedly told on the stand

I am so far unmoved by the defence arguments - not like i was the first time. It is not working, IMO

 

[LinasK]

Key Event
1m ago
Defence says prosecution claims around lunch leftovers is 'speculation'

By Joseph Dunstan

Mr Mandy recaps the prosecution's theory of the individually parcelled beef Wellingtons, telling the jury that if the prosecution can't prove a non-poisoned beef Wellington existed then that theory fails.

He says the prosecution case requires that Ms Patterson ate all of her beef Wellington, because otherwise leftovers without poison would have been found in her bin.

"This is an example of creating a theory where no evidence exists to support it," Mr Mandy tells the jury.

"To continue the charade, the prosecution says that what is in the bin adds up to one whole beef Wellington pasty.

"There is no evidence at all as to how big these beef Wellingtons were."

Mr Mandy tells the jury to "watch out" for the word "clearly" in the prosecution's argument when they asserted that the leftovers comprised two halves of a beef Wellington.

He says it's "speculation" not supported by evidence.

Ian is around to testify to the portion sizes.

 

[Megnut]

Key Event
1m ago
Defence says prosecution claims around lunch leftovers is 'speculation'

By Joseph Dunstan

Mr Mandy recaps the prosecution's theory of the individually parcelled beef Wellingtons, telling the jury that if the prosecution can't prove a non-poisoned beef Wellington existed then that theory fails.

He says the prosecution case requires that Ms Patterson ate all of her beef Wellington, because otherwise leftovers without poison would have been found in her bin.

"This is an example of creating a theory where no evidence exists to support it," Mr Mandy tells the jury.

"To continue the charade, the prosecution says that what is in the bin adds up to one whole beef Wellington pasty.

"There is no evidence at all as to how big these beef Wellingtons were."

Mr Mandy tells the jury to "watch out" for the word "clearly" in the prosecution's argument when they asserted that the leftovers comprised two halves of a beef Wellington.

He says it's "speculation" not supported by evidence.

Wha huh?

No one can know how big the BWs were? Du'oy. Ian was there. Erin was there. It's not a mystery.

Mr. Mandy must have lost his tape measure too.

JMO

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Mandy has an unenviable task here.

 

[Detechtive]

He says it is unlikely that Ms Patterson would have knowingly posted photos of a murder weapon online to her friends, who were in a true crime Facebook group and thought of themselves as "invesitgators".

They were terrible investigators, except Erin, who dug up things on everyone and kept files on them, and harassed and stalked a lot of people (who were not criminals).

 

[Scuffy35]

Broadcast on social media in a tiny chat group with what Erin considered were her most loyal friends who would NEVER share ANYTHING with police EVER (and the majority didn't).

I wonder who that was.