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

[Marg944]

Yes I'd be interested to know if Erin's parents had left anything to Simon their son in law in their will.
Or if they "left him out" or "cut him out".

On the Lawlink site, only Erin and her sister are named on the Intended Application for Probate. I couldn’t find anything for Erin’s father, but he died before the mother. Her will was dated 2011. Erin married in 1973.

 

[Lady Bug]

Do you remember when each of Erin’s parents passed and whether she was still married to Simon?

In any case I’d think they would have left money only to Erin on the assumption that she’d see to the financial future of her children. I’m not sure what the point would be to leave money to Simon unless they felt their daughter shouldn’t be trusted with a windfall. Even then they could have tied up the money by setting up a trust fund for the kids.
JMO

According to this Nov 2023 Age article, the Mount Waverly property purchased from the proceeds of EP's inheritance in 2019 was in both Erin and Simon's name and transferred to Erin's name only in 2021, which would indicate they were still together at her mother's time of passing in early 2019. EP's father passed in 2011.

"Public records show the property was transferred from joint ownership by Erin and Simon Patterson into Erin’s name alone in 2021. It previously traded in 2019 for $931,000."

Mushroom cook Erin Patterson lists Mount Waverley townhouse for sale

The three-bedroom residence has a price guide of $960,000 to $1.05 million. It is not the property where the mushroom lunch was served.

www.theage.com.au

 

[TootsieFootsie]

On the Lawlink site, only Erin and her sister are named on the Intended Application for Probate. I couldn’t find anything for Erin’s father, but he died before the mother. Her will was dated 2011. Erin married in 1973.

Thanks, my post was rhetorical.
I wasn't actually asking a question.

 

[Kemug]

On the Lawlink site, only Erin and her sister are named on the Intended Application for Probate. I couldn’t find anything for Erin’s father, but he died before the mother. Her will was dated 2011. Erin married in 1973.

Shouldn't that be Erin was born in 1973?

 

[Marg944]

Shouldn't that be Erin was born in 1973?

Oops…. Thanks Kemug!!
I’m surprised I didn’t include a link, it is usually a habit.

 

[SouthAussie]

Shouldn't that be Erin was born in 1973?

I think Erin was born in 1975.

(Gail and Don Patterson were married in 1973, according to the DM. I think that two years later they had Simon, who is the same age as Erin.)

Victoria alleged mushroom murders: who are Erin Patterson and the other key figures?

Erin Patterson was charged with murder after allegedly serving poisonous mushrooms to her husband Simon Patterson’s family members. Gail Patterson, Don Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died, and Ian Wilkinson was left fighting for life

www.theguardian.com

 

[Marg944]

Her matter is due back in court on Wednesday this week, 21st August, in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

“Patterson has maintained her innocence and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges on May 7.

Her case is due to continue from August 21.”

Accused mushroom cook killer faces first Supreme Court hearing

Erin Patterson appeared in court via video link.

www.northweststar.com.au

 

[SouthAussie]

At the bottom of a picturesque cemetery on the outskirts of their hometown, the graves of Erin Patterson's alleged victims remain unmarked more than a year after their deaths.

On Wednesday, Patterson will front the Supreme Court of Victoria for the first of a series of preliminary hearings to pave the way for her eventual jury trial next year.

On Monday, neither Mr Patterson nor Mr Wilkinson would discuss their scheduled appearances at the upcoming pre-trial hearings.
Warning signs posted at the gates of their respective homes in Korumburra - 120km south-east of Melbourne - threaten media representatives with prosecution for trespassing if they attempted to approach the properties.

The first of Patterson's pre-trial hearings is expected to wind-up on Monday, with further hearings planned for later this year, ahead of a trial next year.

But evidence from the hearings will be kept secret from the public to ensure potential jury members do not hear information that is not disclosed at the trial.

The tragic unmarked graves of alleged victims of mushroom poisoning

The final resting places of Erin Patterson's alleged victims are positioned towards the rear of the cemetery among the lush lawns, a stone's throw from a grassy cow paddock.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[sunspun]

At the bottom of a picturesque cemetery on the outskirts of their hometown, the graves of Erin Patterson's alleged victims remain unmarked more than a year after their deaths.

On Wednesday, Patterson will front the Supreme Court of Victoria for the first of a series of preliminary hearings to pave the way for her eventual jury trial next year.

On Monday, neither Mr Patterson nor Mr Wilkinson would discuss their scheduled appearances at the upcoming pre-trial hearings.
Warning signs posted at the gates of their respective homes in Korumburra - 120km south-east of Melbourne - threaten media representatives with prosecution for trespassing if they attempted to approach the properties.

The first of Patterson's pre-trial hearings is expected to wind-up on Monday, with further hearings planned for later this year, ahead of a trial next year.

But evidence from the hearings will be kept secret from the public to ensure potential jury members do not hear information that is not disclosed at the trial.

The tragic unmarked graves of alleged victims of mushroom poisoning

The final resting places of Erin Patterson's alleged victims are positioned towards the rear of the cemetery among the lush lawns, a stone's throw from a grassy cow paddock.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Why are their graves unmarked? Maybe I missed something...

 

[SouthAussie]

Why are their graves unmarked? Maybe I missed something...

Who knows? Maybe they have ordered a special imported material for the headstones, and that takes time.
Or maybe they don't want the press sniffing around the graves at the moment and publishing photos (like the DM has just done).
Or maybe they plan to mark the graves once the murder trial is over.

I am sure the families know where they are. And somehow the DM has found them.

imo

 

[Kemug]

Why are their graves unmarked? Maybe I missed something...

I may be wrong, but I have heard that 12 months is a normal time to wait before adding headstones to graves, to be sure that subsidence has ceased.

