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

[drsleuth]

1.23pm

Erin Patterson pushed to be released from hospital​

By​

A doctor assessing Erin Patterson formed the impression that the accused was moderately dehydrated and appeared to have a gastrointestinal type illness, the jury was told.

“Blood tests did not reveal any metabolic acidosis or electrolyte disturbers, and you’ll hear about though, what they mean, but they’re both indicators of a person being very unwell,” prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, said in her opening address.

Rogers said Erin told the doctor that she wanted to be discharged so she could pick up her children from school so they could all go to the Monash Medical Centre together.

The doctor advised Erin against leaving the hospital as it would not be safe, Rogers told the jury, but Erin said there was no one else to pick up the children.

The doctor asked if Simon Patterson could assist, but Erin replied she did not feel that would be in the children’s best interests, the jury heard.

Rogers said Erin didn’t seem concerned about the children’s health but rather about stressing them out after being told by hospital staff that the children should be reviewed if they had eaten the leftovers from the lunch.

About midday on July 31, 2023 – two days after lunch – doctors started treating Erin with a protective drug for the liver and arrangements were made to transfer her to another 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

BBB -

 

[MsMarple]

Rogers said Patterson told Simon she was concerned about driving the children around that day because she was having regular bouts of diarrhea.

“This was the first time Simon heard of the accused feeling unwell,” Rogers said.

Later that afternoon, Patterson left her home to drive one of her children to a flying lesson in a town about an hour away.

However, the flying instruction called Patterson to cancel the session due to bad weather, and Patterson drove the family home.

Rogers said CCTV showed Patterson stopping at shops on the way home and she did not exhibit behaviours consistent with having diarrhea.

Rogers said one of the couple’s children said did not see Patterson regularly using the bathroom that evening, however, the other child did see her go to the bathroom several times.

The following morning, Patterson spoke to Simon and told him she was still experiencing regular diarrhea.

Rogers said Simon advised Patterson to go to hospital, which she did.

Erin Patterson ‘hiding’ dehydrated mushrooms ‘in everything’, court hears

The mother is accused of killing three people with poisonous death cap mushrooms.

7news.com.au

It doesn’t sound like Erin was experiencing gastrointestinal distress, more like a case of making stuff up IMo.

And honestly, how many mothers would downplay potential lethal poisoning of their kids? She didn’t want to stress them out? WTH is wrong with her?
JMO

 

[SouthAussie]

Makes me think of that book again ....

M William Phelps book (Lethal Guardian). He noted, as said by detectives, that (alleged) murderers who are not professionals - hit men - often do not plan for after the event. They plan for the murder, and don't plan very well for afterwards.

imo

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/erin-patterson-trial-jury-set-to-hear-crowns-case-against-alleged-lunch-poisoner/news-story/cc109ac4276a75ec77788fbc4c390c7d

She allegedly said she purchased 500g of sliced button mushrooms from Woolworths and also used a packet of dried mushrooms purchased from a Chinese grocer in the Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh in April 2023.

The prosecutor said Ms Patterson was later moved to Monash children’s hospital where Simon and their two children attended.

The children were examined and found to not be ill, Dr Rogers said.

Ms Patterson was interviewed by the hospital’s public health director, allegedly saying she could not remember where the dried mushrooms were purchased and denied she used foraged mushrooms.

Alleged mushroom poisoner checked out of hospital against advice, jury told

Dr Rogers told the jury Ms Patterson self-presented to hospital at 8am on Monday, July 31 – two days after the lunch.

She said Ms Patterson complained about gastrointestinal symptoms and was advised she had potentially ingested a lethal dose of death cap mushrooms.

“The accused repeatedly said she needed to leave… she was adamant that she would not stay,” the prosecutor said.

She left at 8.10am against medical advice, Dr Rogers said.

The prosecutor told the court Leongatha Hospital’s Dr Chris Webster took the step of calling police for a welfare check, who visited her home.

Ms Patterson returned to the hospital at 9. 45am, Dr Rogers said.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So she rocks up @ 8am & wanting to leave by 8:10am , why even go???

 

[drsleuth]

Rogers said Patterson told Simon she was concerned about driving the children around that day because she was having regular bouts of diarrhea.

“This was the first time Simon heard of the accused feeling unwell,” Rogers said.

