Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #15 *Arrest*

[MsMarple]

1m ago12.49 AEST
Mandy says his client “often thought there was something wrong with her”.

“Often this worry was without substance,” he says.

He reminds the jury about evidence they have heard that Patterson spoke to a doctor about concerns she had ovarian cancer and researched her symptoms online.

Mandy says Patterson testified she wanted to host the lunch because she became worried there may have been “distance” growing between her and the Patterson family. She said she realised she needed to be “more proactive” about social contact with her in-laws.

Mandy says Patterson said she lied about having a needle biopsy appointment for a lump on her elbow because she didn’t want the care shown by Don and Gail to stop.

“Erin often thought she had issues with her health that ended up going nowhere … that’s not made up, that’s not a lie. It’s there for everyone to see in her medical records and her conversations with people, including Simon,” he says.

She’s not on trial for lying. This is not a court of, as I said to you, of moral judgment.

He says the jury should not leap from the lie about the lump on her elbow to “finding her guilty for triple murder”.

Mandy says the prosecution’s case is that Patterson’s lie about her elbow lump was a ruse to entice her lunch guests to the beef wellington meal.

That must be wrong as a matter of logic … because the only one person she told she wanted to discuss medical issues with was Simon and he wasn’t at the lunch.

Don and Gail and Ian and Heather were not told anything about that. The evidence is they did not know the reason or the purpose of the lunch.

He says if Patterson wanted to mislead her guests she would have mentioned the medical issue before the lunch.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

I often randomly research for lethal toxins out of idle curiosity, the same toxins that so happen to kill a bunch of people I made lunch for, doesn't everyone? Come on Mr Mandy!

IMO only.

When I was a child, my parents told me 'people will do anything for money'.

 

[Detechtive]

12.51pm

Lies spun from insecurity, not malice​

ByMarta Pascual Juanola
Erin Patterson was a woman who struggled with her weight, image, and binge-eating, her defence lawyer, Colin Mandy, SC, has told the jury.

He said evidence from the leading detective in the case, Stephen Eppingstall, was that Patterson had purchased dieting books and that her medical records showed she had complained to a medical professional about her weight.

“That’s a theme consistent with her evidence,” Mandy said.

In April and May 2023, Patterson contacted the Enrich clinic, which offered liposuction, but that all she had done was make an appointment. Mandy said all she had done was make an appointment, and thought they offered a whole range of treatments including liposuction and gastric bypass, but she was mistaken.

“She often thought there was something wrong with her. Often this worry was without substance,” Mandy said, and that it wasn’t surprising that leading into April and May 2023, “a lump on her painful elbow would result in concern and worry in this same way”.

Patterson had lied to her relatives about her health leading up to the lunch, her lawyer acknowledged.

“Erin often thought that she had issues with her health that ended up going nowhere... that’s not made up, that’s not a lie, that’s for everyone to see in her medical records and the conversation she had with other people, including Simon,” Mandy said.

Patterson had moved to Leongatha further away from Don and Gail, with whom she had a good relationship, and Mandy said it was probably true that she felt that Simon might have been isolating her again from the broader Patterson family and that a lie about her health was understandable when put into the context of isolation when she wanted love and care. He said there was no malicious intent behind it.

He told the jury that if they put themselves in Patterson’s shoes at the time, it might be more understandable.
“She is not on trial for lying. This is not a court of... moral judgment. You shouldn’t take the lead from this lie about the lump on her elbow to finding her guilty of triple murder. Those two things are a very long way apart,” Mandy said.

“She was trying to gain something. The continuation of Don and Gail’s care and concern, love and attention. And if it wasn’t for the lunch no one would have found out that it was a lie,” Mandy said.

“Don and Gail, and Ian and Heather were not told anything about it. The evidence is that they did not know the reason or the purpose for the lunch on July 29, 2023. If it had been a rouse to get them all there, to mislead them to come to the lunch for some reason she would have given them that explanation before the lunch ... but she didn’t,” Mandy said.

Erin Patterson murder trial day 34 as it happened: Defence barrister Colin Mandy tells jury accused mushroom cook wanted to be close to in-laws; may have reacted differently to consuming to poison

Patterson’s barrister will continue his closing address in Morwell’s courtroom four on Thursday, after the judge warned jurors to expect a long direction from the bench next week.

www.theage.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
3m ago

Defence attacks memory of surviving lunch guest​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy revisits his examination of Ian Wilkinson and his account of the July 29 lunch.

