Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #8 *Arrest*

[drsleuth]

Gail and Don Patterson's daughter gives evidence​

​

By Tim Callanan​

Anna Terrington is the next witness called by the prosecution - she is the daughter of Gail and Don Patterson.

She's being asked about a gathering on July 27, 2023.

She explains Gail told her she and Don had been invited to Erin Patterson's house for lunch and that it was "unusual" as they hadn't been invited to Erin's place before.

Anna says she phoned her mother about 5pm on the day of the lunch to ask how the lunch went.

She fights back tears as she recalls her mother saying they had eaten beef Wellington.

1m ago

Cancer registry finds no entries related to Erin Patterson​

​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

Danielle Romanes works for the Department of Health.

In her statement she says she requested a search of a registry following claims Erin Patterson had cancer.

"Victoria has mandatory reporting of cancer diagnosis and detections," she says.

"This means I would expect a person diagnosed with cancer would have multiple reports to the registry."

No entries under Erin Patterson's name were found.

Court sees footage of Erin Patterson leaving hospital against medical advice — as it happened

A Supreme Court murder trial hears Erin Patterson was initially "reluctant" to have her children brought to hospital for medical checks after they allegedly ate leftovers from a lunch contaminated with death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the day's hearing unfolded in our blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

11.38am

Health department official says no cancer diagnosis registered for Erin Patterson​

The jury is now being read a statement from Danielle Romanes, acting director of statewide and specialist programs within the Hospitals and Health Services Division at the Department of Health.

She is describing how cancer diagnoses are registered in Victoria.

Romanes said she would expect a person diagnosed with cancer in the state to be featured in the Victorian Cancer Registry.

But she said searches for entries for an Erin Patterson born on September 30, 1974, returned no results.

Ian Wilkinson told the court on Tuesday that Erin Patterson had told her guests at the lunch that she had cancer.

The last statement is from a Dr Slesha Amatya who cared for Don and Gail at the Korumburra urgent care centre and help arrange their transfer to Dandenong Hospital.

In her statement, on September 30, 2023, she described how doctors initially thought the pair were suffering from severe gastroenteritis, but further tests revealed concerning lactate levels, prompting a decision to transfer them to a tertiary hospital.

Doctor’s death cap poisoning warning played to jury after son, daughters of guests at fatal beef Wellington lunch testify: Trial day seven, as it happened

Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms. Follow our live coverage of the triple-murder trial here.

www.theage.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

4m ago

Erin Patterson was 'soldiering on' after lunch, court hears​

By Tim Callanan​

Anna Terrington is now recounting a message she received the day after the lunch from her brother Simon Patterson explaining that their parents, as well as Ian and Heather Wilkinson, were ill and had been vomiting overnight.

She says Simon told her that Erin also had diarrhea "but was soldiering on at home."

Anna says her mother told her that Erin had wanted to tell them about a medical issue at the lunch but she did not ask her mother for more details.

Court sees footage of Erin Patterson leaving hospital against medical advice — as it happened

A Supreme Court murder trial hears Erin Patterson was initially "reluctant" to have her children brought to hospital for medical checks after they allegedly ate leftovers from a lunch contaminated with death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the day's hearing unfolded in our blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

now02.44 BST

‘Unusual’ that Heather and Ian Wilkinson invited to mushroom lunch, court hears​

The prosecution’s next witness is Anna Terrington, the daughter of Don and Gail Patterson and the sister of Simon Patterson - Erin’s estranged husband.

About a week before the lethal lunch, Don and Gail visited Terrington’s house and discussed the upcoming meal at Erin’s house:

They said they had been invited to Erin’s place for lunch.... She said she didn’t know what it would be about. She said it was unusual that Heather and Ian had been invited as they hadn’t been invited to Erin’s place before.

Terrington called her mother, Gail, on the day of the lunch at about 5pm:

Mum said it [the lunch] went well... she said that they had beef Wellington and ... that it was too much for mum and Dad finished hers.

Terrington becomes teary as she recalls her mother not being able to finish her beef Wellington dish.

Erin Patterson trial day seven – as it happened

This blog is now closed

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[drsleuth]

now21.45 EDT
Terrington recalls a Signal message from her Simon on 30 July – the day after the mushroom lunch.

“He said mum and dad were in hospital... they had been experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea since about midnight.”

He said that Erin was experiencing diarrhoea but was “soldering on at home”.

