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

[drsleuth]

Key Event
6m ago

Witness recounts call to Erin Patterson​

By Tim Callanan​

Matthew Patterson says he went to see his parents when they were ill in hospital after eating at the lunch hosted by Erin Patterson.

He says he saw his father Don Patterson in the ICU and medical staff were asking Don what he ate. His father replied that the dish had mushrooms in it but he did not know where the mushrooms had come from.

Matthew says he offered to call Erin to get more information about the mushrooms.

He says he asked her over the phone how she was but can't recall her response. He then asked her where the mushrooms from the dish had come from.

"She mentioned there were fresh mushrooms from Woolies and dried mushrooms from a Chinese shop … in the Oakleigh area," he says.


3m ago

Email discussed child protection issues​

By Tim Callanan​

Matthew confirms he had an email from Erin Patterson after his parents died from mushroom poisoning.

He confirms Erin asked him to look after her and Simon Patterson's children due to child protection issues.

The prosecution has no more questions.

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]

less than a minute ago

'Where did you get the mushrooms?': Brother-in-law's call to Erin​

Matthew Patterson, the oldest son of Don and Gail, is the next witness to give evidence.
He said he called Erin two days after the lunch while his parents were in Dandenong Hospital to ask where she had sourced the mushrooms for the beef wellington.
“She mentioned that there were fresh mushrooms from Woolies and there were dried mushrooms from a Chinese grocer or supermarket … in the Oakleigh area,” he said.
When asked if she was specific about the Oakleigh area, Matthew said it was “more a general, vague, broad answer”.
The court heard the phone call only lasted 1 minute and 13 seconds.
He said he shared that information with the doctors from the toxicology unit.

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]

1m ago03.39 BST

Erin Patterson told estranged husband's brother mushrooms were from Chinese grocer and Woolies, court hears​

Matthew recalls seeing his father, Don, in ICU at Dandenong Hospital on 31 July - two days after the lunch.

Staff from Monash Health’s toxicology department asked Don about what he had eaten, Matthew says.

Don recalled a beef wellington dish that contained mushrooms but did not know where the vegetables were sourced from, the court hears.

Matthew offered to call Erin at about 10.30am that morning to enquire about the mushrooms. The call lasted just over one minute, the court hears.

Matthews recalls the conversation:

“I asked her how she was.. Simon had mentioned she’d been to a hospital in Korumburra... it was just a polite simple answer.”


I then asked her where the mushrooms from the dish had been sourced from... she mentioned there were fresh mushrooms from Woolies and there were dried mushrooms from a Chinese grocer or supermarket.... in the Oakleigh area.


“I did say I was with dad and I had toxicology people who were with us who wanted to know.”

Matthew relayed the information from Erin to medical staff, the court hears.

Erin Patterson trial day seven – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
6m ago

Erin Patterson loaned $400k to family members​

By Tim Callanan​

Erin Patterson's defence team is now questioning Matthew Patterson.

There is discussion of a loan of around $400,000 made by Erin Patterson to Matthew Patterson and details of loan repayments.

The court also hears Matthew's family and Erin and Simon's family exchanged COVID care packages during isolation stages of the pandemic.

Matthew confirms Erin had a "positive" relationship with his parents and he agrees that she "respected" his parents.

2m ago

Questioning of Matthew Patterson ends​

By Tim Callanan​

Questions come back to the phone call Matthew mentioned earlier, which he made to Erin to discuss where she sourced mushrooms for the lunch.

He agrees she paused as if trying to remember details as to where she bought the mushrooms.

There are no further questions and Matthew Patterson is dismissed.

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]

1m ago22.41 EDT
Erin Patterson asked Matthew Patterson to look after her children

Under examination, Matthew confirms he and his wife received an email from Erin after the death of his parents.

Erin requested the pair look after her children as child protection had become involved with the family.

Erin Patterson trial day seven – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

12.31pm

Matthew Patterson says he asked Erin Patterson about source of mushrooms​

​

The next witness is Matthew Patterson, a church pastor, who is the son of Don and Gail Patterson, and brother of Simon Patterson.

