VERDICT WATCH Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #16 *Arrest*

[Salah11]

I'm going to guess, verdict about 10.30 am today.

Positive thinking I like it

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Occurs to me that the privacy screen might be a gesture of hope, that she'll soon be acquitted and back home. But also suitable if she is not, unlike a "Welcome Home" sign that would have to be torn down.

I feel for her children, they are victims of all this. She seems to have been a good mother to them.

Her children will be scarred for life, whether she's found guilty or not. Was she thinking of them when she did what she did? Hardly the actions of a good mother...

 

[Tortoise]

I wonder though if it’s been enough time to go through all the evidence and the judge’s instructions

If they were starting from no knowledge of the case I'd agree, but having sat through all the witness evidence in court and making judgments as they go along, and then having it all reiterated by the judge, and hearing arguments, I think they should be more than ready. I think you know by the end of a trial, and there likely aren't more than a handful of issues that people might want to discuss. Unless there are disagreements, but hopefully not...

 

[Monstradamus]

Latest ABC story about Morwell today.

When the world is watching one town and its courtroom, what happens?

Morwell has played host to Erin Patterson's murder trial for the past nine weeks. Here's what it's been like in the regional Victorian town.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Lisa4]

She seems to have been a good mother to them.

In my book, good mothers teach honesty.

 

[SouthAussie]

I think that Simon described Erin as a "devoted" mother. People can be devoted to their children and still do things that are not good for their children. imo


“She seemed like a devoted mother, most of the time,” he said.

Simon said he believed she took her role as a mother seriously, that she was keen and supportive of them to be in different activities, and helped them with their homework.

‘Friction’ over Erin Patterson’s $40-a-month child support payments

The mother is accused of killing three people with poisonous death cap mushrooms.

7news.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

I’m bored! Verdict soon please

Respectfully, this isn't entertainment, these are real people's lives

I'm sure Simon, Ian ,Erin's kids & family etc aren't bored, but anxious, very anxious IMO

I'm thinking of them, must be so hard for them ..........they are the victims & we should always keep that in mind IMO

 

[MrJ]

I apologise. It isn't entertainment but I am interested in a verdict all the same. It is a big change to all their lives

 

[Lisa4]

IRL I think of them very seriously and often find myself shedding some tears, especially over poor Ian Patterson. He has lost so much.
I and maybe others do find this forum is an outlet for some light-heartedness at times. I'm not sure why that is. I apologise here if any of my comments in that tone have caused offence.

 

[drsleuth]

I apologise. It isn't entertainment but I am interested in a verdict all the same. It is a big change to all their lives

Thanks.

This was a very long trial - about 11 weeks, the jury has alot to go thru & they have only deliberated for about 6 1/2 hrs so far............I don't envy their job!

 

[Lisa4]

Must be frustrating only starting at 10:30am. Barely get into it, and it's time for a break, then lunch, then early finish and 16 long hours to fill before you can get back into it again.

I would prefer to go at it until a decision was made, as happens in government sometimes, or at least spend longer each day on it. But I can understand that approach wouldn't be for everyone.

 

[Lisa4]

Maybe now is a good time to consider these words from Mr Wilkinson 6mths after losing his wife and close family.

"Let me encourage you to keep on going," Mr Wilkinson said.

I was reading more about them, they were known for their volunteering efforts. Amongst other things, Ian Wilkinson volunteered making wooden toys and maintaining the grounds of a local nursing home.

I think no matter the verdict, he will keep on going about quietly doing kind deeds for others.

I for one feel encouraged and inspired by him.

Mushroom meal survivor breaks his silence six months since his wife died from mushroom poisoning

Pastor Ian Wilkinson has delivered a sermon to his church for the first time speaking publicly since his world was turned upside down.

www.abc.net.au

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Deliberations will begin again about an hour from now at 10.15am.

 

[Deleted member 363451]

IMO people are paying too much attention to the motive she might have had. There is a reason why the prosecution does not have to provide a motive. Murderers do kill for any number of reasons, some of which are more understandable than others, and putting yourself into the mind of a killer is useless and even counter-productive. Look at the recent events in Idaho, where a man set a brush fire and then started firing at first responders who came to the scene. Apparently he was upset because a law enforcement officer had asked him to move his vehicle. We've all been asked to move our car at some point, but we don't go on a murderous rampage in retaliation.

I agree.

