Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #7 *Arrest*

[drsleuth]

6m ago11.57 AEST
Simon has recounted an incident in late 2022 when Patterson asked why Simon had referred to himself as “separated” on his tax return for the previous financial year.

Patterson told Simon she was therefore obliged to receive child support payments from him which had “never happened before,” the jurors here.

“She was upset about it,” Simon says.

Rogers asks Simon how Patterson found out about this. He says he’s unsure.

He describes it as a “miscommunication between my accountant and me.” An offer to amend it was rejected by Patterson who was unhappy, he says. It was then resolved that Patterson would formally apply for child support payments.

After this, Simon says messages he sent to Patterson were sometimes ignored and the previous “chatty” tone of their correspondence had vanished.

Erin Patterson trial day three – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago03.10 BST
Rogers is asking Simon about a group chat on the messaging platform Signal. It included Erin, Simon and his parents.

Simon says Erin complained about him not agreeing to his request to pay the school fees equally in late 2022.

Rogers asks Simon about Erin’s relationship with his parents.

“They got on very well, I think,” he says.

Simon says Erin “especially got along with dad”.

“They shared a love of knowledge and learning, and interest in the world.”

He becomes teary as he says Erin loved his father’s “gentle nature”.

Erin Patterson trial day three – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
5m ago

Erin loved her father-in-law's 'gentle nature', court hears​

By Judd Boaz​

We're back from adjournment, and prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC is continuing to question Erin Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson, who appears as a witness.

After the disagreement about child support, Mr Patterson says Ms Patterson reached out in a group chat on the app Signal to his parents.

He says Ms Patterson directed her concerns about the child support arrangements to his parents.

"I think it was pretty clear that she was asking them to get involved," he tells the court.

Mr Patterson says his parents called on the pair to resolve the issue together.

Mr Patterson says Erin Patterson particularly got on well with his father, Don.

He again becomes emotional, when speaking of his father.

"I think she loved his gentle nature," he says.

Erin Patterson doesn't have 'high self-esteem', murder trial hears — as it happened

The jury in Erin Patterson's murder trial hears the accused tried to persuade her estranged husband to attend the lunch where four guests ate meals containing death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the hearing unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Detechtive]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/inside-the-courtroom-mushroom-cook-erin-patterson-faces-court-for-day-3-of-murder-trial/live-coverage/40468f819264499f33fcf34f1e0cec7b

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
1m ago

Lunch invitation to discuss 'a serious matter'​

By Tim Callanan​

Simon Patterson is now telling the court about the lead-up to the lunch at which his parents Don and Gail Patterson, and Ian and Heather Wilkinson ate poisonous mushrooms.

He says he was invited to an earlier lunch that Erin Patterson wanted to hold with him, his parents and his children, but he declined the invitation.

Mr Patterson says he was later approached by Erin Patterson at the church he and his wife attended and was invited to attend a lunch on July 29, 2023.

He says Erin Patterson told him she wanted to discuss "a serious matter" regarding her health with him and his relatives.

Mr Patterson says he understood that the pair's children would not be there.

He says he discussed the invitation with his parents and they were "intrigued" by the purpose of the invitation.

He later called his parents and told them he would not be attending and he also told Erin Patterson he would be "uncomfortable" attending.

Erin Patterson doesn't have 'high self-esteem', murder trial hears — as it happened

The jury in Erin Patterson's murder trial hears the accused tried to persuade her estranged husband to attend the lunch where four guests ate meals containing death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the hearing unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

12.17pm

Tears in courtroom 4 as a son recalls his dad’s ‘gentle nature’​

​

Simon told the jury that following the development about the school fees, Erin complained about the tension between them to his parents, Don and Gail Patterson.

From there, a family chat group was created on Signal toward the end of 2022. “She was ... I think it was pretty clear she was asking for them to be involved, that’s my opinion,” Simon said.

While being asked about Erin Patterson’s relationship with his parents, particularly his father, Simon began to cry, telling the jury that she loved his “gentle nature.“

Erin Patterson nodded along as he spoke about that relationship.

