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

[drsleuth]

2m ago11.20 AEST
Foote reviewed Erin upon her return to hospital, the court hears.

Under cross-examination, Foote agrees Erin complained of diarrhoea and abdominal pain and nausea.

She is asked about her evidence about Erin’s blood pressure and says it was at the upper level of a normal range.

Mandy asks Foote about her assessment that Erin “appeared to have a gastro-type illness” and she confirms this.

He turns to Foote advising Erin that her children - who she said had eaten leftovers of the beef wellington without mushrooms – should be tested. Foote agrees Erin wanted to pick up her children from school but she stressed the risks of doing so.

She says she discussed Erin commencing IV fluids, antibiotics and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) - a liver treatment, before she was transferred to Monash medical centre.

Foote agrees she warned Erin the prognosis of the poisoning could include requiring a liver transplant.

Erin Patterson trial day eight – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

now11.25 AEST
The prosecution has called their next witness, Kylie Ashton.

Ashton was working as director of nursing at Gippsland Southern Health Service in July 2023, the court hears.

She was working at Leongatha hospital on 31 July.

Erin Patterson trial day eight – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Doctor quizzed on Patterson’s hospital symptoms​

Dr Veronica Foote, who worked at Leongatha Hospital when Erin Patterson presented there on Monday 31 July, 2023, has been cross-examined by the defence.

The court earlier heard that Patterson left the hospital despite the advice of medical staff.

The court also earlier heard that examinations of Patterson found she was suffering from high blood pressure and a high heart rate and complained of nausea and diarrhoea.

Dr Foote previously told the court that she did not observe Patterson making frequent “toilet outputs”.

On Thursday, defence barrister Colin Mandy SC suggested to Dr Foote that Patterson had been advised prior to leaving the hospital that she would likely need to be transferred to Monash Hospital, in Melbourne, due to suspected mushroom poisoning.

The court previously heard the Patterson told staff she was leaving the hospital because she wasn’t prepared to be admitted, and that she would return later after sorting out care arrangements for her children and animals.

Dr Foote said she could not recall if she had spoken to Patterson before she left the hospital about the possibility she would be transferred to Melbourne, but it had been discussed among medical staff that would be the likely course of action.

Mandy put it to Dr Foote that she had noted Patterson was dehydrated, likely from diarrhoea, which she agreed.

Mandy also suggested that high blood pressure and a high heart rate were possible symptoms of poisoning.

Dr Foote agreed.

Under re-examination, the prosecution asked Dr Foote if those two symptoms also had causes other that poisoning.

“Yes,” Dr Foote said.

Prosecution: “There is somewhat of a fluctuation. It has decreased somewhat. Is there any possible explanation for that?

Dr Foote: “It is possible that the stress of the situation had dissipated a bit and the blood pressure had come down a bit.”

‘Discharge at own risk’​

The court has been shown a ‘discharge at own risk’ form Erin Patterson signed as she left Leongatha Hospital on Monday 31 July, 2023.

The document reads:

“I Erin Patterson am leaving from this hospital on my own responsibility against advice of the medical officer/ senior nursing staff.”

‘She wanted to talk to them about adult stuff’: Patterson’s daughter recalls talks about deadly lunch

Erin Patterson is accused of killing three people with poisonous death cap mushrooms.

7news.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
3m ago

Erin discharged herself from hospital 'at own risk'​

By Melissa Brown​

Ms Ashton explains that she told Erin it was important that she brought her children in for assessment given the seriousness of the situation.

She confirms that Erin signed a "discharge at own risk" form, which is now being shown to the court.

Ms Ashton says Erin was trying to leave through the ambulance bay when she tried to convince her to stay, with the help of Dr Foote.

She says she got the form for Erin to complete, which she did.

The nurse says Erin left after signing the form but she was told that she should return as soon as possible for treatment.

"It's liver preserving [treatment] so the sooner we can get it, the better the chance of preserving organs," she says.

Erin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trial — as it happened

Medical staff who examined Ms Patterson in the aftermath of a deadly mushroom meal at her home have given evidence to a murder trial jury. Look back at how Thursday's hearing unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago11.31 AEST
Ashton tells the court about her interaction with Erin on 31 July - two days after the lunch.

