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

[drsleuth]

2m ago

Properties purchased in both people's names​

By Tim Callanan​

Mr Patterson is now answering questions about childcare arrangements following his separation from Erin Patterson.

He says the most common arrangement was that the children would stay with Erin Patterson during the week and with Mr Patterson on the weekends.

After an overseas trip in 2017, Mr Patterson says an attempt was made to reconcile the marriage but it failed.

Mr Mandy asks Mr Patterson about Erin Patterson using part of her inheritance after the death of her grandmother to purchase properties in both of their names.

Mr Patterson agrees that he maintained some hope prior to 2020 that the relationship could be reconciled.

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

"I thought so, yep," he says.

 

[katydid23]

Wonder how they worked out she did it?

Not many other options of who could have. How many people had her passwords and knew LE had her phone?

Probably Simon didnt have her Pwords any more. And I doubt he'd be helping her. I'm not sure who else could have other than maybe one of her kids---but would they do that without her requesting it?

I'd think my Mom's phone would save her by proving she was innocent before I'd assume I needed to erase it.

 

[LordCyrus]

Does anyone know whether Erin has supporters at the trial?

She appears to be very isolated.

Since the investigation began, I have not heard a single character referee speak in her support.

 

[BreakingNews]

​

12.59pm

‘Erin doesn’t have that many plates’: Through sickness, Heather repeatedly asked about the different plates​

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Inside the Morwell courthouse, Erin Patterson has her eyes fixed on Simon, her estranged husband.​

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Sipping from a paper cup, Simon Patterson is talking about the day after the beef Wellington lunch – the day that started with a phone call from his father.​

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“He told me that he and Mum had been vomiting and had diarrhoea ... and so they called emergency services, and they were waiting for, I remember, patient transport to pick them up,” Simon told the jury.​

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Upon learning that Ian and Heather Wilkinson – the two other guests at the lunch – were experiencing the same symptoms, Simon also tried to call them. When they failed to pick up, he drove to their house. Ian answered the door.​

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Left to right: Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died after ingesting poisonous mushrooms. Ian Wilkinson, right, survived after weeks in hospital.​

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“He looked grey, I suppose, and stopped,” Simon recalled.​

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Inside the home, Heather was sitting on the couch, near a bucket. “She looked pretty crook,” he said.​

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After Ian left the room, Simon said Heather looked at him, puzzled and said: “I noticed Erin served herself food on a coloured plate, which was different to the rest”.​

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After being told the ambulance would be about an hour away, Simon resolved to take Heather and Ian to Korumburra Hospital, but was advised by staff to take the couple to Leongatha Hospital instead.​

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On the drive there, the jury heard, Heather again brought up the different coloured plates.​

“She asked me: ‘Is Erin short of crockery? Is that why she would have this different kind of coloured plate that she served herself?’,” Simon said.​

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“I said: ‘Yes, Erin doesn’t have that many plates’ and that may be the reason.“​

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Simon said he stayed with Ian and Heather at the hospital until their daughter, Ruth, arrived. He then went to Korumburra Hospital to see his parents.​

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Blowing his nose in tissues, Simon Patterson paused to compose himself before telling the jury his dad was in a worse state than his mum when he arrived to see them.​

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“Dad was substantially worse than mum. He was really struggling,” he said.​

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He told the jury Don was lying on his side, hunched, with a discoloured face.​

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“Speaking was an effort, and taking the energy to speak was an effort, and his voice was strained, ... in a way that ... He wasn’t right inside,” Simon said.​

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Speaking through tears, he said his father was struggling, lying on his side in the hospital bed.​

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Simon said he spoke to Don about the reason for the lunch and was told about Erin’s ovarian cancer diagnosis.​

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“She was expecting to have, I think, chemo and potentially surgery. I’m not sure if sure if it was established exactly what the treatment would be but that was what was expected to need,” Simon said.​

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The jury heard Don and Gail told Simon they should tell the children about the diagnosis together.​

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“I’d never heard of a cancer diagnosis positive for Erin,” Simon said.​

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That evening, on July 30, Don and Gail were taken to Dandenong Hospital.​

​

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

Imagine being so sick, and still think to ask about the coloured plates. Sounds like Heather was sus about this.
MOO

 

[Scooby-Doo]

Erin Patterson trial live: Mushroom cook tried to persuade ex to attend fatal lunch, court hears - ABC News

amp.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

11m ago

Jury hears of disagreement over properties​

By Judd Boaz​

In January of 2021, Mr Patterson says he and Erin had a disagreement over whose name was on the titles of certain properties they both shared.

