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

[Detechtive]

5m ago

Relationship between Erin Patterson and estranged husband deteriorates​

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By Judd Boaz​

Dr Rogers said Ms Patterson's estranged husband, Simon, turned down an invitation to attend the lunch because he felt "too uncomfortable".

The court was told the couple's marriage had broken down, with the relationship declining in 2022.

The couple had initially had an "amicable" relationship, sharing custody and going on family holidays together, before issues arose straining the relationship.

One of the reasons was because Ms Patterson changed the couple's kids' schools without telling her husband.

4m ago

Five plates, five beef Wellingtons​

​

Dr Rogers moves to the critical event of the trial — the lunch itself.

She said Ms Patterson's four guests arrived at her Leongatha home and greeted them at the door.

She showed them around the house before the group gathered around the kitchen island bench.

The meals prepared were five individual beef Wellingtons, mashed potatoes and green beans.


Dr Rogers said the guests all ate from grey-coloured plates, while Ms Patterson's was a lighter colour, which was described as orange and smaller than the others.

For dessert, they ate a cake brought by Gail and a fruit platter from Heather.

Dr Rogers said Ms Patterson dropped a bombshell — that she had cancer.

She wanted to know whether to tell her kids or to keep it from them.

The group prayed again, the court heard, and the guests headed home later that afternoon.

Erin Patterson's lawyer tells jury mushroom poisoning deaths were 'a terrible accident' — as it happened

A Supreme Court jury hears opening submissions in the trial of Victorian woman Erin Patterson, who is accused of using a poisoned meal to murder three relatives. Look back at how it unfolded on our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

5 "Individual" beef wellingtons.

Simon arrived at the hospital 12.15pm. It was then that Don told Simon that Erin had told them at the lunch that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Wow.

 

[drsleuth]

Doctors 'made a working diagnosis of death cap mushroom poisoning
12:23​

Simon Atkinson
Australia producer, reporting from court

We are getting of a picture of what was unfolding in the healthcare system, according to the prosecutor.

The Wilkinsons and Pattersons were in different hospitals, but doctors were talking to each other and using the information to set up treatment plans using “a working diagnosis of death cap mushroom poisoning”, says the prosecution.

​

Erin Patterson told family she felt sick too - prosecutor
12:24​

Tiffanie Turnbull
Live reporter

Winding back a bit, the prosecution is now turning to Erin Patterson's movements on the day after the lunch.

Nanette Rogers says Erin Patterson's children found her drinking coffee at the dining table that morning.

"She said she was sick with diarrhoea and may not be able togo to church that morning," says Dr Rogers.

Her estranged husband called later that day to tell her his relatives were in hospital, and asked how she was.

Ms Patterson said she had felt unwell since the previous afternoon, and was needing to go to the toilet every 20 minutes, all night long.

Erin Patterson: Trial begins for Australia woman accused of toxic mushroom lunch

Erin Patterson, from Victoria, is facing three counts of murder and one of attempted murder over the alleged beef wellington poisoning in July 2023.

www.bbc.com

 

[SouthAussie]

5 "Individual" beef wellingtons.

Possible that the "leftovers" (that EP supposedly fed to the children later) had no risk of tainting with poison.

Cooked in different pans?

imo

 

[MsMarple]

Sounds like Heather’s instincts were trying to warn her, albeit too late. What happened to these people was horrific and if it was done intentionally then the accused could only be called a monster. JMO

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago

The lunch party arrives at hospital​

​

By Judd Boaz​

At the hospital, a round of tests were conducted on the Pattersons and the Wilkinsons.

Doctors heard reports that they had vomited up to 30 times since the lunch.

Initially, a decision was made to not administer NAC, an antidote to the toxin in the Amantina species of mushroom.

Dr Rogers said this was due to their initially being "not sufficient evidence" that the group had ingested death cap mushrooms.

Don and Gail's lactate levels were elevated, indicating that they were very unwell.