His were not the only tears shed during his testimony in courtroom 4 in the Latrobe Valley legal precinct in Morwell. The tip staff, a law clerk to Justice Christopher Beale, has also just handed tissues to the family of those who died after lunch, with those present also shedding tears.

Mushroom cook’s husband Simon gives evidence on marriage struggles, plate colour, cancer claims: Trial day two, as it happened

The first witness for the prosecution, Erin Patterson’s estranged husband Simon Patterson, was called to the stand on day two of the mushroom murder trial. Here’s how the day unfolded.

www.theage.com.au

 

[katydid23]

If someone other than me or someone close to me had access to my phone I wouldn't feel comfortable until I did a factory reset

Right, but if you were under an active investigation for a triple homicide, and LE had your phone, you cannot just do a remote factory reset just because you felt uncomfortable. I think you can be charged criminally for that.

 

[Detechtive]

Right, but if you were under an active investigation for a triple homicide, and LE had your phone, you cannot just do a remote factory reset just because you felt uncomfortable. I think you can be charged criminally for that.

Obstruction of justice? Evidence Tampering?

 

[Detechtive]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/inside-the-courtroom-mushroom-cook-erin-patterson-faces-court-for-day-3-of-murder-trial/live-coverage/40468f819264499f33fcf34f1e0cec7b#/entry/31360378

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago12.21 AEST
Simon says he first heard about what would be the fatal lunch on 16 July 2023 - two weeks prior.

He says on this day he was attending a service at the Korumburra baptist church, where he provided technology support.

Erin approached Simon after the service and said she had “important medical news” and invited him to lunch at her house because she wanted advice on how to break this to the children.

She told him she had also invited Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson and his aunt and uncle, Ian and Heather Wilkinson.

“She said she was keen for it to not be with the kids... she wanted to talk about.. this serious matter,” he says.

Simon says he was a “bit reluctant” but agreed to attend the lunch.

Simon says he did not see Erin again before the lunch was held on 29 July.

Erin Patterson trial day three – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[MrsAddick]

So she got an inheritance of $2m from her grandmother, and then another one from her mother later? And she wanted him to pay child support, medical bills and also school fees while she presumably kept all of the marital assets?

Why would she be annoyed about him saying he is separated on his tax return 7 years after they were separated?

Regarding the drama around Simon being ‘separated’ on his tax return…

Wonder if that could because in Australia you must be for all ‘separated’ for at least 12 months before you can apply for a divorce. The tax return being a legal document would be proof of this. Perhaps Erin wanted to keep the status quo and was thrown that Simon may try to divorce her (and potentially be eligible for a substantial $ of her property assets? Thoughts?

 

[Detechtive]

Regarding the drama around Simon being ‘separated’ on his tax return…

Wonder if that could because in Australia you must be for all ‘separated’ for at least 12 months before you can apply for a divorce. The tax return being a legal document would be proof of this. Perhaps Erin wanted to keep the status quo and was thrown that Simon may try to divorce her (and potentially be eligible for a substantial $ of her property assets? Thoughts?

Interesting.

 

[katydid23]

The defence has some good points.

I can see getting into a panic when you realise you've made a terrible mistake, and then made it worse by trying to cover it up.

I thought all along that the mushrooms were picked.
And no I don't go along with the theory that a mushroom expert could never make a mistake.
I'm not so sure she was an expert anyway. Just because others thought so doesn't make it so.

Oh and she has to be an expert because she had a book about mushrooms and had foraged.
I've foraged more than once and thought I knew what to look for but some of the deadliest ones would have fooled me so I stopped many years ago.

So if you foraged for mushrooms, served them to 4 people who died or were seriously ill, your next moves would be to cover it all up, lie about it and pretend it never happened?

And if it was true that she knew they were foraged and accidentally lethal, why didnt she immediately take her children in for protective treatment?

And after she found out the others were very ill, why didnt she tell the doctors about the foraged mushrooms immediately if it was just a mistake?