Later that afternoon, Patterson left her home to drive one of her children to a flying lesson in a town about an hour away.

However, the flying instruction called Patterson to cancel the session due to bad weather, and Patterson drove the family home.

Rogers said CCTV showed Patterson stopping at shops on the way home and she did not exhibit behaviours consistent with having diarrhea.

Rogers said one of the couple’s children said did not see Patterson regularly using the bathroom that evening, however, the other child did see her go to the bathroom several times.

The following morning, Patterson spoke to Simon and told him she was still experiencing regular diarrhea.

Rogers said Simon advised Patterson to go to hospital, which she did.

Erin Patterson ‘hiding’ dehydrated mushrooms ‘in everything’, court hears

The mother is accused of killing three people with poisonous death cap mushrooms.

7news.com.au

It doesn’t sound like Erin was experiencing gastrointestinal distress, more like a case of making stuff up IMo.

And honestly, how many mothers would downplay potential lethal poisoning of their kids? She didn’t want to stress them out? WTH is wrong with her?
JMO

Or she had GI upset due to what she had allegedly done! IMO

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.austin.org.au/Assets/Files/Amanita%20Guideline_July%202024.pdf

Amanita poisoning ( death cap mushroom poisoning ) treatment

 

[MsMarple]

Makes me think of that book again ....

M William Phelps book (Lethal Guardian). He noted, as said by detectives, that (alleged) murderers who are not professionals - hit men - often do not plan for after the event. They plan for the murder, and don't plan very well for afterwards.

imo

Funny, I was just thinking the same thing. It sure fits in this case.

 

[MsMarple]

Two days after the lunch, Professor Rhonda Stuart, the director of public health and infection prevention at Monash Health, attended the Monash Medical Centre and met with Erin Patterson, who was in a bay at the emergency department with Simon and their children, the court heard.

Erin Patterson.CREDIT: JASON SOUTH

About 6pm on July 31, 2023, Erin told Stuart she took the dried mushrooms she bought at a grocer out of a packet and put them in a plastic container a few weeks before, prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, told the jury.

“She said she chopped all mushrooms and used them all. She said she had not used any of the dried mushrooms before preparing the lunch. She said she could not remember if the Chinese food shop was in Oakleigh or Glen Waverley,” Rogers said.

Rogers told the jury Erin denied picking or finding any other mushrooms, and said she had not used any other fungi in the beef Wellington served at the lunch.

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]

Wow alot following this case, over 5700 From the BBC site

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

 

[JBowie]

So at the end of the lunch EP told her (now deceased) dinner guests that she had ovarian cancer:

A court has heard that accused death cap mushroom cook Erin Patterson invited her in-laws to lunch to discuss her potential battle with cancer.

Senior prosecution lawyer Nanette Rogers SC told Latrobe Valley Court on April 30, during her opening statement, that Ms Patterson had hosted the family at her home after a lump was found on her elbow.

She allegedly told the family that tests revealed ovarian cancer and that she was seeking their guidance in telling her children.

Cannot wait for the defence to supply verified evidence of any such cancer diagnosis, but won't be holding my breath in the meantime.

Bombshell cancer revelation in Erin Patterson's death cap mushroom trial

'Is Erin short of crockery? I've puzzled about it since lunch.'

www.thesenior.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

27m ago

Sketching inside court​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

Cameras aren't allowed inside court which means the only pictures of Erin Patterson that we've seen have come from Paul Tyquin.

Paul is a sketch artist who has been hired by Australian media outlets for this trial.

He's covered many other high-profile trials in the past including that of Greg Lynn, who was found guilty of a Victorian High Country murder, and Patrick Orren Stephenson who has been accused of murdering Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy.

A sketch of Erin Patterson at court on Tuesday. (Paul Tyquin)
He says he usually uses grey lead pencils and good quality drawing paper before applying colour.

"We do a photocopy of the drawing, and then I can colour using marker pens," he says.

Paul applied colour to the sketch using Photoshop. (Paul Tyquin)
Paul says the accused sometimes only appears in court for a few minutes which really puts the pressure on his work.

"Sometimes they're really rushed, you know, sometimes you might only get a couple of minutes. You have to sort of really observe carefully ... then finish it off from memory," he says.

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]

1.45pm

Mushroom specialist called to help diagnosis​

​

Two days after the lunch, a hospital toxicologist called a research scientist at the Royal Botanic Gardens specialising in mycology, the jury was told.