Dr Rogers said the jury would hear later in the trial about lactate levels, and what they meant.

After further consultation four were treated with intravenous fluids, the NAC drug and activated charcoal.

Eventually, all four patients were transferred to the Austin Hospital for further treatment.

During a discussion with a doctor, Don Patterson mentioned he had finished his wife's leftovers during the lunch.

Don and Gail's son Matthew offered to call Erin Patterson and ask where she got the mushrooms for the beef Wellingtons.

Just now

Erin Patterson tells family she's feeling ill​

​

By Judd Boaz​

Reporting by Kristian Silva

The day after the lunch, Erin Patterson told her kids that she was starting to feel sick, Dr Rogers said.

Simon also called her to inform her of the lunch guests' condition.

Ms Patterson told him she also felt unwell, Dr Rogers said.

Dr Rogers said the accused took her children to a flying lesson in Tyabb that afternoon, where Ms Patterson was captured on security footage entering a toilet at a service station — but only stayed inside for nine seconds.

The trip was cut short and the group returned home. Ms Patterson used the toilet at home, Dr Rogers said.

That evening they ate beans, mashed potatoes and meat, which Ms Patterson said was leftovers from the previous lunch.

"The prosecution asserts that the children's meal was not contaminated with death cap mushrooms."

Erin Patterson's lawyer tells jury mushroom poisoning deaths were 'a terrible accident' — as it happened

A Supreme Court jury hears opening submissions in the trial of Victorian woman Erin Patterson, who is accused of using a poisoned meal to murder three relatives. Look back at how it unfolded on our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

Defendant served her children uncontaminated 'leftovers', prosecution says​

12:28​

Katy Watson
Australia correspondent, reporting from court

The court hears that the accused, Erin Patterson, served her children meat, mash and green beans on Sunday at 17:30, that she said were leftovers from the meal with the Wilkinsons and Pattersons.

The prosecution then asserts that the children's meal was not contaminated with death cap mushrooms.

Erin Patterson went to hospital but refused to be admitted, court hears​

12:30​

On the Monday morning, Erin Patterson rang her estranged husband Simon Patterson, the prosecutor says, and asked to talk.

She told him she had been having diarrhoea every 20minutes and thought she needed to go to hospital, asking Simon to take her.

He'd been with his sick parents all night, so asked her to go herself. Prosecutor Nanette Rogers tells the jury Ms Patterson went to the Leongatha Hospital - where Mr and Mrs Wilkinson were at that time - around 8:00.

The doctor, realising she had been at the same lunch his desperately ill patents had been, asked to admit her to hospital, says the prosecution, but Ms Patterson refused.

Erin Patterson: Trial begins for Australia woman accused of toxic mushroom lunch

Erin Patterson, from Victoria, is facing three counts of murder and one of attempted murder over the alleged beef wellington poisoning in July 2023.

www.bbc.com

 

[MsMarple]

12.20pm

‘I’ve puzzled about it since lunch’: Heather wondered why Erin served her guests with different plates​

​

After a short break, the jury returned to courtroom 4 of the Latrobe Valley legal precinct in Morwell to hear about the aftermath of the meal.

Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, said that about midnight on the night of the lunch, Heather and Ian started to suffer nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting. Around dawn on the morning after the lunch, Heather called Don and Gail, who said they had similar symptoms, had already called an ambulance.

About 8.45am, Don Patterson called his son to tell him they were sick. He told Simon he had called an ambulance, which was sent out at 8.34am. Don also told his son that Ian and Heather were experiencing the same symptoms.

At 9.15am an ambulance attended, and they were taken to Korumburra Hospital.

After speaking with Don, Simon tried to call Ian and Heather’s mobile phones. He ended up driving to the house. Ian and Heather were both worn out and vomiting.

When Ian was out of the room, Heather said that Erin put her food on a different plate from ours. She had wondered why that was.