And why did she give her children the leftovers if she already knew she had accidentally put foraged death caps in the meal?

I started to think it was intentional but now I have my doubts. So that's the defences job and I think they're off to a good start.

I disagree. It makes her look like a selfish, dishonest creep to worry only about herself, imo.

And yes once got my phone back from the police I would figure they'd finished with it and yes I would factory reset.

But she remotely reset hers while it was in LE's possession. Big difference.

Or were there orders from the Police to her not to do that. Was her phone no longers hers to do what she wanted with,

Any strangers at all looking through my phone and I wouldn't feel comfortable using it, no matter who.

So there you go

Of course she didnt feel comfortable with it, she had a lot to hide.

 

[Detechtive]

'I feel too uncomfortable': Simon texts Erin day before deadly lunch
The day before the lunch, Simon said he called his parents and told them he wouldn’t be coming.
He also texted Erin saying he was “uncomfortable” and wouldn’t be attending, he said.
Dr Rogers is now showing Simon text messages between Erin and Simon which are being shown on a screen.

The text messages read:
Simon – 28/7/2023 – 6.54pm
Sorry, I feel too uncomfortable about coming to the lunch with you mum, dad, Heather & Ian tomorrow, but am happy to talk about your health and implications of that at another time if you’d like to discuss on the phone. Just let me know.

Erin – 28/7/2023 – 6.59pm
That’s really disappointing, I’ve spent many hours this week preparing lunch for tomorrow which has been exhausting in light of the issues I’m facing and spent a small fortune on beef eye fillet to make beef wellingtons because I wanted it to be a special meal as I may not be able to host a lunch like this again for some time. It’s important to me that you’re all there tomorrow and that I can have the conversations that I need to have. I hope you’ll change your mind. You’re (sic) parents and Heather and Ian are coming at 12.30. I hope to see you there.

Link

 

[drsleuth]

12.27pm

‘I’ve spent a small fortune on beef eye fillet’: The text messages in lead-up to a fatal family lunch​

​

As Simon Patterson described the text message exchange between him and Erin in the lead up to the fatal lunch at Erin’s home on July 29, 2023, the jury was shown images of the texts in the courtroom.

Erin invited him to lunch to discuss some medical news, the jury was told. “She said she was keen for it not to be with the kids because she wanted to talk about this serious matter,” Simon said.

Simon said he was reluctant to attend but said “that should be OK”.

“She looked at me and she said: ‘Oh, are you gonna put that in your calendar in your phone?’ And I said: ‘I don’t really use the calendar in the phone. I keep a paper diary at home, and I’ll write it down in the diary at home’,” he said.

Simon said his parents, Don and Gail Patterson, did not know the purpose of the lunch and were intrigued about why they were invited along with Heather and Ian Wilkinson.

The day before the lunch, Simon had told his parents he would not be attending the lunch, the jury heard. “I texted Erin to say I was uncomfortable and I wouldn’t be attending,” Simon said.

Here’s some of the text exchange between the pair from July 28, 2023:

Simon: I feel too uncomfortable about coming to the lunch with you, Mum, Dad, Heather and Ian tomorrow, but I’m happy to talk about your health and implications of that at another time. If you’d like to discuss on the phone, just let me know.

Erin: That’s really disappointing. I’ve spent many hours this week preparing lunch for tomorrow, which has been exhausting in light of the issues I’m facing, and spent a small fortune on beef eye fillet to make beef Wellingtons because I wanted it to be a special meal, as I may not be able to host a lunch like this again for some time. It’s important to me that you’re all there tomorrow, and that I can have the conversations that I need to have. I hope you’ll change your mind. Your parents, and Heather and Ian are coming at 12.30. I hope to see you there

Mushroom cook’s husband Simon gives evidence on marriage struggles, plate colour, cancer claims: Trial day two, as it happened

The first witness for the prosecution, Erin Patterson’s estranged husband Simon Patterson, was called to the stand on day two of the mushroom murder trial. Here’s how the day unfolded.

www.theage.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago12.27 AEST
Jurors are now being shown text messages between Simon and Erin on the evening of 28 July - the night before the lunch.