About 12.30pm on July 31, 2023, the toxicologist raised concerns with Dr Camille Truong about the suspected death cap mushroom poisoning cases, and sent the specialist a photo of the leftovers, prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, said in her opening address.

But Truong advised that she could not identify a mushroom from the image of a meal.

Arrangements were then made for the leftover beef Wellington to be transported to the Royal Botanic Gardens for identification, Rogers said.

The jury heard that about that same time, ambulance paramedics arrived at Leongatha Hospital to take Erin Patterson to Monash Medical Centre.

The paramedics were also tasked to take the leftover beef Wellington to Monash Medical Centre for testing.

During the ambulance trip, Erin said half of the mushrooms came from her local Woolworths store and the other half came in a dried form from a Chinese grocer in Melbourne, Rogers told the jury.

1.55pm

Erin Patterson reported eating half her lunch​

​

Two days after the lunch, Professor Rhonda Stuart, the director of public health and infection prevention at Monash Health, attended the Monash Medical Centre and met with Erin Patterson, who was in a bay at the emergency department with Simon and their children, the court heard.


Erin Patterson.Credit: Jason South

About 6pm on July 31, 2023, Erin told Stuart she took the dried mushrooms she bought at a grocer out of a packet and put them in a plastic container a few weeks before, prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, told the jury.

“She said she chopped all mushrooms and used them all. She said she had not used any of the dried mushrooms before preparing the lunch. She said she could not remember if the Chinese food shop was in Oakleigh or Glen Waverley,” Rogers said.

Rogers told the jury Erin denied picking or finding any other mushrooms, and said she had not used any other fungi in the beef Wellington served at the lunch.

Erin told Stuart that she’d eaten half her meal, Rogers told the jury, and that Don Patterson had eaten his plus some of his wife’s. There were also leftovers from the lunch, which Erin served her children the following day, but with the mushroom paste scraped off.

Rogers said that although the children had no symptoms, they stayed in the hospital overnight for observation.

Erin was placed in a room nearby and also stayed overnight.

“During his time at the hospital, Simon did not see the accused vomiting or rushing off to the toilet,” Rogers 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

 

[JLZ]

So she rocks up @ 8am & wanting to leave by 8:10am , why even go???

I'm finding the reporting of her attendances unclear. She can't turn up at emergency, be assessed and admitted, and then sign to discharge herself against medical advice all in ten minutes. I think she wasn't admitted that first time, and she probably arrived earlier than 8am.

 

[drsleuth]

Small courtroom for such a major trial
14:30​

Simon Atkinson
Australia producer, reporting from court

Court 4 - where the trial is being held - is smaller than would usually be used for major trials.

For example there are only six seats allocated each day for the media - and these are being allocated by ballot.

The rest of us are sitting in an overflow courtroom where we can see the barristers and judge on a TV screen - and hear all of the proceedings.

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

 

[drsleuth]

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

12m ago

The hearing has resumed​

By Joseph Dunstan​

Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC has continued to outline the case against Erin Patterson.

5m ago

Inside Courtroom 4​

By Judd Boaz​

Reporting by Kristian Silva

Unfortunately, we're not allowed to snap photos or take videos inside the court.

But here's a bit of a description of Courtroom 4. It's relatively modern, with wood panelling throughout.

Indigenous artworks adorn the wall on the right-hand side of the room, where the 15 seats of the jury box are located. To the left is the witness box and a window.

The judge sits at the head of the room, elevated above the rest. Directly in front of him are his associates and court staff.

A large wooden bar table occupies the centre of the court, shared by Ms Patterson's defence team, the prosecution and their folders and laptops.

There are three rows of seats for the public towards the back of the room.

Finally, there's the court dock for the accused, where Ms Patterson is sitting.

Two court security guards are next to her, along with a computer screen that allows her to view any exhibits that are put up on the court's screens.


3m ago

Ms Patterson passes health tests at hospital, jury hears​

By Judd Boaz​

Continuing from where we left off before lunch, Ms Patterson was transported to Monash Medical Centre, and was tested further by doctors.

Doctors at Monash found that Ms Patterson was clinically well and showed no signs of poisoning, crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC said.

Child protection workers visited the hospital and judged that Ms Patterson’s children could remain with her, and she was discharged.