 

[SouthAussie]

So, EP is going to be tried in LaTrobe Valley court on 28th April 2025. Her application was successful.

"The Supreme Court today decided that the highly-anticipated trial will be held in Morwell in April next year."

Erin Patterson's murder trial over the lunch deaths of three people will be held in regional Victoria

Erin Patterson's lawyers have successfully argued for the accused murderer's Supreme Court trial next year not to take place in Melbourne, but in the Gippsland town of Morwell.

www.abc.net.au

"At the start of the hearing, it was confirmed Patterson's murder trial has been listed to start on April 28, 2025 in Morwell in the state's east."

Trial date set for accused triple murderer Erin Patterson

www.9news.com.au

 

[Marg944]

“At the start of the hearing, it was confirmed Patterson's murder trial has been listed to start on April 28, 2025 in Morwell in the state's east”

Trial date set for accused triple murderer Erin Patterson

www.9news.com.au

 

[Charlot123]

Who knows? Maybe they have ordered a special imported material for the headstones, and that takes time.
Or maybe they don't want the press sniffing around the graves at the moment and publishing photos (like the DM has just done).
Or maybe they plan to mark the graves once the murder trial is over.

I am sure the families know where they are. And somehow the DM has found them.

imo

I think they may be wishing to keep them this way if the exhumation is needed.

 

[katydid23]

At the bottom of a picturesque cemetery on the outskirts of their hometown, the graves of Erin Patterson's alleged victims remain unmarked more than a year after their deaths.

On Wednesday, Patterson will front the Supreme Court of Victoria for the first of a series of preliminary hearings to pave the way for her eventual jury trial next year.

On Monday, neither Mr Patterson nor Mr Wilkinson would discuss their scheduled appearances at the upcoming pre-trial hearings.
Warning signs posted at the gates of their respective homes in Korumburra - 120km south-east of Melbourne - threaten media representatives with prosecution for trespassing if they attempted to approach the properties.

The first of Patterson's pre-trial hearings is expected to wind-up on Monday, with further hearings planned for later this year, ahead of a trial next year.

But evidence from the hearings will be kept secret from the public to ensure potential jury members do not hear information that is not disclosed at the trial.

The tragic unmarked graves of alleged victims of mushroom poisoning

The final resting places of Erin Patterson's alleged victims are positioned towards the rear of the cemetery among the lush lawns, a stone's throw from a grassy cow paddock.

www.dailymail.co.uk

THIS should be a very interesting trial.

 

[SouthAussie]

I think they may be wishing to keep them this way if the exhumation is needed.

Yes. That seems to be a distinct possibility.
There are loads of articles on Google about exhumations in poisoning cases. They all seem to have happened when the cause of death has been challenged.

imo

 

[ch_13]

Yes. That seems to be a distinct possibility.
There are loads of articles on Google about exhumations in poisoning cases. They all seem to have happened when the cause of death has been challenged.

imo

I find it very unlikely that the defense will challenge the cause of death. The victims were immediately diagnosed as suffering from amanita poisoning. I'm sure there are test results and thorough autopsies. Will the defense claim that the three simultaneously deaths were just coincidence? No jury will believe that.

In any case, even if the defense did claim that the cause of death was incorrect, there should be no need for an exhumation. In murders, it's standard for the bodies' tissues and organs to be preserved so that they could be examined by a defense expert. Usually, in the exhumation cases I've heard of, it's the opposite that occurred: there was no determination of foul play at the time of death, but later suspicions arose and the body had to be reexamined to check for signs of poisoning.

Plus, the idea that you can't put a headstone on a grave because the body may one day be exhumed is kind of ridiculous. If you're going through the time and expense of exhuming a body, then moving the gravestone is hardly a big deal. It's the equivalent of not using manhole covers because the utility company may need to access the sewer system.

 

[Charlot123]

I find it very unlikely that the defense will challenge the cause of death. The victims were immediately diagnosed as suffering from amanita poisoning. I'm sure there are test results and thorough autopsies. Will the defense claim that the three simultaneously deaths were just coincidence? No jury will believe that.

In any case, even if the defense did claim that the cause of death was incorrect, there should be no need for an exhumation. In murders, it's standard for the bodies' tissues and organs to be preserved so that they could be examined by a defense expert. Usually, in the exhumation cases I've heard of, it's the opposite that occurred: there was no determination of foul play at the time of death, but later suspicions arose and the body had to be reexamined to check for signs of poisoning.

Plus, the idea that you can't put a headstone on a grave because the body may one day be exhumed is kind of ridiculous. If you're going through the time and expense of exhuming a body, then moving the gravestone is hardly a big deal. It's the equivalent of not using manhole covers because the utility company may need to access the sewer system.

It all might depend on what people wanted to be on their gravesites, doesn’t it? Sometimes, smaller stones, sometimes, something larger. In many families, it is discussed in advance. JMO - the children decided to not touch the graves till the trial is over. BTW, sometimes people are stuck on the inscription and finishing the trial might give them the feeling of liberty so necessary to finish the monument.

 

[ch_13]

It all might depend on what people wanted to be on their gravesites, doesn’t it? Sometimes, smaller stones, sometimes, something larger. In many families, it is discussed in advance. JMO - the children decided to not touch the graves till the trial is over. BTW, sometimes people are stuck on the inscription and finishing the trial might give them the feeling of liberty so necessary to finish the monument.

I agree that there are a lot of reasons that a grave may not have a headstone. I was only disagreeing that it was because they expect to disinter the bodies.

 

[Charlot123]

I agree that there are a lot of reasons that a grave may not have a headstone. I was only disagreeing that it was because they expect to disinter the bodies.

This was my first thought, of "what if" type. I hope that the trial will be smooth and swift and wish good luck to the relatives of the deceased.