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

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Prosecution leaves motive for alleged murders up in the air​

By Judd Boaz​

Reporting by Kristian Silva

As she comes to the end of her opening address, Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC tells the jury not to be "over-awed" by the volume of information she's presented.

She addresses a topic that hasn't come up yet — what was Ms Patterson's alleged motive?

In short, she says the prosecution won't be suggesting that there was a particular motive for Ms Patterson to commit an alleged triple murder and an alleged attempted murder.

But, Dr Rogers reminds the jury, motive is not one of the things the prosecution needs to establish for a jury to find the charges proved.

"Motive is not something that has to be proven by the prosecution," Dr Rogers says.

"The prosecution will not be suggesting that there was a particular motive to do what she did."

The court now takes a short break.

Ms Patterson's defence barrister Colin Mandy SC will be up next.

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

 

[JBowie]

the prosecution will not be suggesting a particular motive for Ms Patterson's alleged actions.

"Motive is not something that has to be proven by the prosecution... you do not have to be satisfied what the motive was, or even that there was one."

While true, it sure helps a Prosecution case if a feasible motive can be suggested based on tendered evidence such as emails, letters, etc.

Without a proposed motive, the Defence will likely (surely?) take the line: "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: What possible motive would the defendant have for wanting to kill all of these people, her extended family?"

 

[drsleuth]

Ok what's her defence going to be?? She was set-up? Maybe by Simon?

Very interested to see what it is.........

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I don't know many people who only have 4 large plates.

I only have one set of four large plates. Used to be a set of six.

 

[Detechtive]

Prosecution: It is our case Erin Patterson deliberately poisoned guests to kill them​

15:24​

Simon Atkinson
Australia producer, reporting from court

As she begins to close her remarks, prosecutor Nanette Rogers says: "It is the prosecution's case that the accused deliberately poisoned, with murderous intent, Gail Patterson, Don Patterson, Heather Wilkinson and Ian Wilkinson... after inviting them for lunch on the pretenceshe’d been diagnosed with cancer."

Dr Rogers also says Erin Patterson lied about her children eating leftovers from the meal, lied about buying the dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery store, and dumped the food dehydrator she used to make the meal to hide the evidence.

'We will not be suggesting a motive' - prosecutor​

15:24​

“You might be wondering, ‘What is the motive?" Nanette Rogers says.

“You might still be wondering this at the end of this trial.”

She explains that the prosecution will not be suggesting a particular motive for Ms Patterson's alleged actions.

"Motive is not something that has to be proven by theprosecution... you do not have to be satisfied what the motive was, or even thatthere was one."

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

This is interesting. So many people get caught out on what a motive is, but actually, many motives are not rational, especially when the person accused has some sort of major personality disorder (not saying Erin does, just speaking generally).

It looks like the prosecution are relying on the motive being inexplicable, which it certainly appears to be.

 

[Bats]

Ok what's her defence going to be?? She was set-up? Maybe by Simon?

Very interested to see what it is.........

Thanks for all the updates today @drsleuth !

 

[JBowie]

Ok what's her defence going to be?? She was set-up? Maybe by Simon?

Very interested to see what it is.........

My guess is that she'll probably claim that it's all the result of a terrible accident following a bunch of unfortunate and unavoidable coincidences.

 

[Detechtive]

I only have one set of four large plates. Used to be a set of six.

I buy dinner sets x 4 when I renew them. So i always have at least 16 of the same set.

I honestly don't know anyone who only has 4 sets of plates. Maybe you do, but that doesn't seem common. Regardless, it is still odd that the smaller plate was a totally different colour, and also a different size, in my opinion.

This whole case is so odd.

 

[drsleuth]

3.39pm

Patterson did factory resets of phone​

By​

Prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, is detailing how Erin Patterson carried out three separate factory resets on her phone, including one remotely after it was seized by police on August 6, 2023.

Rogers has told the jury that during a police interview, Erin told officers she had never dehydrated food, she did not own a dehydrator and did not know anything about a dehydrator in her house. She later said she could have owned one years ago.

Erin’s medical files were also examined by an intensive care specialist who found “no evidence that the accused suffered an acute illness on 30 July [2023], and no evidence that she developed a liver injury or suffered significant liver damage. Her vital signs and other test results were not suggestive of other acute illness or injury.”

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

BBM :

 

[drsleuth]

I buy dinner sets x 4 when I renew them. So i always have at least 16 of the same set.

I honestly don't know anyone who only has 4 sets of plates. Maybe you do, but that doesn't seem common. Regardless, it is still odd that the smaller plate was a totally different colour, and also a different size, in my opinion.

This whole case is so odd.

Especially with the kids, it's not like she lived alone!

 

[drsleuth]

I think the motive was $$$$'s IMO

 

[JLZ]

2m ago

Police find dehydrator at landfill​

​

By Judd Boaz​

The prosecution says Ms Patterson drove her red 4WD to the Koonwarra Transfer Station And Landfill, and paid to dump an e-waste bag.

The next day, police made contact with the Koonwarra Transfer Station And Landfill.

The only item in the bin was a black Sunbeam dehydrator with six trays inside.

A picture of the dehydrator was shown to the court.

Police searched bins at the Koonwarra Transfer Station during their investigation. (ABC News)
The dehydrator was forensically examined, with samples of plant matter collected.

Dr Rogers says Ms Patterson's fingerprints were found on the recovered dehydrator.

The prosecutor says in a subsequent police interview, Ms Patterson told police she had never owned or used a dehydrator, before telling police she “might” have owned one years ago.

