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

[SouthAussie]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but I think that's the time between when she self-discharged from the hospital on the Sunday after the fatal lunch, and when police were called to attend her home by the treating doctor? She was back at the hospital within about 50 minutes I believe?

From what I recall, again, could be wrong (these facts are coming too think and fast - like no case I have ever seen! Overwhelming, to say the least!) there was a period of time she was at home at Leongatha where she may have needed to dispose of food, factory reset things, or come up with reasoning as to why she was there and what she was doing?

It sounds like a very strange way to say you were not doing something untoward, to me.

My opinion only!

I am just going by this quote from SP ..... "Simon said that after Erin discharged herself from Leongatha hospital, “she got home, and she said she lay on the floor, and fell asleep for about 45 minutes”. After that, he recalls, she drove herself back to Leongatha hospital."

I have been wondering what she told the police about her missing phone. I guess we will hear about that in upcoming police testimony.

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

 

[Detechtive]

He is coming across to me as being, if not very naive, then easily controlled. Maybe both.

If I felt that someone had tried to poison me (3 times!) then I'd be going after them with the law to the maximum extent.

His attitude towards her is odd, IMO.

My feelings throughout today were of shock, and sadness, and then empathy for Simon. I burst into tears when he talked about the gentle nature and love of learning of his father, Don. I am not one to burst into tears, it was so moving.

I found it extraordinary that he "copped so much crap" to be honest. He came across like a saint. Very honest, credible, vulnerable, and suffering. But I do agree that he seemed subordinate to Erins whim, perhaps because in his faith marriage is sacrosanct?

 

[Ellery84]

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

I am really blown away by the way that Simon is still able to say nice things about Erin.

 

[JLZ]

This is an interesting line of questioning. Her choice is religion itself is not relevant IMO, however converting for reasons outside ones’s own beliefs potentially is (say, for example, doing it to please a partner or their family, or to feel less like an outsider and accepted in your community.

I went to Catholic school in Victoria but my family wasn’t religious at all. I recall going to mass and being forced to line up for communion like all the other kids, but told to ‘cross my arms over my chest’ to receive a ‘blessing’ from the priest. It was a visible sign and constant reminder (in front of hundreds of students and our teachers) that I ‘was not one of them’

This was early in their relationship. It sounds very stagey. I suggest the intention was to secure Simon as future husband.

And based on his performance in court, I can't fault her taste.

 

[Kemug]

I really think that Simon is a genuinely nice man, probably much like his father.

 

[Kemug]

And in the day or so while her in-laws were dying, did Erin even once ask after them? Even once?

 

[JLZ]

I was wondering why she went home from the hospital and "laid on the floor for 45mins" then returned to the hospital. Maybe she got rid of her phone in that time frame.

I thought she went home and the police brought her back to the hospital, but she wasn't telling it that way to Simon.

Does anybody remember what time she returned to the hospital? I thought it was 9:45. If she was home for 45 minutes, and she left the first time at 8:10 (?) there seems to be an extra gap.

 

[JBowie]

I am really blown away by the way that Simon is still able to say nice things about Erin.

Me too, especially after having been seriously poisoned on 3 occasions leading to the (now-dropped) attempted murder charges. To me he comes across almost like a male Pollyanna.

 

[katydid23]

EP: It’s a tragedy what’s happened.

Rep: Can you tell us about the meal that you cooked?

EP: I’m so, devastated by what’s happened, by the loss of Don and, Don is still in hospital, the loss of Ian and Heather and Gail who are some of the best people that I’ve ever met. Gail is like [cries]

Rep: Take your time.

EP: Gail is the mum that I didn’t have because my mum passed away four years ago and Gail’s never been anything but good and kind to me and Ian and Heather were some of the best people I’ve ever met, they never did anything wrong to me and I’m so devastated about what’s happened.

Rep: Can you tell us...

EP: And the loss to the community, and to the families and to my own children who’ve lost their grandmother.

Rep: Can you tell us a bit more about the lunch?

EP: What I can tell you is that I just can’t fathom what has happened, I just can’t fathom what has happened, that Ian and Heather have lost their lives, and Gail has lost her life, and Don is still in hospital, and I pray, I pray that he pulls through, because my children love him.

Rep: And you must be pretty shaken up by this as well.