Terrington recalls Simon saying their parents were “worn out and tired” so she did not call them.

She travelled to Dandenong Hospital the same day at about 10pm, the court hears.

Terrington stayed with her mother Gail overnight and helped her go to the bathroom “many times.” She becomes emotional as she recalls assisting her mother in hospital.

They pair discussed the lunch the previous day. Gail said Erin had wanted to tell the lunch guests about a medical issue she had, Terrington says

Gail did not disclose to Terrington what the medical issue was, the court hears.

Staff at Dandenong hospital raised with Terrington the possibility of mushroom poisoning.

Erin Patterson trial day seven – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago

Witness and accused become emotional in court​

By Kristian Silva​

Anna Terrington has been in tears during her few minutes in the witness box, repeatedly needing to pause.

Ms Terrington, dressed in a long blue dress, puts her hands to her chest as she composes herself.

Erin Patterson, watching on from the court dock, also appears to be visibly impacted.

2m ago

Erin leant her sister-in-law money​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

Sophie Stafford is now asking questions for the defence.

Anna Terrington says Erin helped her with a loan to help pay for her house.

She said she wasn’t sure of the exact amount of the loan but it was hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Ms Terrington confirmed that after Erin and Simon’s separation, future repayments went to Simon only.

2m ago

That concludes Anna Terrington's evidence​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

Ms Terrington says Erin would 'to a degree' attend family events after her and Simon separated.

She confirmed the family would communicate on Signal, an encrypted messaging service.

Marking the end of her evidence, when asked if she would describe Erin as a committed mother, she says yes.

Her evidence concludes and she takes a seat in the court gallery, where a supporter kindly puts his arm around her. The jury heads out for a short break.

Court sees footage of Erin Patterson leaving hospital against medical advice — as it happened

A Supreme Court murder trial hears Erin Patterson was initially "reluctant" to have her children brought to hospital for medical checks after they allegedly ate leftovers from a lunch contaminated with death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the day's hearing unfolded in our blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

11.42am

Daughter testifies about phone call with Gail Patterson​

​

Anna-Marie Terrington, the daughter of Don and Gail Patterson and sister-in-law of Erin Patterson, is in the witness box.

She is describing a conversation she had with her mother Gail before the lunch on July 29, 2023 about their plans of going to Erin’s for the get-together.

“They said they had been invited to Erin’s place for lunch,” she said.

“She said she didn’t know what it would be about. She said it was unusual that Heather and Ian had been invited as they hadn’t been invited to Erin’s place before.”

Following the lunch, at about 5pm on July 29, 2023, Terrington spoke to Gail over the phone. “Mum said it went well,” she said.

“She said that they had beef Wellington ... but it was too much for mum so dad finished it.”

The following day, on July 30, 2023, Terrington said she had received a message from Simon on Signal saying that Gail and Don were in hospital in Korumburra after experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea since about midnight.

“Simon said that Heather and Ian were at Leongatha hospital,” she said.

“He said that Erin was experiencing diarrhoea.”

11.47am

Tearful testimony from daughter of Don and Gail Patterson​

​

Anna-Marie Terrington is in tears in the witness box speaking about a phone call with her mother after the lunch.

Using her right hand to wipe tears from her cheeks, Anna said there was a family group chat where she was informed that her parents were unwell.

Erin Patterson is also teary in the dock as she watches on as her former sister-in-law gives evidence.

Doctor’s death cap poisoning warning played to jury after son, daughters of guests at fatal beef Wellington lunch testify: Trial day seven, as it happened

Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms. Follow our live coverage of the triple-murder trial here.

www.theage.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

3m ago

The court takes a short break​

By Tim Callanan​

A short, 15 minute break has been called at the conclusion of Anna Terrington's evidence.

Court sees footage of Erin Patterson leaving hospital against medical advice — as it happened

A Supreme Court murder trial hears Erin Patterson was initially "reluctant" to have her children brought to hospital for medical checks after they allegedly ate leftovers from a lunch contaminated with death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the day's hearing unfolded in our blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Ms Terrington confirmed that after Erin and Simon’s separation, future repayments went to Simon only.

I can see this leading to resentment from Erin.

I would be resentful if I loaned someone a large amount of money and the repayments then went to someone else.

 

[drsleuth]

7m ago11.55 AEST
Don and Gail had dined at Erin’s before, court hears

Anna Terrington also recalls a lunch that her parents, Don and Gail, had at Erin’s house in 2023 – before the fateful mushroom meal.