He described the Patterson and Wilkinson families as being really close. He said Don and Gail would go for “a cuppa” with Ian and Heather Wilkinson and support each other.

Matthew, who first met Erin Patterson about 20 years ago, said Simon and Erin always seemed to be amicable, but Erin’s attendance at family events became less frequent in recent years.

“I would suggest maybe in the last couple of years [Erin’s] attendance was briefer ... sometimes she wouldn’t attend,” he said.

Matthew recalled seeing his parents at Dandenong Hospital following the beef Wellington lunch.

He said medical staff asked his father Don what meal he had eaten and whether it contained mushrooms.

“He said it had mushrooms around it or something like that,” he said.

“They asked if he knew where [the mushrooms] had come from.”

He said Don had told staff he had no idea where the mushrooms had come from.

“They did joke about the fact that Dad had Mum’s leftovers and both of their stomachs looked large as a result of it,” he said.

Matthew said that on Monday, July 31, 2023, he called Erin to asked her about the source of the mushrooms.

“She mentioned they were fresh mushrooms from Woolies and dried mushrooms from a Chinese grocer or supermarket, I can’t remember the exact words, in the Oakleigh area,” he said.

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]

1m ago12.45 AEST
Erin Patterson had ‘positive’ relationship with estranged husband’s parents, court hears

Stafford is cross-examining Matthew.

Matthew agres Erin had a “positive” relationship with his parents and that she respected them.

Stafford also asks about the phone call Matthew made to Erin. He agrees Erin paused as if she was trying to recall the details of where the mushrooms were from.

The cross-examination concludes.

Erin Patterson trial day seven – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
3m ago

Another doctor takes the witness stand​

By Tim Callanan​

We're now hearing from Chris Webster, a doctor who was rostered to work a 24-hour shift at Leongatha Hospital the day after the lunch at which the guests were poisoned.

He confirms he received a call to inform him that two patients would be arriving with vomiting and diarrhea and would need urgent care.

He was then told these two patients would go elsewhere but two different patients would present with similar symptoms.

He says he was told all four people were ill after eating the same meal.

Dr Webster says he saw Ian and Heather Wilkinson in the urgent care department.

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]

12.45pm

Brother-in-law says Erin Patterson loaned him $400,000 to buy home​

​

The jury heard evidence from Matthew Patterson about his relationship with his brother Simon Patterson and sister-in-law Erin Patterson.

Matthew described how Erin had once arranged to look after his children so he and his wife Tanya could have a break, and how they had taken trips to Erin’s mother’s home in Eden.

Jurors also heard about a $400,000 loan that Erin had given to Matthew and his wife to buy their family home.

The jury heard the loan was indexed to inflation but was otherwise interest free.

Matthew said that after Erin and Simon separated in 2015, he continued to make repayments to Erin.

He said Erin and Simon continued to attend family events after separating and appeared to be respectful and amicable.

Matthew also spoke about a lunch in Melbourne that Erin had organised in 2021 to discuss her relationship with Simon.

The jury heard that during the meal, Erin had expressed sadness about her relationship with Simon not being able to move forward despite both wanting to reconcile.

The court heard Erin had told Matthew they would only be able to reconcile if Simon agreed to participate in counselling, and that she had asked him for advice on how to encourage Simon to take part in counselling.

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]

Key Event
2m ago

Ill guests asked about 'delicious' beef Wellington​

By Tim Callanan​

Dr Webster says Ian and Heather Wilkinson were "clearly unwell" but both were able to communicate.

He says he asked them about food they had eaten in the past 24 hours and both said they had not eaten anything since the lunch at Erin Patterson's house.

He confirms he was told they had eaten beef Wellington. He asked Heather what it was like and she replied "it was delicious".

Dr Webster says he asked about the meat in the dish as he thought was more likely to be the source of illness.