EP: [looking up at the sky] I’m devastated, I loved them and I can’t believe that this has happened and I’m so sorry that they have lost their lives and I just can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it. [looks around and makes moves as if planning to walk]

Rep: Can you tell us where the mushrooms came from?

EP: [cries and walks around car opening doors and removes a bag]

Rep: Were they picked from the property Erin, the mushrooms?

EP: I’m just asking just to leave me alone please

Rep: Sure. Police say you’re a suspect, do you have anything to say about that?

EP: Yes, I say I didn’t do anything. I loved them and I’m devastated that they’re gone and I hope with every fibre of my being that Don pulls through, that’s what I have to say.

Rep: Where did the mushrooms come from?

EP: [walks towards house]

Rep: Were they picked by you or, where did they come from Erin? Can you tell us?

EP: [opens her front door]

Rep: What meal did you cook them? Did you eat the same meal, Erin?

EP: [enters house and closes door]


[She answered every question until someone asked her where the mushrooms came from]

[Did she really not know that Don had died already?]

 

[Porky1]

But also this (BBM):

“Prosecutors alleged that Ms Patterson lied about having cancer, using it as a pretence to have the adults at lunch without Ms Patterson's children present - the defence denied this and said Ms Patterson did have cancer”

source

“Alleged”. It will be interesting to see how the defence responds.

As much as I think she’s guilty, I don’t believe that everything reported or alleged is completely accurate, this is why there is a trial. Police and Prosecutors do make mistakes and/or frame a particular theory which is unfounded in court.

 

[JLZ]

He is coming across to me as being, if not very naive, then easily controlled. Maybe both.

If I felt that someone had tried to poison me (3 times!) then I'd be going after them with the law to the maximum extent.

His attitude towards her is odd, IMO.

I think he's handling it brilliantly, the way he qualifies his assent to the cross-examiner's tricky leading questions. He can't say no without looking irrational or unreliable, but he's not taking the implications lying down either. Not weak, not passive as somebody said. Calm and communicative. And yet what a situation it is for him personally.

 

[Porky1]

Well if the 4th victim had died would the police have found out about the individual pies and her smaller orange plate?

Heather, Simons Aunt, mentioned it on the way to hospital. She was perplexed so perhaps mentioned it to other family members before falling ill.

 

[JBowie]

EP: It’s a tragedy what’s happened.

Rep: Can you tell us about the meal that you cooked?

EP: I’m so, devastated by what’s happened, by the loss of Don and, Don is still in hospital, the loss of Ian and Heather and Gail who are some of the best people that I’ve ever met. Gail is like [cries]

Rep: Take your time.

EP: Gail is the mum that I didn’t have because my mum passed away four years ago and Gail’s never been anything but good and kind to me and Ian and Heather were some of the best people I’ve ever met, they never did anything wrong to me and I’m so devastated about what’s happened.

Rep: Can you tell us...

EP: And the loss to the community, and to the families and to my own children who’ve lost their grandmother.

Rep: Can you tell us a bit more about the lunch?

EP: What I can tell you is that I just can’t fathom what has happened, I just can’t fathom what has happened, that Ian and Heather have lost their lives, and Gail has lost her life, and Don is still in hospital, and I pray, I pray that he pulls through, because my children love him.

Rep: And you must be pretty shaken up by this as well.

EP: [looking up at the sky] I’m devastated, I loved them and I can’t believe that this has happened and I’m so sorry that they have lost their lives and I just can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it. [looks around and makes moves as if planning to walk]

Rep: Can you tell us where the mushrooms came from?

EP: [cries and walks around car opening doors and removes a bag]

Rep: Were they picked from the property Erin, the mushrooms?

EP: I’m just asking just to leave me alone please

Rep: Sure. Police say you’re a suspect, do you have anything to say about that?

EP: Yes, I say I didn’t do anything. I loved them and I’m devastated that they’re gone and I hope with every fibre of my being that Don pulls through, that’s what I have to say.

Rep: Where did the mushrooms come from?

EP: [walks towards house]

Rep: Were they picked by you or, where did they come from Erin? Can you tell us?

EP: [opens her front door]

Rep: What meal did you cook them? Did you eat the same meal, Erin?

EP: [enters house and closes door]


[She answered every question until someone asked her where the mushrooms came from]

[Did she really not know that Don had died already?]