Mr Patterson wanted his name added to certain titles, while Ms Patterson wanted it removed from others.

While they had attempted to reconcile several times in recent years following family trips together, Mr Patterson says he was unsure if Ms Patterson was "using" him for his contacts and expertise as she was building her Leongatha home.

The jury has been given a break and will return soon.

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

 

[Kemug]

practising?

Building up resistance?

 

[katydid23]

When the judge delivers the 'charge' you will see that motive will be inconsequential to the Jury's verdict.

I agree with you but the jury will be told that motive is not a requirement.

I know it is not a legal requirement for the prosecution to have a specific motive. But as a former juror, I think the jury wonders about it, and kind of wants to understand the WHY of things.

If you are on the fence and uncertain, and you see no possible motive then you might lean for NG.

But if you recognise there was deep resentment and anger simmering below the surface, or a clear financial gain, then a G verdict might make more sense. IMO

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago15.29 AEST
Simon agrees that prior to 2020 he held hopes that he and Erin would reconcile.

He says in early 2021, they had a disagreement over whose name should appear on the titles of the property they owned.

Simon says as Erin was building her home in Leongatha, he questioned whether she was “using him” for his contacts.

Erin Patterson trial day three – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[Detechtive]

Building up resistance?

You can't build up resistance to that kind of poison.

 

[drsleuth]

3.29pm

Inheritance, intentions and a title in two names​

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The jury heard that despite separating in 2015, Erin Patterson added Simon’s name to the titles of a home in Lyons Street in Mount Waverley and the land used to build her home on Gibson Street in Leongatha, which she purchased with the money she had received from her mother’s inheritance in 2019.

Simon, who was still hopeful they might reconcile at the time, said he was “puzzled” by the move.

He told the jury he was involved in engaging the designer and builder for the Leongatha family home, which he described as “child-friendly”.

Around the time the Leongatha home was being built in early 2021, Simon said he asked Erin about her intentions for the home. “It made me wonder about whether she was using me for my expertise and contacts to build her house, or whether she genuinely thought this was, you know, a move towards living together as a family again,” Simon said.

In that same conversation, Simon asked Erin to add his name to the title of another property she owned on Nason Street, in Korumburra.

“She responded by saying she wanted my name off the Gibson Street title and the Lyons Street title, and she would put just my name on the Nason Street title,” Simon said.

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

 

[Kemug]

I think the motive was to hurt Simon if it has not been posted yet.

And she certainly succeeded, so maybe she thinks it was all worth it, and is secretly feeling triumphant.

 

[katydid23]

Yes, but wouldn't that make you more want to turn up? You might be worried, what's being said, etc, There could be some arguing, comments being made without you knowing, etc..

I think some people who are separated/divorced would prefer to turn up as well, If your ex was inviting your parents ?

If you couldn't make it, change it to another time

Rather than just let an ex organise everything, and have lunch with them

Especially when the Wilkinsons have never been to her house previously

That's all true. But in Simon's previous experience, he apparently had fallen very ill after she had been cooking for him. And he thought---whether he was right or wrong---he had told people that he believed she was trying to poison him.

He had no proof so charges were dropped. But I doubt he wanted to go to her home and eat anything she made for him. And he must feel so mad and regretful that he allowed his poor parents to fall for that 'kind' invitation.