Simon called 000 and was told it would be an hour until an ambulance came, so he drove them to Korumburra Hospital. But the hospital was at capacity, so Simon drove them to the Leongatha hospital.

On the way to the hospital, Heather asked: “Is Erin short of crockery? I was wondering why she served herself on a different plate to the rest of us. I’ve puzzled about it since lunch.”

Simon responded that Erin didn’t have lots of plates, and maybe ran out of plates. Rogers said staff at Korumburra hospital ordered a number of tests and began treating Don and Gail for gastroenteritis.

Simon arrived at the hospital 12.15pm. It was then that Don told Simon that Erin had told them at the lunch that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

During that afternoon, testing revealed that Don and Gail’s lactate levels were elevated, indicating that they were really unwell.

A decision was then made to transfer the couple to Dandenong Hospital for further treatment about 5pm.

Rogers said that the Wilkinsons arrived at Leongatha Hospital before 11am.

They were assessed by a triage nurse and they were taken to a plaster isolation room.

The Wilkinsons informed their treating doctors that no food was served before the meal of beef Wellington. No alcohol was consumed at the lunch, Rogers said.

“The Wilkinsons had not eaten since the lunchtime meal, the day before symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea had started in the evening, and continued throughout the night,” she said.

Erin Patterson's lawyer tells jury mushroom poisoning deaths were 'a terrible accident' — as it happened

A Supreme Court jury hears opening submissions in the trial of Victorian woman Erin Patterson, who is accused of using a poisoned meal to murder three relatives. Look back at how it unfolded on our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

On the way to the hospital, Heather asked: “Is Erin short of crockery? I was wondering why she served herself on a different plate to the rest of us. I’ve puzzled about it since lunch.”

There’s that damning statement from a victim that we were all wondering about.

 

[SouthAussie]

I wonder if there was another poisoned Beef Wellington, in case SP did show up. And it later got broken up and flushed down the toilet.

 

[drsleuth]

12.31pm

Serious toxic syndrome from death caps: The aftermath of the meal​

By​

At Dandenong Hospital, Don Patterson was so unwell he had to go to the bathroom multiple times while being assessed by staff, Rogers said.

Tests revealed abnormal liver and kidney function, as well as elevated lactate levels.

Gail’s initial liver functions were mostly normal, the jury heard, and she did not appear to be as unwell as Don.

At about 10.20pm, a doctor at Dandenong Hospital telephoned the toxicology registrar on call, Dr Mark Douglas.


Erin Patterson.Credit: Jason South

The jury heard Dr Douglas expressed concerns that Don’s symptoms indicated a serious toxic syndrome from the ingestion of death cap mushrooms. At that point, a decision was made not to access an antidote drug for death cap mushrooms because there was not sufficient evidence to confirm they had ingested the fungi.

At 11.20pm, Don was taken to intensive care and started to be given the drug NAC shortly after midnight. Gail was given the same drug a while later.

Dr Douglas advised treatment as per the Austin guidelines for death cap mushroom poisoning, including by providing an antidote drug.

A treating doctor at Dandenong Hospital then called Dr Chris Webster at Leongatha Hospital to share concerns about the possibility that Gail and Don had been poisoned with death cap mushrooms and to suggest Ian and Heather be treated with NAC and the antidote drug, Rogers said.

A short time later, Don was sedated and intubated while Dr Douglas was reviewing Gail, the Wilkinsons arrived by ambulance from Leongatha Hospital, Rogers said.

All four guests were treated with activating charcoal, intravenous potent antibiotic, intravenous fluid replacement and NAC infusions. Eventually, all four were so unwell they were transferred to the intensive care unit at the Austin Hospital.

Alleged mushroom cook didn’t ingest death caps, ‘no record’ she had cancer, jury told: Trial day one, as it happened

Erin Patterson is facing trial after pleading not guilty over a fatal mushroom lunch. Today, Nanette Rogers, SC, will present the prosecution’s case against Patterson.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Detechtive]

Possible that the "leftovers" (that EP supposedly fed to the children later) had no risk of tainting with poison.