In her own testimony, Erin Patterson conceded she had misled Ian Wilkinson and the other guests about a cancer diagnosis.

Mr Mandy suggests to the jury there are differences between Ian Wilkinson's testimony during the trial and the police interview he gave after the lunch.

He emphasises terms such as "I think", "I believe" and "suspected" in Ian Wilkinson's police interview, and asks the jury to take into account the "frailty" of memory.

Mr Mandy states however that Ian Wilkinson's account is "not that much different" to his client's account of the lunch.

He says Ms Patterson merely lied to hide her embarrassing habits of binge-eating.

A reminder you can access the Butterfly Foundation if this raises any issues for you.

Key Event
1m ago

Cancer lie was told after lunch eaten, defence says​

Surviving lunch guest 'honestly mistaken', defence tells Erin Patterson jury — as it happened

Erin Patterson's defence lawyer is continuing his closing address to the jury after eight weeks of evidence in the triple-murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy contests the prosecution's argument that the cancer story was a "ruse" to get guests to attend the lunch.

He says the timing of the conversation, after the beef Wellington was eaten, made no sense.

"This conversation happened after the food had been consumed," he says.

"If this was a ruse, there was no need to have the conversation — because the deed — the consumption of the food had already happened."

Mr Mandy tells the jury the only "logical" conclusion to be drawn was that the cancer lie had nothing to do with the lunch.

"'She thought that she would take it to their graves' is such an illogical and irrational theory," he says.

 

[Woolly]

'It's a fact, it's evidence, it's not made up,' he [Mandy] said.
He said Patterson would 'pick all kinds of mushrooms'.
He said when Patterson found a mushroom she didn't know, she would try it and if it was okay 'eat more of it'.

Wait what? Who walks around picking random mushrooms they can’t identify and then eating them? If that were true, she would have poisoned herself long before making any beef Wellingtons.

(Also, if someone says, “it’s a fact, it’s evidence, it’s not made up” I’m definitely inclined to think it’s totally made up.)

Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial LIVE updates

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage of accused mushroom chef Erin Patterson's murder trial here.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[iridized]

I agree with this. As I said back when the wall was originally revealed, a lot of kids at their age are captivated by macabre imagery. You could go into any school and find similar doodles in the students' notebooks.

But you won't find it drawn on walls. This reminds me of something Erin told either her in-laws or Simon regarding the son's attendance at the new school and how it was positive regarding his academics but also other problems he was having. I wonder if there were behavior issues. I certainly would not be surprised.

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago

Defence addresses Asian grocer​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy says he skipped over some previous events, and goes back in time to address the issue of the Asian grocer.

He says records show that Erin Patterson was living in Mount Waverley at the time, and says Ms Patterson's daughter remembers going with her mother to an Asian grocer.

Mr Mandy says his client's accounts are consistent with the items found in those stores.

"She's not making it up, she is obviously familiar with the packaging," he says.

He argues it is clear that his client bought dried mushrooms at the store.

Surviving lunch guest 'honestly mistaken', defence tells Erin Patterson jury — as it happened

Erin Patterson's defence lawyer is continuing his closing address to the jury after eight weeks of evidence in the triple-murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Key Event
3m ago

Defence attacks memory of surviving lunch guest​

​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy revisits his examination of Ian Wilkinson and his account of the July 29 lunch.

In her own testimony, Erin Patterson conceded she had misled Ian Wilkinson and the other guests about a cancer diagnosis.

Mr Mandy suggests to the jury there are differences between Ian Wilkinson's testimony during the trial and the police interview he gave after the lunch.

He emphasises terms such as "I think", "I believe" and "suspected" in Ian Wilkinson's police interview, and asks the jury to take into account the "frailty" of memory.

Mr Mandy states however that Ian Wilkinson's account is "not that much different" to his client's account of the lunch.

He says Ms Patterson merely lied to hide her embarrassing habits of binge-eating.

A reminder you can access the Butterfly Foundation if this raises any issues for you.

Key Event
1m ago

Cancer lie was told after lunch eaten, defence says​

Surviving lunch guest 'honestly mistaken', defence tells Erin Patterson jury — as it happened

Erin Patterson's defence lawyer is continuing his closing address to the jury after eight weeks of evidence in the triple-murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy contests the prosecution's argument that the cancer story was a "ruse" to get guests to attend the lunch.