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]

2 minutes ago
Highlight

Erin lent brother-in-law $400k to buy a home​

Under cross-examination by defence barrister Sophie Stafford, Matthew confirmed that Erin and Simon had loaned $400,000 to him and his wife to purchase their family home.
The court heard that, similarly to the loan given by Erin and Simon to his sister Anna Terrington, it was indexed to inflation, but no interest was charged.
He agreed they were “free to choose” the timing and total of the repayments.
After Erin and Simon separated in 2015, he said he continued to make repayments to Erin.
Matthew was also asked about a lunch he had with Erin in Melbourne in 2021 to discuss her relationship with Simon.

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]

now12.59 AEST
Ian and Heather Wilkinson were ‘conscious, alert’ when GP saw them at urgent care centre

The next witness is Dr Christopher Webster, a GP and director at the Leongatha medical clinic.

Ian and Heather arrived at about 11am at the urgent care centre, Webster says.

The pair were in a room used to isolate patients who may be infectious, he says.

Webster recalls his observations:

“They were both conscious, alert... They were clearly able to communicate.”

Webster asked the pair about the meal they had eaten the previous day, the court hears.

He says he asked Heather about the taste of the beef Wellington. “She said it was delicious,” he says.

Erin Patterson trial day seven – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

3m ago

Details of treatment given to Heather and Ian Wilkinson​

By Tim Callanan​

Dr Webster is now referring to his triage notes from the day he treated Heather and Ian Wilkinson.

His notes show patient vital signs were "within normal limits" but the patients "could not hold water".

He confirms anti-nausea medication was given to the patients as well as another medication that reduces stomach acid.

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]

12.58pm

Doctor who first assessed Wilkinsons says they were both ‘clearly unwell’​

​

Dr Chris Webster treated Ian and Heather Wilkinson at Leongatha Hospital following the beef Wellington lunch.

The jury heard that on July 30, 2023, he was the on-call doctor at the hospital when Ian and Heather arrived about 10.57am. Webster said their vital signs were not concerning at the time.

Webster said that when he first saw Ian and Heather, they were together in a room used to isolate patients, within the urgent care department at the hospital.

“They were both conscious, alert. They were clearly unwell but not distressed. They were both able to freely communicate,” he said.

He said he had seen them both vomit.

“Vomiting and diarrhoea are both typical symptoms of food poisoning, so there were a lot of questions about the food consumed in the past 48 hours.”

Webster said neither Ian nor Heather had eaten anything since the lunch the previous day. They told him they had consumed no food prior to the lunch, which consisted of beef Wellington.

Asked what the beef Wellington tested like, Heather said it was delicious, he said.

“They said everybody had eaten the meal.″⁣

Webster said he asked them about the meat used in the meal, since that is often the most common source of food poisoning.

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]

2m ago

Court breaks for lunch break​

By Tim Callanan​

Dr Webster is now detailing some of the tests carried out and treatment of Heather and Ian Wilkinson.

Questions about the treatment are paused as the court breaks for lunch.

The trail is due to resume at 2:15pm.

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

 

[ch_13]

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.

She may very well have a valid reason to resent her in-laws. But you can't go around murdering all the people you resent. There'd be no humans left on the planet!

 

[Eloise]

She may very well have a valid reason to resent her in-laws. But you can't go around murdering all the people you resent. There'd be no humans left on the planet!

That plus it doesn't actually sound like it ever came up as being an issue or problem at all.

 

[tmar]

I’m thinking that perhaps it did raise some alarm bells, hence his message that he didn’t feel comfortable to attend.

Perhaps Simon thought the ? poisoning attempts were directed at him.
He didn't suspect a ? poisoning may happen to the guests that agreed to attend.

 

[tmar]

I really want to hear from the kids as they will clear some stuff up I am sure.

BUT wouldn't EP have had time to coach them.
Surely, they would want to 'help' her.

 

[SouthAussie]

That plus it doesn't actually sound like it ever came up as being an issue or problem at all.

Probably because Matthew was making repayments to Erin, and Anna was making repayments to Simon.

Sounds as if it might have been an equitable agreement between Erin and Simon, which Simon's siblings followed.

imo

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

Matthew said that after Erin and Simon separated in 2015, he continued to make repayments to Erin.

(from previous links)