Cooked in different pans?

imo

Did she actually feed the children some of the pies? I read that somewhere, but perhaps it isn't true?From memory she said something to the media about scraping the mushrooms off the pies for the children. You would think that considering she baked separate pies, she just wouldn't put mushrooms in the children's ones. Mark them as mushroom free on the pastry?
So many questions.

 

[MsMarple]

12.20pm

‘I’ve puzzled about it since lunch’: Heather wondered why Erin served her guests with different plates​

​

After a short break, the jury returned to courtroom 4 of the Latrobe Valley legal precinct in Morwell to hear about the aftermath of the meal.

Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, said that about midnight on the night of the lunch, Heather and Ian started to suffer nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting. Around dawn on the morning after the lunch, Heather called Don and Gail, who said they had similar symptoms, had already called an ambulance.

About 8.45am, Don Patterson called his son to tell him they were sick. He told Simon he had called an ambulance, which was sent out at 8.34am. Don also told his son that Ian and Heather were experiencing the same symptoms.

At 9.15am an ambulance attended, and they were taken to Korumburra Hospital.

After speaking with Don, Simon tried to call Ian and Heather’s mobile phones. He ended up driving to the house. Ian and Heather were both worn out and vomiting.

When Ian was out of the room, Heather said that Erin put her food on a different plate from ours. She had wondered why that was.

Simon called 000 and was told it would be an hour until an ambulance came, so he drove them to Korumburra Hospital. But the hospital was at capacity, so Simon drove them to the Leongatha hospital.

On the way to the hospital, Heather asked: “Is Erin short of crockery? I was wondering why she served herself on a different plate to the rest of us. I’ve puzzled about it since lunch.”

Simon responded that Erin didn’t have lots of plates, and maybe ran out of plates. Rogers said staff at Korumburra hospital ordered a number of tests and began treating Don and Gail for gastroenteritis.

Simon arrived at the hospital 12.15pm. It was then that Don told Simon that Erin had told them at the lunch that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

During that afternoon, testing revealed that Don and Gail’s lactate levels were elevated, indicating that they were really unwell.

A decision was then made to transfer the couple to Dandenong Hospital for further treatment about 5pm.

Rogers said that the Wilkinsons arrived at Leongatha Hospital before 11am.

They were assessed by a triage nurse and they were taken to a plaster isolation room.

The Wilkinsons informed their treating doctors that no food was served before the meal of beef Wellington. No alcohol was consumed at the lunch, Rogers said.

“The Wilkinsons had not eaten since the lunchtime meal, the day before symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea had started in the evening, and continued throughout the night,” she said.

Erin Patterson's lawyer tells jury mushroom poisoning deaths were 'a terrible accident' — as it happened

A Supreme Court jury hears opening submissions in the trial of Victorian woman Erin Patterson, who is accused of using a poisoned meal to murder three relatives. Look back at how it unfolded on our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

The Wilkinsons informed their treating doctors that no food was served before the meal of beef Wellington. No alcohol was consumed at the lunch, Rogers said.

“The Wilkinsons had not eaten since the lunchtime meal, the day before symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea had started in the evening, and continued throughout the night,” she said.
———
And so much for the theory that the couples stopped off for a coffee and snack at some restaurant that day.

 

[drsleuth]

Defendant said her children ate meal but with mushrooms scraped off - prosecutionpublished at 12:34
12:34​

Katy Watson
Australia correspondent, reporting from court

We are getting more details of Erin Patterson's visit to the hospital.

The prosecution says the accused repeatedly declined to stay and kept saying she was not prepared to be admitted, just coming to be checked.

Ms Patterson said her children hadn’t been present at the lunch but had eaten some of the leftovers the next day, the court hears - but that the mushrooms had been scraped off as the children didn’t like mushrooms.