He says the timing of the conversation, after the beef Wellington was eaten, made no sense.


Mr Mandy tells the jury the only "logical" conclusion to be drawn was that the cancer lie had nothing to do with the lunch.

"'She thought that she would take it to their graves' is such an illogical and irrational theory," he says.

Never have I wanted an eyeroll reaction emoji more than today. Please imagine an on my behalf below any quote from Mandy. Thank you.

 

[drsleuth]

12:58

Evidence of surviving lunch guest picked apart​

Mr Mandy has suggested the evidence of surviving guest pastor Ian Wilkinson (pictured right) and that of Patterson about what was discussed at the lunch was 'was not far apart'.
Patterson told the jury she led her guests to believe she needed medical treatment.
But Patterson also admitted lying to her guests, telling the jury she was 'embarrassed' about her weight issues.
Mr Mandy said Patterson said she had tried to communicate she was undergoing 'investigations' about ovarian cancer.
The jury was reminded Mr Wilkinson gave evidence that Patterson told them she had some sort of cancer.
Mr Wilkinson said they discussed a diagnostic test which showed a spot on the scan that indicated cancer.
'Patterson wanted advice on how to tell the children,' Mr Wilkinson previously told the jury.
However, Mr Mandy said Mr Wilkinson had earlier told police Patterson said she 'suspected' she had cancer and they didn't discuss any type of treatment.
Mr Mandy went through Mr Wilkinson's evidence again with the jury.
'She named a type of cancer,' Mr Mandy said Mr Wilkinson had said.
Mr Mandy said Patterson told the truth at the trial about what she had said and done at the lunch.

Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial LIVE updates

Follow Daily Mail Australia's live coverage of accused mushroom chef Erin Patterson's murder trial here.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago

Dehydrator purchase makes no sense for planned murder, defence says​

Surviving lunch guest 'honestly mistaken', defence tells Erin Patterson jury — as it happened

Erin Patterson's defence lawyer is continuing his closing address to the jury after eight weeks of evidence in the triple-murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy then addresses Erin Patterson's purchase of a dehydrator.

"If the plan is to, for one meal, you don't need to buy a dehydrator," he says.

"You can dehydrate things in the oven … one off, why do you need a dehydrator? Fan forced, low temperature."

He then contests the prosecution's argument that Ms Patterson tried to hide mushrooms inside the beef Wellington, saying there would be no need to hide mushrooms inside a mushroom paste.

Mr Mandy refers to it as one of "many, many" logical inconsistences in the prosecution case.

 

[MsMarple]

now13.05 AEST
Mandy says Patterson testified she led her lunch guests to believe she may be needing upcoming cancer treatment. Patterson acknowledged she lied to her guests and said they showed a lot of compassion, the court hears.

Patterson said she lied because she was ashamed about her upcoming weight-loss surgery and of not having control over her body and what she ate.

In cross-examination, Patterson rejected the prosecution’s suggestions that she told her lunch guests she had cancer, the court hears.

Ian Wilkinson’s evidence was that after the lunch Patterson told her guests she had cancer and asked for advice about how to tell her children. Wilkinson said Patterson mentioned a “diagnostic test” for cancer.

Mandy says when Ian was cross-examined, it was pointed out to him that in his police statement he said Patterson announced “she had a suspected cancer.” Pressed about this, Ian said he “believed” Patterson was saying she had cancer at the lunch.

 

[L_B]

Key Event
3m ago

Defence attacks memory of surviving lunch guest​

​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy revisits his examination of Ian Wilkinson and his account of the July 29 lunch.

In her own testimony, Erin Patterson conceded she had misled Ian Wilkinson and the other guests about a cancer diagnosis.

Mr Mandy suggests to the jury there are differences between Ian Wilkinson's testimony during the trial and the police interview he gave after the lunch.

He emphasises terms such as "I think", "I believe" and "suspected" in Ian Wilkinson's police interview, and asks the jury to take into account the "frailty" of memory.

Mr Mandy states however that Ian Wilkinson's account is "not that much different" to his client's account of the lunch.

He says Ms Patterson merely lied to hide her embarrassing habits of binge-eating.

A reminder you can access the Butterfly Foundation if this raises any issues for you.

Key Event
1m ago

Cancer lie was told after lunch eaten, defence says​

Surviving lunch guest 'honestly mistaken', defence tells Erin Patterson jury — as it happened

Erin Patterson's defence lawyer is continuing his closing address to the jury after eight weeks of evidence in the triple-murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy contests the prosecution's argument that the cancer story was a "ruse" to get guests to attend the lunch.