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

Greened by me. I am covering my eyes at this point.

 

[Detechtive]

Especially with the kids, it's not like she lived alone!

Agree!

3.39pm

Patterson did factory resets of phone​

By​

Prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, is detailing how Erin Patterson carried out three separate factory resets on her phone, including one remotely after it was seized by police on August 6, 2023.

Rogers has told the jury that during a police interview, Erin told officers she had never dehydrated food, she did not own a dehydrator and did not know anything about a dehydrator in her house. She later said she could have owned one years ago.

Erin’s medical files were also examined by an intensive care specialist who found “no evidence that the accused suffered an acute illness on 30 July [2023], and no evidence that she developed a liver injury or suffered significant liver damage. Her vital signs and other test results were not suggestive of other acute illness or injury.”

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

BBM :

Wow!!!!!!

 

[drsleuth]

Defence begins opening statementpublished at 15:41
15:41​

Simon Atkinson
Australia producer, reporting from court

The prosecution's opening statement has finished and the defence is beginning theirs.

Colin Mandy, acting for Ms Patterson, tells the jury: "That address was detailed because it has to be, but it was not actual evidence."

"It is the way the prosecution expects the evidence will unfold. The actual evidence is what you’ll hear through the trial."

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]

Prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, is detailing how Erin Patterson carried out three separate factory resets on her phone, including one remotely after it was seized by police on August 6, 2023.

Amazing. Explain that one.

Rogers has told the jury that during a police interview, Erin told officers she had never dehydrated food, she did not own a dehydrator and did not know anything about a dehydrator in her house. She later said she could have owned one years ago.

Yet we read from the Prosecution that she was on Facebook raving about her new dehydrator.

The thing about lying is that you have to remember what you said to whom and when.

 

[drsleuth]

'What happened was a terrible accident' - defencepublished at 15:44
15:44​

Tiffanie Turnbull
Live reporter

Mr Mandy says the defence accepts that the three alleged victims died, and the fourth became seriously unwell, because of death cap mushrooms in the meal Ms Patterson served them.

But he says Ms Patterson is innocent.

"This case is all about Erin Patterson’s intention," he says.

"The defence case it that Erin Patterson did not deliberately servepoisoned food to her guests.

"She didn’t intend to cause anyone any harm on that day... what happened was a tragedy, a terrible accident."

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]

I think the motive was $$$$'s IMO

Not sure. I think she was pretty comfortable.

"She didn’t intend to cause anyone any harm on that day... what happened was a tragedy, a terrible accident."

Bing!

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Deaths 'a terrible accident', defence says​

​

By Judd Boaz​

Reporting by Kristian Silva

Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC rises to his feet to address the jury after the break.

He says at this stage of the trial, he's limited with what he can say and the extent to which he can argue with Ms Rogers's openings.

That's for legal reasons, he says, and that his time to forcefully put his case will come at the end once all the evidence has come out.

Mr Mandy says it's not in dispute that the lunch guests fell sick and three died as a result of eating death cap mushrooms.

The main dispute, he says, is Ms Patterson's intentions.

"DId she intend to kill these four people? That's an issue," he says.

"Erin Patterson did not deliberately serve poisoned food to her guests.

"The defence case is what happened was a tragedy and a terrible accident.

"She's innocent."

Defence warns jury to ignore media coverage and 'theories'​

15:50​

Simon Atkinson
Australia producer, reporting from court

"You would be aware that the media is fascinated by this case," says Mr Mandy, reminding the jurors that their judgement can’t be influenced by anything they’ve heard outside of the courtroom - in the news, or from family and friends.

"Lots of people might have opinions or theories, but theyaren’t based on the evidence... none of that should have any bearing on yourdecision."

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

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]

Defence reiterates principle of 'innocent until proven guilty'​

By Judd Boaz​

Reporting by Kristian Silva

Like Justice Christopher Beale yesterday, Mr Mandy reminds the jurors they are the judges of the facts.

He tells them Ms Patterson is innocent until proven guilty.

"It's not just something people say. It's a fundamental principle and it protects all of us," he says.

He says allegations are easy to make but proving them is what matters.

Theatrically stretching his arms out wide, Mr Mandy says it's a long way between allegations being made and the charges being proved.

Then he addresses the widespread interest that the mushroom case has garnered.

"You'd be aware he media's fascinated by this case," he says.

"Lots of people might have opinions or theories but they aren't based on the evidence."

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]

3.49pm

‘No record’ Erin Patterson had a cancer diagnosis​

​

The intensive care specialist found there was no sufficient evidence in the files provided to support the assertion that Erin Patterson was diagnosed with cancer in mid-2023, prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, told the jury.

A self-administered screening test for cervical cancer, which was completed on March 2, 2023 was negative, and there were notes indicating that the accused was advised of this negative result three weeks later, the jury heard.

“Victorian Cancer Registry, which maintains a record of people with cancer in Victoria, has no record of the accused having received a cancer diagnosis,” Rogers said.

3.54pm

Accused didn’t have cancer, didn’t ingest death cap mushrooms: prosecutor​

​

Prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, told the jury it’s the prosecution case that Erin Patterson didn’t ingest death cap mushrooms at the lunch on July 29, 2023 and didn’t suffer from amanita poisoning.

“It is also the prosecution case that the accused had not been diagnosed with cancer prior to the lunch, and her claim in this regard was deliberately false,” Rogers told the jury.

“It is the prosecution case that the accused used the false claim that she had serious medical issues to ensure and to explain why the children would not be present 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