At the time, my reaction to that whole performance -- including the fake crying -- was "see you in court".

 

[katydid23]

More articles from thread #1:

Mushroom deaths Leongatha: All we know so far about Erin Patterson

Erin Patterson, 48, from Leongatha two hours south-east of Melbourne, is said to have invited to the meal estranged husband Simon Patterson, his parents and his uncle and aunty.

www.dailymail.co.uk

By emerging accounts from residents in the largely Christian rural town of Leongatha, Ms Patterson was a harmless - though distant and somewhat odd - person who liked to cook, was a good mother and, as a neighbour described to The Australian, was naive and 'into unicorns'.

Syd Whyte, who has been the president of the Korumburra Community Development and Action Group for more than a decade, said Ms Patterson was responsible for pulling together the community newsletter.

The Burra Flyer is put out four times a year and contains local news, information on events and advertising for local businesses.

Mr Whyte said he found Ms Patterson's manner to be blunt and she rarely engaged in small talk, but that she did her job well.

'She was quite capable of putting the Flyer together... I found her all right,' Mr Whyte told The Australian.

Other parents in the town, population 5,800, noted Ms Patterson mostly kept to herself during school pickups in her bright red SUV

By neighbour accounts Ms Patterson also has a fondness for animals and kept sheep on the family hobby farm.

The hobby farm is one of two properties she owns, the other, a semi-detached east Melbourne townhouse worth in excess of $1million, she bought after inheriting money when her mother passed away four years ago.

 

[BreakingNews]

I aim going back through the earliest threads because there was information about a change in her relationship with her in-laws, allegedly.

Apparently she resented that they were siding with Simon concerning the co-parenting issues. And some people thought she may have felt betrayed by them because of the recent tensions between them all.

I am trying to find those posts now.

Here are some old articles from the start of the case:

Daughter-in-law refuses to say what she cooked for doomed guests

The woman who hosted a poisonous lunch where four people fell ill - three of whom have since died - has been forced to flee her home.

www.dailymail.co.uk

VERY INTERESTING PICTURE BELOW

+11
View gallery
Real estate photos show mushrooms growing at the base of a tree at Ms Patterson's Leongatha property

They sure don't look like mushrooms I'd be eating

 

[Klclevi]

Hi there I am new to this thread! So hi everyone.
I am completely perplexed by this case. Why would she do this ? In the circumstance that Simon may have come for the lunch did she rationally believe she would be able to poison him and his parents and uncle and aunt and get away with it?
Why? It cannot be for financial reasons as we have come to understand. It could only be a deep seated rage or hate for some reason.
Even that is a fair stretch to pull off .
There has to be another element to this story IMO - perhaps one we have not seen yet.

The video katydid23 - is it genuine or crocodile tears? On first watch I had to think she was genuine. But all her other actions just do not make sense. At all.

 

[drsleuth]

I think he's handling it brilliantly, the way he qualifies his assent to the cross-examiner's tricky leading questions. He can't say no without looking irrational or unreliable, but he's not taking the implications lying down either. Not weak, not passive as somebody said. Calm and communicative. And yet what a situation it is for him personally.

I agree JLZ, he's lost alot & still comes across gracefull IMO

BTW I can't do the updates tomorrow or Monday, if someone else could do them I'm sure that would be much appreciated?

 

[BreakingNews]

Hi there I am new to this thread! So hi everyone.
I am completely perplexed by this case. Why would she do this ? In the circumstance that Simon may have come for the lunch did she rationally believe she would be able to poison him and his parents and uncle and aunt and get away with it?
Why? It cannot be for financial reasons as we have come to understand. It could only be a deep seated rage or hate for some reason.
Even that is a fair stretch to pull off .
There has to be another element to this story IMO - perhaps one we have not seen yet.

The video katydid23 - is it genuine or crocodile tears? On first watch I had to think she was genuine. But all her other actions just do not make sense. At all.

They were still married. So everything financial belonged equally.

 

[Klclevi]

ah of course I did not think of that. thankyou

 

[Salah11]

Heather, Simons Aunt, mentioned it on the way to hospital. She was perplexed so perhaps mentioned it to other family members before falling ill.

Thanks and it’s absolutely crazy that alarm bells were ringing for them as soon as they got sick. So it obviously really baffled them.

I would love to see her plate sets to see if she had another grey plate that she could of used.

Moo