Simon texted Erin at 6:54pm saying:

“Sorry, I feel too uncomfortable about coming to the lunch with you, mum, dad, Heather and Ian tomorrow, but am happy to talk about your health and implications of that at another time if you’d like to discuss on the phone. Just let me know.”

Patterson then replies at 6:59pm:

“That’s really disappointing. I’ve spent many hours this week preparing lunch or tomorrow which has been exhausting in light of the issues I’m facing and spent a small fortune on beef eye fillet to make beef wellingtons because I wanted it to be a special meal as I may not be able to host a lunch like this again for some time. It’s important to me that you’re all there tomorrow and that I have the conversations that I need to have. I hope you’ll change your mind. Your parents and Heather and Ian are coming at 12:30. I hope to see you there.”

Simon says Erin’s text messages did not change his mind and he told his parents he would not be attending the lunch.

Erin Patterson trial day three – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
1m ago

Erin Patterson told estranged husband lunch preparations were 'exhausting'​

By Judd Boaz​

The jury is shown an excerpt from a text message conversation between Simon and Erin Patterson.

Mr Patterson read the messages aloud to the court, which were sent at 6:54pm the night before the lunch.

Simon Patterson: Sorry I feel too uncomfortable about coming to lunch with you, Mum Dad, Heather and Ian, but happy to talk about your health and implications with that at another time. If you’d like to discuss on the phone, let me know.

In her response, Ms Patterson said her husband's decision not to attend was "really disappointing".

"I've spent many hours this week preparing lunch for tomorrow," she said, adding that had been "exhausting" in light of her health condition.

"I’ve spent a small fortune on beef eye fillet to make beef Wellingtons,” Ms Patterson's text response read.

Ms Patterson told her husband it was "important to me that you’re all there tomorrow", so she could have the conversations she felt she needed to have with the family.

Erin Patterson doesn't have 'high self-esteem', murder trial hears — as it happened

The jury in Erin Patterson's murder trial hears the accused tried to persuade her estranged husband to attend the lunch where four guests ate meals containing death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the hearing unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[katydid23]

Lack of motive will be inconsequential for the jury when determining whether the accused is guilty or innocent of the crime, in this trial.

Simon already set forth some possible motives, as he described their animosity and tension trying to co-parent and trying to deal with financial issues. Custody issues and co-parenting problems are a main motive behind some murders.

 

[drsleuth]

3m ago03.31 BST
On the day of the lunch, Simon called his son at midday. His children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were at McDonald’s in Leongatha at the time. His son’s friend was also with the pair.

They planned to attend the cinemas in Leongatha afterwards, Simon says.

Simon also spoke to his daughter on the phone and planned to pick the three children up from the cinemas. He then drove them to Erin’s house.

Erin Patterson trial day three – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[Detechtive]

'He looked grey': Simon called ambulance for uncle and aunt
About midday the next day, Simon said he called his son to arrange to pick-up him, his sister and the son’s friend from the cinema.
He said he drove the kids to Erin’s house and dropped his son and friend off before returning to Korumburra with his daughter.
He noticed his parents’ car in the driveway.
That afternoon, Simon said his son called asking when his sister would be home.
He dropped their daughter a bit after 9pm but he didn’t get out nor did he speak to anyone from the lunch.
The next morning, at about 8.45am, he said his father Don called and said that he and his mother had been vomiting and experiencing diarrhoea throughout the night.
He said they had called triple-0.
Simon said he tried calling Ian and Heather but they didn’t pick up so he drove to their house, where Ian answered the door.
“He looked grey, I suppose, spooked … he was struggling,” he said.
Simon said he asked how he was and Ian said: “Not good.”
He offered to call an ambulance, before Ian said he’d speak to Heather.
Simon said he was invited inside where he saw Heather in the lounge room, with a bucket which she was using for vomit.
He told the jury he told them they needed to go to hospital, either by ambulance or he would take them.
They agreed that Simon would call an ambulance.

Herald Sun Link