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I wonder why he felt uncomfortable going to lunch when his parents were going? If anyone's parents were going to something like this, wouldn't you want to go as well to be there?
Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #7 *Arrest*
- Thread starter TootsieFootsie
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I wonder why he felt uncomfortable going to lunch when his parents were going? If anyone's parents were going to something like this, wouldn't you want to go as well to be there?
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Where did $2m go?????
I'm beginning to see that she was a whole heckuva lot of push me-pull you.
Air traffic controller. Maybe that's the crux. When she felt like she was losing control over ... her autonomy, her husband's automony (control she never should have had), her children, finances, etc, she went postal. In a very Munchausen way.
And a twist on 'if I can't have you, no one can', in the order of 'I don't want you but don't ever leave me'. Hello, Codependency.
Me, forget the cap mushrooms and last supper, I cannot get my head around faking cancer. Sure, I suppose if you're going to off everyone on your guest list so they're long dead before the symptoms of your imaginary disease never show up.
Faking cancer, concoction a dinner party, choreographed to remove little ears so they don't hear the discussion about a cancer no one has...
I get the impression that she needed drama in her life, and where she found it lacking, she simply invented more.
And when she felt she was losing her power over him, she started looking for a way an ultimate way to prevent it.
JMO
5m ago22.37 EDT
As Simon is dropping off the children, he notices his parents’ car outside Erin’s house in Leongatha.
He doesn’t see or talk to anyone as he drops off his son and friend. Simon and his daughter then drive back to his home in Korumburra which he describes as their usual Saturday routine.
He returns to Erin’s house in Leongatha to drop off his daughter around 9pm.
Simon says he had no communication with his parents or his aunt and uncle that evening.
As Simon is dropping off the children, he notices his parents’ car outside Erin’s house in Leongatha.
He doesn’t see or talk to anyone as he drops off his son and friend. Simon and his daughter then drive back to his home in Korumburra which he describes as their usual Saturday routine.
He returns to Erin’s house in Leongatha to drop off his daughter around 9pm.
Simon says he had no communication with his parents or his aunt and uncle that evening.
7m ago
Simon Patterson is explaining the events on the afternoon of the lunch and the following day, as he remembers them.
He recalls picking up his children and a friend from a cinema around 2:30pm and driving them back to Erin Patterson's house in Leongatha, but he did not get out of the car or speak to anyone at the house.
He says he saw his parents' car at the house but did not see them.
The following morning, he says he received a phone call from his father saying he and his wife had been sick during the night with "vomiting and diarrhoea".
He also visited the home of Ian and Heather Wilkinson and saw that Heather was "pretty crook" and had been vomiting.
Key Event
3m ago
Mr Patterson says Heather Wilkinson brought up the serving of lunch at Ms Patterson's house.
The colouring of the plates used at lunch has been raised by the prosecution (ABC News)
On the drive from Korumburra Hospital to Leongatha Hospital, Mr Patterson says Heather Wilkinson once again asked about the plate.
Mr Patterson says he could not remember the exact phrasing, but tells the court to the best of his recollection.
www.abc.net.au
Simon Patterson describes events on the day of the lunch
By Tim Callanan
Simon Patterson is explaining the events on the afternoon of the lunch and the following day, as he remembers them.He recalls picking up his children and a friend from a cinema around 2:30pm and driving them back to Erin Patterson's house in Leongatha, but he did not get out of the car or speak to anyone at the house.
He says he saw his parents' car at the house but did not see them.
The following morning, he says he received a phone call from his father saying he and his wife had been sick during the night with "vomiting and diarrhoea".
He also visited the home of Ian and Heather Wilkinson and saw that Heather was "pretty crook" and had been vomiting.
Key Event
3m ago
Different plates at lunch raised by Heather Wilkinson
By Judd Boaz
Mr Patterson says Heather Wilkinson brought up the serving of lunch at Ms Patterson's house.
On the drive from Korumburra Hospital to Leongatha Hospital, Mr Patterson says Heather Wilkinson once again asked about the plate.
Mr Patterson says he could not remember the exact phrasing, but tells the court to the best of his recollection.
During this part of his testimony, Erin Patterson's focus is fixed on her estranged husband, but she is showing no emotion.