She called her parents after the lunch who said it “went well”, the court hears.

They did not say who was present at the lunch “apart from them as the only adults,” Terrington says. She does not know if Erin’s children were present.

Don said they ate a “pie of some sort”. They did not become ill after the meal, the court hears.

Erin Patterson trial day seven – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Daughter fights back tears as she tells of being at dying parents' bedsides​

Anna Terrington, the youngest daughter of Don and Gail, has entered the witness box.
She became emotional and fought back tears as she was questioned about the lunch that claimed her parents’ lives, grabbing a tissue to blow her nose.
“I called them to ask how the lunch went,” she told the court.
“Mum said it went well. She said they had beef wellington … but that it was too much for mum, so dad finished hers.”
The court heard Ms Terrington travelled to Dandenong Hospital to be by her parents’ bedsides after they had been admitted with serious gastro-like symptoms.
“I took her to the bathroom many times,” she said of her mum.
When asked if they had a conversation about the lunch, Ms Terrington said Gail said Erin “wanted to tell them about a medical issue she had”.
She said her mum did not say what the medical issue was.
Ms Terrington also told the court she had spoken to her parents about the lunch the week prior.
“Mum said she didn’t know what it would be about,” she said.
“She said it was unusual that Heather and Ian would be invited because they hadn’t been invited to Erin’s place before.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-murder-trial-live-mushroom-cook-faces-court-for-day-7-of-trial/live-coverage/0cabfb869d16b78826ed092fcfc59102?amp

 

[drsleuth]

11.50am

Daughter tells how she stayed with mother overnight in hospital​

​

Anna-Marie Terrington says that later that afternoon, her brother Simon Patterson had told her that their parents had been taken to Dandenong Hospital.

Terrington then travelled to Dandenong Hospital. Simon was already there when she arrived.

Terrington said she stayed there overnight with Gail, and helped her go to the bathroom throughout.
“I took her to the bathroom many times,” she said.

Terrington said that at the time, Gail had told her that Erin had wanted to tell them about a medical issue that she had, but didn’t disclose what the medical issue was.

While at the hospital, Terrington said medical staff mentioned the possibility mushrooms could have caused the illness.

11.56am

Sister-in-law says she grew close to Erin Patterson during pregnancy​

​

Under cross-examination, Anna-Marie Terrington described another lunch earlier in 2023, attended by her parents Don and Gail Patterson, at Erin Patterson’s house.

“They didn’t tell me who was present apart from themselves being the only adults there,” Terrington said.

Terrington said Don had told her they had eaten a pie on that occasion. They did not get sick, she said.

She also described how she was pregnant at the same time as Erin.

Terrington said that she had a close relationship with Erin during that pregnancy.

The pair were also part of the same Bible study group some 18 years ago, and spent time together at Erin’s mother’s house in Eden on the NSW south coast.

The jury heard that at some point, Simon and Erin had loaned Terrington hundreds of thousands of dollars, interest free, to help with her family home.

After Erin and Simon separated about 2015, future repayments for the loan went to Simon.

Following the separation, Terrington said that Erin continued to be part of the family group chat and maintained a good relationship with Don and Gail.

11.59am

Erin Patterson’s emotional reaction during sister-in-law’s testimony​

​

Anna-Marie Terrington removed her glasses and blew her nose as she told the court that she was the youngest child of Don and Gail Patterson.

During Terrington’s testimony, Erin Patterson could also be seen crying in the dock.

Doctor’s death cap poisoning warning played to jury after son, daughters of guests at fatal beef Wellington lunch testify: Trial day seven, as it happened

Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms. Follow our live coverage of the triple-murder trial here.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Detechtive]

I can see this leading to resentment from Erin.

I would be resentful if I loaned someone a large amount of money and the repayments then went to someone else.

I agree but arguably the money in Erin and Simon’s relationship wasn’t Erin’s. It was both of theirs.

 

[iamshadow21]

I agree but arguably the money in Erin and Simon’s relationship wasn’t Erin’s. It was both of theirs.

Australia is not a communal property state.

How Are Assets Split In Australia | Learn More

In Australia there is no concept of “community property” or equal division of assets as a starting point. Learn mroe about the process in Australia.

www.carewcounsel.com.au

If the loan was from Erin's own money, it could be argued that it should have been paid back to her, not Simon.