 

[ch_13]

Must be frustrating only starting at 10:30am. Barely get into it, and it's time for a break, then lunch, then early finish and 16 long hours to fill before you can get back into it again.

I would prefer to go at it until a decision was made, as happens in government sometimes, or at least spend longer each day on it. But I can understand that approach wouldn't be for everyone.

It's a shame that the hours are so regimented. It must be frustrating to be in the middle of a discussion and be told you have to stop and can't keep deliberating. Or if you're just about done ironing out some disagreement and with fifteen minutes more you may be able to reach a verdict...but you have to wait until tomorrow to recommence.

In some jurisdictions the jurors are allowed to keep their own hours (within reason). They get to decide when they wish to take breaks or to end for the day. There may be reasons why it's not practical here, but sometimes it seems that for all the responsibilities the legal system piles on to jurors, they are treated like children and not given the respect they should be due.

 

[JennieM]

In a sleepy Australian town, court watchers bag spots for Erin Patterson’s mushroom lunch trial verdicts​

High-profile triple-murder trial inches towards its conclusion in the small town of Morwell

In a sleepy Australian town, court watchers bag spots for Erin Patterson’s mushroom lunch trial verdicts

High-profile triple-murder trial inches towards its conclusion in the small town of Morwell

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Must be frustrating only starting at 10:30am. Barely get into it, and it's time for a break, then lunch, then early finish and 16 long hours to fill before you can get back into it again.

I would prefer to go at it until a decision was made, as happens in government sometimes, or at least spend longer each day on it. But I can understand that approach wouldn't be for everyone.

I think they have to deliberate within " court hours "

I'd also want to do longer hours if I was on the jury, seeing as they are not allowed to discuss the case outside the jury room.

Must be frustrating for them.

 

[JennieM]

Countdown on as jury deliberates marathon mushroom murder trial​

Justice Christopher Beale concluded his address to the jury - or 'charge' - on Monday before the jury retired to deliberate on the verdict.
On Monday afternoon, two jurors were balloted out leaving 12 to decide Erin Patterson's (pictured) fate.
The jury deliberated all day Tuesday but no verdict was reached.
The five women and seven men will resume their deliberations this morning meaning there is a possibility a verdict in the murder trial, which has garnered worldwide attention, could come as early as today.
Patterson, 50, is accused of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, after allegedly serving them a beef Wellington lunch made with death cap mushrooms.
Patterson is also accused of attempting to murder Heather's husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, who survived the lunch after spending several weeks in an intensive care unit.
The court heard Patterson's estranged husband, Simon was also invited to the gathering at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region, but didn't attend.
Witnesses told the jury that Patterson ate her serving from a smaller, differently-coloured plate to those of her guests, who ate off four grey plates.
Patterson told authorities she bought dried mushrooms from an unnamed Asian store in the Monash area of Melbourne, but health inspectors could find no evidence of this.

Jury warned 'not to guess' while deliberating​

On Monday, before the jury retired, Justice Beale said sometimes people made mistakes, but the jury needed to decide if Patterson knew her statements were untrue when she made them.
He explained to the jury about circumstantial evidence and how it works.
Justice Beale told them circumstantial evidence was 'no weaker than other evidence'.
But he warned the jury to consider all the evidence in the case.
'Do not guess,' Justice Beale warned.
Justice Beale then described the trial like a jigsaw puzzle, which prompted laughter from the jury.
Lead defence barrister Colin Mandy SC (pictured right with his legal team) criticised the jigsaw analogy during his closing address to the jury.

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

 

[SouthAussie]

I guess that the judge has extended the jury's deliberation time by allowing them to deliberate on Saturday, if required.

Seems that juries in Vic don't typically deliberate on a Saturday.


Court hours and sitting days

The courts do not sit on weekends or public holidays, and you will therefore not be required to attend court on those days. Unless otherwise directed by the judge, you will however be required to attend every business days until the trial is concluded.

If selected as a juror, you will typically be required to attend each day from 10am until 4.30pm. However, the judge may vary the start and finish times, and will notify you accordingly.

https://www.juriesvictoria.vic.gov.au/individuals/serving-on-a-jury

 

[LinasK]

She doesn't need a privacy screen. She can pull the window blinds. She can just be home or out and about as usual. The press isn't interested in pursuing stories from innocent people. They'd be gone before evening if they ever did arrive.

And that is presuming that she IS going home...