He says the timing of the conversation, after the beef Wellington was eaten, made no sense.


Mr Mandy tells the jury the only "logical" conclusion to be drawn was that the cancer lie had nothing to do with the lunch.

"'She thought that she would take it to their graves' is such an illogical and irrational theory," he says.

who is to say in what order people should discuss matters? perhaps the guests were waiting for the host to initiate the conversation to be polite?

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
1m ago

We break for lunch​

By Judd Boaz​

Justice Beale signals it's time for lunch.

The jury is led out, and we're off for a break.

Back with more coverage after 2:15pm.

Surviving lunch guest 'honestly mistaken', defence tells Erin Patterson jury — as it happened

Erin Patterson's defence lawyer is continuing his closing address to the jury after eight weeks of evidence in the triple-murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

 

[L_B]

Mr Mandy said Patterson told the truth at the trial about what she had said and done at the lunch.

So now she is finally not lying, we are meant to believe that...

 

[L_B]

He then contests the prosecution's argument that Ms Patterson tried to hide mushrooms inside the beef Wellington, saying there would be no need to hide mushrooms inside a mushroom paste.

So why was there no detectable pieces of death caps in the leftovers?

 

[Cliff Hardy]

2m ago

Dehydrator purchase makes no sense for planned murder, defence says​

Surviving lunch guest 'honestly mistaken', defence tells Erin Patterson jury — as it happened

Erin Patterson's defence lawyer is continuing his closing address to the jury after eight weeks of evidence in the triple-murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy then addresses Erin Patterson's purchase of a dehydrator.


He then contests the prosecution's argument that Ms Patterson tried to hide mushrooms inside the beef Wellington, saying there would be no need to hide mushrooms inside a mushroom paste.

Mr Mandy refers to it as one of "many, many" logical inconsistences in the prosecution case.

He can deny and deflect all he likes but it doesn't change the facts. He's got nothing to work with and doing very little with it.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

So now she is finally not lying, we are meant to believe that...

I think, like a politician, she has lies and core lies. Two very different things.

 

[drsleuth]

Not a good day for My Mandy & Erin today. IMO. A train wreck really.............

 

[MsMarple]

1m ago13.10 AEST
If the jury takes into account the fallibility of memory, the accounts from Erin, Ian, andDon prior to his death “aren’t very different,” Mandy says.

Mandy says the prosecution wants to portray that during the trial Patterson lied about what she told her lunch guests.

“We say, well, she told you the truth about that. She was ashamed but she faced up to what she’d done. She admitted it to you,” he says.

Mandy says it was easier to “hint at diagnosis and treatment” than tell people you are a binge eater or are considering weight-loss surgery

“Those kinds of things are private and deeply embarrassing,” he says.

She did tell them a lie … but she didn’t say she had a definitive cancer diagnosis.

Mandy asks the jury to consider what the point would be of Patterson telling her guests she had cancer after the lunch.

The only conclusion you could draw … it’s not a good thing … misleading people about cancer. It’s got nothing to do with any intention to kill or to harm them. It can’t possibly have anything to do with that.

No point in telling a story after they’ve eaten the food.

The prosecution has argued Patterson told the lie about cancer because she thought the “lie would die with them”.

Mandy says this is an “illogical and irrational” theory.

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Key Event
2m ago

Defence addresses weight-loss surgery claims​

​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Mandy again says there is "simply no evidence" of any acrimony between Erin and the rest of the Patterson family.

The defence then moves to April and May of 2023.

He says his client had a problem with self-image and her weight, and was known to have purchased dieting books.

Mr Mandy says his client contacted the ENRICH clinic in April and May looking for weight loss options.

The prosecution challenged this in their closing arguments, saying Ms Patterson's initial claim that she wanted to undergo gastric-bypass surgery was a lie.


He says his client was "honestly mistaken" and had thought the clinic had offered gastric-bypass.

Surviving lunch guest 'honestly mistaken', defence tells Erin Patterson jury — as it happened

Erin Patterson's defence lawyer is continuing his closing address to the jury after eight weeks of evidence in the triple-murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

"The defence then moves to April and May of 2023.

He says his client had a problem with self-image and her weight, and was known to have purchased dieting books."

Not relevant IMO.