MOO

 

[TootsieFootsie]

They weren't divorced and gone through settlement so in my opinion she didn't have to share the money she inherited, she chose to.

But somehow Simon ended up receiving the money being repaid.

Simon, who had a job, while she says she had given up her job to look after her children and had no income.

 

[drsleuth]

11m ago12.10 AEST
Defence lawyer Sophie Stafford is now cross-examining Terrington.

Stafford asks Terrington about a loan of $400,000 Erin and Simon gave to Terrington and her husband to purchase their family home. The loan was indexed to inflation but had no interest, the court hears.

Terrington says she cannot remember the exact amount but it was “hundreds of thousands.”

She says the money was to help with the house which had already been purchased.

Questioned by Stafford, she agrees she observed Erin to be a devoted mother to her children.

The cross-examination concludes.

4m ago12.18 AEST
Ian and Heather Wilkinson asked how Erin Patterson was while in hospital, court hears

The prosecution calls its next witness, Ruth Dubois, the daughter of Ian and Heather Wilkinson.

She is asked about her relationship with Erin prior to the lunch. She says they were “acquaintances”:

“We know each other enough to say hi in passing and that was about it.”

On 30 July, Simon called Dubois and informed her that Ian and Heather were unwell and at Leongatha hospital, the court hears:

“They just asked how Erin was... they talked about their concern for Erin maybe coming to hospital for precaution.”

There is no cross-examination of Dubois.

Erin Patterson trial day seven – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Court sees footage of Erin Patterson leaving hospital against medical advice — as it happened

A Supreme Court murder trial hears Erin Patterson was initially "reluctant" to have her children brought to hospital for medical checks after they allegedly ate leftovers from a lunch contaminated with death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the day's hearing unfolded in our blog.

www.abc.net.au

Key Event
18m ago

Ian and Heather Wilkinson's daughter is giving evidence​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

The prosecution has called Ruth Dubois to the witness box.

She is the daughter of Ian and Heather Wilkinson.

“We knew each other enough to say hi in passing and that's about it,” she says when asked about her relationship with Erin.

Key Event
14m ago

Heather Wilkinson was 'surprised' by lunch invitation, court hears​

By Tim Callanan and Joseph Dunstan​

Ms Dubois confirms her mother told her in July, 2023, that Erin Patterson had invited her and Don to lunch.

"She said that at church the previous weekend she was talking with Gail after the service and Erin had come up to them and said 'Ah, just the two I was looking for' and asked them to lunch," Ms Dubois says.

"At which I responded 'Really?' [I was] kind of confused.

"In response to my reaction she said 'Yes, we were surprised also', that that had never happened before."

Ruth says she hosted her parents for dinner on July 28 — the day before the lunch at Erin Patterson's house.

She says mushrooms were not part of the meal and none of the guests reported being ill afterwards.

11m ago

Simon Patterson sent a text to let Ruth know her parents were unwell​

By Mikaela Ortolan​

Ruth says her husband received a text message from Simon Patterson on July 30, 2023.

In the text he said her mum and dad, Ian and Heather Wilkinson, were being taken to hospital because they were quite unwell.

She says she rang Simon after the text.

Simon told her he had gone to Ian and Heather's house after he couldn’t get hold of them and then took them to hospital.

She immediately went to the hospital but wasn't able to see her parents straight away.

Key Event
11m ago

Condition of parents 'a little more serious'​

By Tim Callanan​

Ruth Dubois says she spoke to a doctor on August 1, 2023 who told her that the condition of her parents was "a little more serious" than they previously thought and they suspected death cap mushroom poisoning.

She says her parents were transferred to Austin Hospital later that day.

Erin Patterson's defence does not offer any questions and Ruth Dubois leaves the witness stand.

Key Event
2m ago

More family members give evidence​

By Tim Callanan​

Matthew Patterson is the next witness called to give evidence — he is another of Gail and Don Patterson's children and is a church pastor.

Prosecutor Sarah Lenthall asks him about the relationship between his family and the Wilkinson family.

He says the families spent "a fair bit of time together" and Gail and Don Patterson regularly caught up with Ian and Heather Wilkinson.

Matthew says he first met Erin Patterson about 20 years ago.

He says conversations between Erin and Simon Patterson became "more mechanical" in recent years after they separated.