Erin Patterson doesn't have 'high self-esteem', murder trial hears — as it happened
The jury in Erin Patterson's murder trial hears the accused tried to persuade her estranged husband to attend the lunch where four guests ate meals containing death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the hearing unfolded in our live blog.
www.abc.net.au
now12.44 AEST
The following morning - 30 July - Simon’s father, Don calls him. He says he and Gail have been unwell, Simon tells the jury.
Don tells Simon his aunt and uncle, who attended the lunch, were experiencing similar symptoms. Simon then drove to his aunt and uncle’s house. He later calls an ambulance for the pair.
When Ian is out of the room, Simon says Heather looked “puzzled”.
“She said I noticed Erin served her food on a coloured plate which was different to the rest,” Simon says.
Simon then decided to drive his aunt and uncle to the local hospital because the ambulance was taking too long.
As he drives his aunt and uncle to Leongatha hospital, Heather asks Simon “is Erin short of crockery?”
Simon replies “yes, Erin doesn’t have that many plates and that may have been the reason.”
The following morning - 30 July - Simon’s father, Don calls him. He says he and Gail have been unwell, Simon tells the jury.
Don tells Simon his aunt and uncle, who attended the lunch, were experiencing similar symptoms. Simon then drove to his aunt and uncle’s house. He later calls an ambulance for the pair.
When Ian is out of the room, Simon says Heather looked “puzzled”.
“She said I noticed Erin served her food on a coloured plate which was different to the rest,” Simon says.
Simon then decided to drive his aunt and uncle to the local hospital because the ambulance was taking too long.
As he drives his aunt and uncle to Leongatha hospital, Heather asks Simon “is Erin short of crockery?”
Simon replies “yes, Erin doesn’t have that many plates and that may have been the reason.”
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Certainly looks that way.
Last edited:
12.41pm
He drove them to Erin’s house. There, he dropped one child and the child’s friend off. He then went to his own home with the other child to spend the day together, as they often did on a Saturday. He returned to Erin’s home about 9pm to drop that child off, he told the jury.
www.theage.com.au
What Simon did on the day of the lunch
On July 29, 2023, the day of the fatal lunch, Simon Patterson picked up his two children and their friend from the cinema in Leongatha, where they had watched the movie Elemental.He drove them to Erin’s house. There, he dropped one child and the child’s friend off. He then went to his own home with the other child to spend the day together, as they often did on a Saturday. He returned to Erin’s home about 9pm to drop that child off, he told the jury.
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.
But maybe it was LE that stuffed up and accidentally did the factory reset, and then decided it must have been Erin who did it remotely?
now12.46 AEST
Simon later attends Korumburra hospital to visit his parents, arriving late morning on 30 July, the court hears.
Rogers asks Simon how they appeared.
“Dad was substantially worse than mum. He was really struggling,” Simon says.
“He was lying on his side, hunched quite noticeably. Really discoloured face, struggling... speaking was an effort.”
“His voice was strained... he wasn’t right inside.”
Simon’s father, Don, tells him Erin had revealed at the lunch she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Simon says Patterson had not told him about undergoing medical tests.
“I’d never heard of her cancer diagnosis,” he says.
Simon later attends Korumburra hospital to visit his parents, arriving late morning on 30 July, the court hears.
Rogers asks Simon how they appeared.
“Dad was substantially worse than mum. He was really struggling,” Simon says.
“He was lying on his side, hunched quite noticeably. Really discoloured face, struggling... speaking was an effort.”
“His voice was strained... he wasn’t right inside.”
Simon’s father, Don, tells him Erin had revealed at the lunch she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Simon says Patterson had not told him about undergoing medical tests.
“I’d never heard of her cancer diagnosis,” he says.
3m ago
Simon Patterson is asked about the condition of his parents at hospital and becomes emotional when discussing his father, who he says was "substantially worse than mum".
Mr Patterson says his parents told him that Erin Patterson had revealed that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
www.abc.net.au
Don Patterson was 'feeling pain' at hospital
By Tim Callanan
Simon Patterson is asked about the condition of his parents at hospital and becomes emotional when discussing his father, who he says was "substantially worse than mum".He says his parents also told him that Erin had revealed a cancer diagnosis to them at the lunch the previous day.