Medical staff said the children needed to be brought to the hospital as a matter of priority because they’d eaten the food, albeit with the mushrooms scraped off, the prosecution says.

The jury are shown a photo of Erin at hospital, with her hands in the air, talking to a nurse.

Erin Patterson: Trial begins for Australia woman accused of toxic mushroom lunch

Erin Patterson, from Victoria, is facing three counts of murder and one of attempted murder over the alleged beef wellington poisoning in July 2023.

www.bbc.com

 

[Detechtive]

On the way to the hospital, Heather asked: “Is Erin short of crockery? I was wondering why she served herself on a different plate to the rest of us. I’ve puzzled about it since lunch.”

There’s that damning statement from a victim that we were all wondering about.

She speaks from the grave. It is chilling.

 

[drsleuth]

5m ago

Erin Patterson refused hospital care, jury told​

By Judd Boaz​

Reporting by Kristian Silva

Two days after the lunch, Erin Patterson told Simon Patterson she was having diarrhoea "every 20 minutes and thought she should go to hospital", Dr Rogers said.

Ms Patterson went to the Leongatha Hospital's urgent care centre, where she was met by doctor Chris Webster, who was aware of the other lunch guests' serious illnesses.

"She told him her name was Erin Patterson. Realising she was the fifth lunch attendee, Dr Webster immediately let the accused into the urgent care centre," Dr Rogers said.

Dr Webster explained to Ms Patterson that she had been exposed to a potentially lethal dose of mushrooms and asked where she had obtained them from.

"The accused replied she had bought them at Woolworths," Dr Rogers said.

Dr Rogers said Ms Patterson declined to be admitted to hospital and sat on a chair.

"The accused repeatedly said she needed to leave," the prosecutor said.

"She was adamant she would not stay."

Erin Patterson's lawyer tells jury mushroom poisoning deaths were 'a terrible accident' — as it happened

A Supreme Court jury hears opening submissions in the trial of Victorian woman Erin Patterson, who is accused of using a poisoned meal to murder three relatives. Look back at how it unfolded on our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[SouthAussie]

Ian and Heather Wilkinson ate all their portions. Gail Patterson ate half and gave the rest to husband Donald – he ate his portion and half of Gail's. Erin Patterson also ate a beef wellington.

Don Patterson must have had a lot of poison, after eating 1½ Beef Wellingtons. Even though he died the day after Gail and Heather. Maybe he was a bit heavier in weight, a bit sturdier, or his body metabolised his food slower.


At Dandenong Hospital, Don Patterson was so unwell he had to go to the bathroom multiple times while being assessed by staff, Rogers said. (from above links)


imo

 

[Detechtive]

Don Patterson must have had a lot of poison, after eating 1½ Beef Wellingtons. Even though he died the day after Gail and Heather. Maybe he was a bit heavier in weight, a bit sturdier, or his body metabolised his food slower.

imo

I was reading how men and women react to poisoning differently. Men are less likely to die as quickly and it has to do with body weight, but also something about metabolism and hormones. IMO

 

[drsleuth]

Erin Patterson 'was adamant she wouldn't stay at hospital', says prosecutor​

12:37​

Simon Atkinson
Australia producer, reporting from court

The prosecution says the accused repeatedly told medical staff at the hospital she needed to leave.

“I haven’t come prepared to be admitted to hospital, I was coming to be checked,” she said, according to the prosecutor.

“She was adamant she would not stay,” though was told she was at risk given how critically ill the others were.

The jurors are shown a CCTV still image of a doctor and nurse at the hospital door discouraging Ms Patterson from leaving. She signed a form discharging herself, against medical advice, says the prosecution.

Doctor at hospital called the police, court hears​

12:40​

Simon Atkinson
Australia producer, reporting from court

The prosecution says a doctor at the Leongatha Hospital Erin Patterson had visited called the police.