 

[MrsAddick]

Definitely screams narcissism IMO. I have no idea what the motive is just as all of us don’t but it could have been to hurt Simon as she perceived him to be causing her narcissistic injury by saying to the accountant that they were separated. IMO it could demonstrate a pathological desire to control hence poisoning being a process she alone can dictate on whether it not it happens. All jmo

Definitely screams narcissism IMO. I have no idea what the motive is just as all of us don’t but it could have been to hurt Simon as she perceived him to be causing her narcissistic injury by saying to the accountant that they were separated. IMO it could demonstrate a pathological desire to control hence poisoning being a process she alone can dictate on whether it not it happens. All jmo

For sure, poisoning is a preferred method of female serial killers (not saying the accused is one, just drawing comparisons). Men typically prefer to asphyxiate someone or point a gun/weapon directly at them, potentially staring their victim in the face.

Motivations are different across gender lines (on average). Men more likely to kill for sexually-related reasons. Women for money/revenge (or self-defence).

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago15.42 AEST
Mandy has recommenced his cross-examination of Simon.

Mandy is asking Simon about his parents’ relationship with Erin. He touches on the closeness between Simon’s father, Don, and Erin, which included a shared love of books.

Simon agrees Erin had sought Don’s advice at times and trusted his opinion.

Erin Patterson trial day three – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[Kemug]

Thanks for this. I agree, live reporting can get messy! No doubt the full facts will come out in due course.

Oddly, I know two different people who have lied about having cancer. One had a pre-cancerous mole removed, and the other one some sort of lump that needed biopsy. Both went to town on social media calling it cancer, talking about their ‘cancer journey’, etc.

And of course they retained the plausible deniability of being able to say, “well the doctor mentioned cancer, I just got confused”.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a similarly murky explanation offered here.

That's one of the things wrong with social media, IMO - a lot of people feel that they need to spice up their ordinary boring lives.

 

[MrsAddick]

And she certainly succeeded, so maybe she thinks it was all worth it, and is secretly feeling triumphant.

Building up resistance?

Ha! I like that thought process, but pretty sure there’s no safe toxicity threshold or immune- tolerance achievable with death caps

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Erin became 'regular church attender' during marriage, court hears​

By Joseph Dunstan​

The hearing has resumed and Erin Patterson's barrister Colin Mandy SC has resumed cross-examination of Erin's estranged husband Simon Patterson.

Mr Mandy outlines that Erin Patterson was an atheist when she met Simon, but suggests she converted to Christianity as a result of his influence.

Mr Patterson says while he reckons the "causation there's probably a bit strong", he agrees that she was influenced by his religious beliefs.

"She did become a regular church attender," he says.

The court hears they joined groups for weekly Bible studies.

Earlier, the court heard Erin had been moved during a local church service.

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]

Key Event
4m ago

Defence examines relationship between Erin Patterson and her in-laws​

By Judd Boaz​

Mr Patterson is pressed on the relationship between his parents and Erin Patterson.

He says that his parents loved Erin and that Erin also appeared to love his parents.

Mr Mandy asks if the Patterson's formed part of Erin's trust network, and Simon agrees.

"For quite some time, that was true, yes," Mr Patterson says.

Erin and the children had been to Don and Gail's house for dinner before without Mr Patterson present, the court hears.

Mr Patterson says the distance between his parents and his children had grown in the time before their deaths.

"Towards the end there I know Mum and Dad were trying hard to reach out and connect with [the grandkids], and I know they were struggling a bit to achieve that," he says.

Mr Mandy counters, mentioning a video of one of Mr Patterson's children conducting science experiments in the backyard with Don Patterson in the weeks before his death.

"I don't remember that, I can't help sorry," Mr Patterson 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

 

[drsleuth]

5m ago15.51 AEST
‘She seemed like a devoted mother most of the time,’ Simon tells court of Erin

Mandy asks if Simon’s “wider family network” was an important part of Erin’s life.

“There were connections there, some good relationships I thought,” Simon says.

Simon agrees he and Erin attended many meals at his parent’s house for meals, but says generally other relatives also attended.

Simon is asked about his characterisation of Erin as a “devoted” mother.

“She seemed like a devoted mother most of the time,” Simon says.

He agrees Erin took her role as a mother seriously and allowed their children to pursue their interests.

Erin Patterson trial day three – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com