Mr Patterson says his parents told him that Erin Patterson had revealed that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Erin Patterson doesn't have 'high self-esteem', murder trial hears — as it happened
The jury in Erin Patterson's murder trial hears the accused tried to persuade her estranged husband to attend the lunch where four guests ate meals containing death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the hearing unfolded in our live blog.
www.abc.net.au
1m ago
Simon Patterson says in a conversation with his estranged wife Erin Patterson after the lunch, she had claimed she had also been ill.
He tells the court after a long day at the hospital, he returned to his own home at Korumburra at about 2:30am in the morning.
Mr Patterson says he received a call at 7am the next morning from Erin Patterson, who wanted to talk.
Mr Patterson says he declined and told her to get an ambulance instead.
www.abc.net.au
Erin Patterson told husband she was unwell, court hears
By Judd Boaz
Simon Patterson says in a conversation with his estranged wife Erin Patterson after the lunch, she had claimed she had also been ill.Mr Patterson says Ms Patterson indicated she had been experiencing diarrhoea every 20 minutes or so, and that she had not wanted to get out of the car at risk of having an accident.
He tells the court after a long day at the hospital, he returned to his own home at Korumburra at about 2:30am in the morning.
Mr Patterson says he received a call at 7am the next morning from Erin Patterson, who wanted to talk.
He says Ms Patterson told him of further diarrhoea and asked him to take her to the hospital.
Mr Patterson says he declined and told her to get an ambulance instead.
Erin Patterson doesn't have 'high self-esteem', murder trial hears — as it happened
The jury in Erin Patterson's murder trial hears the accused tried to persuade her estranged husband to attend the lunch where four guests ate meals containing death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the hearing unfolded in our live blog.
www.abc.net.au
12.27 AEST
Simon texted Erin at 6:54pm saying:
Erin Patterson’s estranged husband told her he was ‘too uncomfortable’ to attend mushroom lunch, murder trial hears
Jurors are now being shown text messages between Simon and Erin on the evening of 28 July – the night before the lunch.Simon texted Erin at 6:54pm saying:
Patterson then replies at 6:59pm:
Simon says Erin’s text messages did not change his mind and he told his parents he would not be attending the lunch.
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Crazy that she wanted him to take her to the hospital after hed been there all night ... she definitely wanted attention from him...
1m ago03.58 BST
Don and Gail are moved to Dandenong Hospital on the evening of 30 July and are in separate rooms, the jurors are told.
Simon says he speaks to Erin on the phone that evening and informs her his relatives are “crook.”
Erin tells Simon she had experienced diarrhoea which began the afternoon after the lunch, the court hears.
“I think she was saying it [diarrhoea] started in mid to late afternoon on the Saturday and continued in the night,” Simon says.
Simon returns to his home in Korumburra at about 2.30am on 31 July, the court hears.
Don and Gail are moved to Dandenong Hospital on the evening of 30 July and are in separate rooms, the jurors are told.
Simon says he speaks to Erin on the phone that evening and informs her his relatives are “crook.”
Erin tells Simon she had experienced diarrhoea which began the afternoon after the lunch, the court hears.
“I think she was saying it [diarrhoea] started in mid to late afternoon on the Saturday and continued in the night,” Simon says.
Simon returns to his home in Korumburra at about 2.30am on 31 July, the court hears.
Or to show they were good friends, helping one another.
Erin Patterson doesn't have 'high self-esteem', murder trial hears — as it happened
The jury in Erin Patterson's murder trial hears the accused tried to persuade her estranged husband to attend the lunch where four guests ate meals containing death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the hearing unfolded in our live blog.
www.abc.net.au
2m ago
Erin Patterson had 'barney' with hospital staff
By Joseph Dunstan
Simon Patterson recalls taking a phone call from Erin Patterson on the Monday after the lunch.He tells the court she told him she had been to Leongatha Hospital and hospital staff had advised her to bring their children in for assessment.
Mr Patterson says his wife turned down his offer to pick up the children from school and says she wanted to pick up the children herself.
He says she told him she did not want the children to "feel scared" about why they were being picked up.