He gave the officers Ms Patterson’s Leongatha address.

Erin Patterson said mushrooms were from Woolworths and Asian grocer - prosecution
12:43​

Tiffanie Turnbull
Live reporter

The prosecution says on the Monday morning - almost 48 hours after the lunch on Saturday - Erin Patterson is called by her brother-in-law.

He asks where the mushrooms came from, the prosecution tells the court.

"The accused said that were two sources of mushrooms," prosecutor Nanette Rogers says - fresh mushrooms from Woolworths, and dried mushrooms from anAsian grocery near Melbourne.

Erin Patterson: Trial begins for Australia woman accused of toxic mushroom lunch

Erin Patterson, from Victoria, is facing three counts of murder and one of attempted murder over the alleged beef wellington poisoning in July 2023.

www.bbc.com

 

[SouthAussie]

Dr Webster explained to Ms Patterson that she had been exposed to a potentially lethal dose of mushrooms and asked where she had obtained them from.


"The accused replied she had bought them at Woolworths," Dr Rogers said.

Wonder when EP decided that the mushrooms also came from an "Asian grocery store".

ETA: Oh, 48 hours later she told her brother in law about the Asian grocery store. (as per link posted above)

 

[drsleuth]

12.40pm

Children’s meal was not contaminated with death cap mushrooms: Prosecution​

​

The jury has started to hear about Erin Patterson’s movements after the beef Wellington lunch.

On Sunday morning, July 30, 2023, Erin’s son came downstairs and found his mother drinking coffee at the dining table. Erin said she was sick with diarrhoea and that she may not be able to go to church, Rogers said.

Her son told Erin she didn’t need to go to his flying lessons that afternoon if she was sick. However, Erin insisted they should go.

Later that morning, Simon Patterson spoke to Erin over the phone about Gail, Don, Ian and Heather feeling unwell. Erin told Simon she had been feeling unwell too.

Around 2.30pm, Erin left her home in Leongatha to drop her son off at his flying lesson.

“They drove without any indication from the accused that she needed to use the toilet,” Rogers said.

CCTV footage showed Erin entering a public toilet at a service station and exiting nine seconds later, the jury was told. When they arrived, the lesson was cancelled due to poor weather. Erin drove back without needing to use the toilet.

That night, they ate a dinner of mashed potatoes, beans, and meat around 5.30pm. Erin told the children they were leftovers from lunch, Rogers said.

“The prosecution asserts that the children’s meal was not contaminated with death cap mushrooms,” she said.

Alleged mushroom cook didn’t ingest death caps, ‘no record’ she had cancer, jury told: Trial day one, as it happened

Erin Patterson is facing trial after pleading not guilty over a fatal mushroom lunch. Today, Nanette Rogers, SC, will present the prosecution’s case against Patterson.

www.theage.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

6m ago

Prosecution says Ms Patterson checked herself out of hospital​

By Judd Boaz​

Reporting by Kristian Silva

Erin Patterson discharged herself from the Leongatha Hospital against medical advice, Dr Rogers said.

Doctors were not only concerned for Ms Patterson, but for her children, the prosecutor said.

It was because Ms Patterson said the children had also eaten meat from the Saturday lunch meal.

"The accused said the mushrooms had been scraped off as the children did not like mushrooms," Ms Rogers said.

The court was shown an image from a security camera showing Ms Patterson leaving the hospital, while talking to medical staff.

One of the doctors at the hospital, Chris Webster, became so concerned for Ms Patterson that he left repeated voicemails, saying he'd consider calling the police to bring her back.

Erin Patterson's lawyer tells jury mushroom poisoning deaths were 'a terrible accident' — as it happened

A Supreme Court jury hears opening submissions in the trial of Victorian woman Erin Patterson, who is accused of using a poisoned meal to murder three relatives. Look back at how it unfolded on our live blog.

www.abc.net.au