Court sees footage of Erin Patterson leaving hospital against medical advice — as it happened

A Supreme Court murder trial hears Erin Patterson was initially "reluctant" to have her children brought to hospital for medical checks after they allegedly ate leftovers from a lunch contaminated with death cap mushrooms. Look back on how the day's hearing unfolded in our blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

12.13pm

Daughter of Ian and Heather Wilkinson called as witness​

​

Ruth Dubois, who works in administration, is the daughter of Ian and Heather Wilkinson and the niece of Don and Gail Patterson.

Dubois was in tears as she took the oath upon entering the witness box.

She told the jury she had known Erin Patterson since Erin started dating Simon Patterson.

Dubois described Erin as an acquaintance, and said the extent of their relationship involved saying hello to each other on the street.

“I didn’t really know her,” she said.

On July 20, 2023, Dubois said, she had lunch at Ian and Heather’s house in Korumburra with several other family members.

During the meal, Heather brought up Erin’s invitation to the lunch on July 29, 2023.

“She said that at church the previous weekend she was talking with Gail after the service and Erin had come to them after the service and said: ‘Just the two I was looking for’, and invited them to lunch,” Dubois said.

Dubois told the jury she responded with “Really?” to what her mother said, who replied: “Yes, we were surprised also”.

“That had never happened before,” she said.

After her parents had lunch at Erin’s home, Dubois said she got a message from Simon saying her parents were in hospital.

“He told us that Don and Gail had presented at the Korumburra Hospital ... that had prompted him to be concerned about mum and dad, so he had tried to contact them and when he was unable to reach them he went to their house where he found them quite unwell,” Dubois said.

Dubois said she then headed to Leongatha Hospital.

The jury heard that while Ian and Heather were in Leongatha Hospital, Don and Gail were taken to Dandenong Hospital. Ambulances were also organised to take Heather and Ian to the same hospital.

Dubois said the doctors said they suspected mushrooms could have caused the illness, and mentioned the possibility it was death cap mushroom poisoning.

Dubois has concluded her evidence. She has not been cross-examined and has now been excused.

Doctor’s death cap poisoning warning played to jury after son, daughters of guests at fatal beef Wellington lunch testify: Trial day seven, as it happened

Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms. Follow our live coverage of the triple-murder trial here.

www.theage.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

Simon's sister questioned over loan repayments​

Under cross-examination by defence barrister Sophie Stafford, Ms Terrington was asked about her older brother Simon and his relationship with Erin.
Ms Terrington confirmed that Simon and Erin had loaned her and her husband “hundreds of thousands of dollars” after they purchased a home in the early 2010s.
The court heard the loan was indexed to inflation, but no interest was charged.
In 2015, Erin and Simon permanently separated.
“After 2015, was it the case that your future repayments went to Simon?” Ms Stafford asked.
“Yes,” Ms Terrington replied.
The court heard Erin continued to attend Patterson family events after the separation and maintained a good relationship with Simon’s parents, Don and Gail.
Ms Terrington agreed they were supportive of Erin and there was no animosity between them.

7 minutes ago

'Just the two I was looking for': Daughter recalls lunch invite​

Ruth Dubois, the youngest daughter of Heather and Ian, is now giving evidence.
She told the court her mum had explained how Erin had approached her and Gail at church in early July to invite them to lunch at her home.
“Just the two I was looking for,” Erin said to the women, according to Ms Dubois.
She told the court she was surprised to hear that Erin had extended the invitation to her parents given “that had never happened before”.
The court heard the day after the lunch Ms Dubois rushed to Leongatha Hospital to see her parents after they had been admitted.
“They asked how Erin was,” she told the court.
“They talked about their concern for Erin maybe coming to hospital as a precaution (since) she had seemingly eaten the same meal as they had.”
She added: “They felt she should be there also.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-murder-trial-live-mushroom-cook-faces-court-for-day-7-of-trial/live-coverage/0cabfb869d16b78826ed092fcfc59102?amp

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago12.31 AEST
Brother of Erin Patterson’s estranged husband gives evidence

The next witness, Matthew Patterson, is the son of Don and Gail.

Patterson is the younger brother of Simon, the estranged husband of Erin.

He is asked about his sister-in-law, Erin. Matthew says Erin continued to attend Patterson family functions after her separation with Simon in 2015.

He says in the last couple of years Erin attended less of these events. Matthew says in this time Erin and Simon’s conversations became more “mechanical.”

Erin Patterson trial day seven – as it happened

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