Mr Patterson says he thinks his wife "had a bit of a barney" with hospital staff about which hospital the children would be admitted to for observation as she wanted them at the same hospital as her.
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OMG
Classic gaslighting.
He declined the invitation. Used his words, set his boundary, calmly, clearly.
And she responds with the gas lit. There are no children around, she's free to share her medical news right then (that she has no health news, notwithstanding), then the guilt, how much trouble and expense she went to, as if he ought to come because he owes it to her, and then the effort, given her "medical issues" -- ovarian cancer, which she knows she doesn't have, which has somehow metastisized to her elbow -- so he should feel indebted to her and show up? It's full up crazy town, all over a disease she doesn't have, as if (if one were truly sick) the only way to share that news is at a round table.
Then she has the gall to say he ought to bring her to the ER --
Always looking for a way to pull him back in...
JMO
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You mean she wanted him to take her to prove that to others so they would not be suspicious of her?
12.59pm‘Erin doesn’t have that many plates’: Through sickness, Heather repeatedly asked about the different plates
Inside the Morwell courthouse, Erin Patterson has her eyes fixed on Simon, her estranged husband.
Sipping from a paper cup, Simon Patterson is talking about the day after the beef Wellington lunch – the day that started with a phone call from his father.
“He told me that he and Mum had been vomiting and had diarrhoea ... and so they called emergency services, and they were waiting for, I remember, patient transport to pick them up,” Simon told the jury.
Upon learning that Ian and Heather Wilkinson – the two other guests at the lunch – were experiencing the same symptoms, Simon also tried to call them. When they failed to pick up, he drove to their house. Ian answered the door.
Left to right: Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died after ingesting poisonous mushrooms. Ian Wilkinson, right, survived after weeks in hospital.
“He looked grey, I suppose, and stopped,” Simon recalled.
Inside the home, Heather was sitting on the couch, near a bucket. “She looked pretty crook,” he said.
After Ian left the room, Simon said Heather looked at him, puzzled and said: “I noticed Erin served herself food on a coloured plate, which was different to the rest”.
After being told the ambulance would be about an hour away, Simon resolved to take Heather and Ian to Korumburra Hospital, but was advised by staff to take the couple to Leongatha Hospital instead.
On the drive there, the jury heard, Heather again brought up the different coloured plates.
“She asked me: ‘Is Erin short of crockery? Is that why she would have this different kind of coloured plate that she served herself?’,” Simon said.
“I said: ‘Yes, Erin doesn’t have that many plates’ and that may be the reason.“
Simon said he stayed with Ian and Heather at the hospital until their daughter, Ruth, arrived. He then went to Korumburra Hospital to see his parents.
Blowing his nose in tissues, Simon Patterson paused to compose himself before telling the jury his dad was in a worse state than his mum when he arrived to see them.
“Dad was substantially worse than mum. He was really struggling,” he said.
He told the jury Don was lying on his side, hunched, with a discoloured face.
“Speaking was an effort, and taking the energy to speak was an effort, and his voice was strained, ... in a way that ... He wasn’t right inside,” Simon said.
Speaking through tears, he said his father was struggling, lying on his side in the hospital bed.
Simon said he spoke to Don about the reason for the lunch and was told about Erin’s ovarian cancer diagnosis.
“She was expecting to have, I think, chemo and potentially surgery. I’m not sure if sure if it was established exactly what the treatment would be but that was what was expected to need,” Simon said.
The jury heard Don and Gail told Simon they should tell the children about the diagnosis together.
“I’d never heard of a cancer diagnosis positive for Erin,” Simon said.
That evening, on July 30, Don and Gail were taken to Dandenong Hospital.
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
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.
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I think Simon already shed some light upon her potential motives---he testified that she had become very angry with him previous to the crimes because of their separation.
She was angry that he put 'separated' on his tax form. She demanded some increase in child support and that he pay more for school tuition. And she began making parental decisions without discussing with him---like changing the kid's school.
And by him formally announcing the separation in the tax paperwork, that could trigger other future financial changes, like the division of properties, etc.
So he seemed to be implying that she was very upset and frustrated with him. And that was shown by her passive/aggressive reply to his cancellation of the lunch invitation.
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