After being discharged, the prosecution says Ms Patterson reiterated many points she had told doctors, these being:

• She had made beef Wellington, green beans, mashed potato and packet gravy for lunch
• She had experienced diarrhoea after eating the lunch
• She had purchased dried mushrooms at an Asian grocer
• She had had kept the dried mushrooms for months before using them

 

[MsMarple]

Patterson had “no signs of death cap poisoning”​

The court has heard testing while Patterson was at hospital found there was no “biological or chemical evidence” that she was experiencing death cap poisoning.

Erin Patterson ‘hiding’ dehydrated mushrooms ‘in everything’, court hears

The mother is accused of killing three people with poisonous death cap mushrooms.

7news.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

2.37pm

Mushrooms initially smelt funny, jury told​

​

Prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, has resumed her opening address to the jury after the court stopped for a lunch break.

Rogers told the jury that on August 1, 2023, a toxicologist registrar reviewed Erin Patterson at Monash Medical Centre, and found there was no clinical or biochemical evidence of death cap mushrooms. Erin was later discharged, Rogers said.

Sally Ann Atkinson, from Victoria’s Department of Health, spoke to Erin for 4½ hours on August 1 before she was discharged from hospital.

In that conversation, Rogers said, Erin told Atkinson that the lunch had consisted of beef Wellington, mashed potato and beans served with gravy from a reheated packet. Erin said she’d purchased most of the ingredients – including most of the mushrooms – from Woolworths in Leongatha, but she also bought some dried mushrooms from an Asian grocer in either Clayton, Mount Waverley or Oakleigh.

Rogers said Erin described the mushrooms as smelling funny, but they were OK when she used them, so she had stored what was left for several months until she came to use them again.

Erin told Atkinson the recipe for the beef Wellington required one kilogram of mushrooms simmered down into a paste, so she decided to use the mushrooms bought from the grocer and rehydrated them before chopping them into pieces and adding them to the rest of the mushrooms.

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]

2m ago

Investigation into mushrooms begins​

By Judd Boaz​

Reporting by Kristian Silva

Dr Rogers said the Victorian Department of Health began an urgent investigation to find the source of the mushrooms.

After being told some were purchased from an unspecified Asian grocer in the Oakleigh area, the department enlisted the help of the Monash City Council.

A council officer went round to Asian grocers in the council, looking for dried and fresh mushroom products."

"He was not able to find any product fitting the description of the dried mushrooms that the accused had provided," Dr Rogers 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

 

[drsleuth]

Health officials could not find similar mushrooms for sale, court hears
14:41​

Tiffanie Turnbull
Live reporter

We're just back from the lunch break and the prosecution is explaining that authorities in Victoria were concerned about the public health risk after Ms Patterson said she'd brought the mushrooms - not foraged them.

The 50-year-old said some were bought fresh from her local Woolworths, but the rest were brought dried from an Asian grocery in a Melbourne suburb, though she couldn't remember exactly which one, the court hears.

The prosecutors say health investigators set out to visit any Asian groceries or fruit and veg sellers in the suburbs Ms Patterson suggested.

The accused had said they had been in clear packaging, and were unbranded with a white handwritten label. She could not find any evidence on her bank statement for the purchase and told officials she had probably used cash.

After visiting more than a dozen stores, the health investigator was not able to find any product fitting the description Ms Patterson had provided, and they had received no other reports of people falling ill in the sameway as the lunch guests.

No products were recalled.

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

 

[drsleuth]

3m ago

Three of the lunch party died in hospital​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr Rogers told the jury that as the investigation got underway, Gail, Don, Ian and Heather remained in a critical condition at Austin Hospital.

Given the absence of any other cause, the knowledge they had all eaten the same meal and their symptoms, medical staff treated it as a mushroom-poisoning case.

Don underwent a liver transplant, and during surgery doctors noticed tissue damage to his internal organs.

Medical professionals determined that Gail was too ill to survive a surgical intervention.

Gail, Don and Heather continued to deteriorate and medical staff determined that further treatment would be in vain.

Heather passed on August 4 at 2:05am.

Gail passed away later that day at 5:55pm.

Don died on August 5 at 11:30pm.

They all died from liver dysfunction, linked to poisoning from amatoxins.

Ian’s condition improved, and he was discharged onto the rehabilitation ward on September 11.

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