Erin sat on the chairs near the nurses station, the court hears.

Ashton says she asked Erin what brought her to hospital:

“She had told me she had been the fifth member of the lunch and she had consumed the meal that was prepared and that she had.. diarrhea and nausea since that occasion but not vomiting.”

Ashton says Erin said she was advised to attend the hospital. But she says she does not know who advised Erin.

Ashton told Erin she may need to administer N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) to her to protect her liver, the court hears.

Erin Patterson trial day eight – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[Ellery84]

Key Event
3m ago

Erin discharged herself from hospital 'at own risk'​

​

By Melissa Brown​

Ms Ashton explains that she told Erin it was important that she brought her children in for assessment given the seriousness of the situation.

She confirms that Erin signed a "discharge at own risk" form, which is now being shown to the court.

Ms Ashton says Erin was trying to leave through the ambulance bay when she tried to convince her to stay, with the help of Dr Foote.

She says she got the form for Erin to complete, which she did.

The nurse says Erin left after signing the form but she was told that she should return as soon as possible for treatment.

"It's liver preserving [treatment] so the sooner we can get it, the better the chance of preserving organs," she says.

Erin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trial — as it happened

Medical staff who examined Ms Patterson in the aftermath of a deadly mushroom meal at her home have given evidence to a murder trial jury. Look back at how Thursday's hearing unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

Why wouldn’t she want the liver preserving treatment immediately if she had been advised as such?

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
2m ago

Nurse tells Erin her life is at risk​

By Melissa Brown​

Ms Ashton says Erin got up and said she needed to leave.

She says the conversation went back and forth between Erin wanting to leave, and Ms Ashton expressing concern for Erin's wellbeing and trying to get her to understand the seriousness of the situation.

She describes it as "a very short rapid communication" which included talking about the poor condition of the other guest and that they were being transferred to other hospitals for higher level care.

Ms Ashton says she told Erin "her life was at risk. These guys were really unwell. We had two in ICU at the time".

She says Erin kept repeating the same reason for leaving — that she hadn't come to the hospital prepared to stay, that she did not think she would need to be admitted, and that she needed to go away to prepare and would come back.

Erin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trial — as it happened

Medical staff who examined Ms Patterson in the aftermath of a deadly mushroom meal at her home have given evidence to a murder trial jury. Look back at how Thursday's hearing unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

​

 

[JennieM]

Why wouldn’t she want the liver preserving treatment immediately if she had been advised as such?

There was no need, she never ate any death cap mushrooms.

 

[drsleuth]

Why wouldn’t she want the liver preserving treatment immediately if she had been advised as such?

Because she knew she didn't need it

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Nurse cross-examined by defence team​

By Tim Callanan​

Kylie Ashton is now being cross-examined by Colin Mandy SC.

She confirms all of the events she has described happened with roughly a five minute time period.

Ms Ashton confirms she was not aware of the full situation regarding the lunch when Erin Patterson first arrived and was waiting to be seen at the urgent care section.

Mr Mandy puts it to Ms Ashton that Erin Patterson wasn't refusing treatment altogether, she just did not want to be admitted at that time.

She replies that Erin certainly did not want to be admitted at that time.

Ms Ashton says she recalls Erin telling her that her children had eaten leftovers with the mushrooms scraped off.

Erin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trial — as it happened

Medical staff who examined Ms Patterson in the aftermath of a deadly mushroom meal at her home have given evidence to a murder trial jury. Look back at how Thursday's hearing unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago

Erin Patterson agreed to return to hospital​

By Tim Callanan​

Mr Mandy asks Ms Ashton whether she would have told Erin specific information about the health status of the other lunch guests, to which she replies she would not have due to patient confidentiality.

She confirms she discussed the situation with Dr Foote about trying to convince Erin not to leave.

Mr Mandy asks whether Erin said she would return within a specific time frame, and Ms Ashton agrees that she did agree to return.

Mr Mandy says he is close to finishing his questions, but asks for a short break.

Erin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trial — as it happened

Medical staff who examined Ms Patterson in the aftermath of a deadly mushroom meal at her home have given evidence to a murder trial jury. Look back at how Thursday's hearing unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

‘I implored her to stay’: Nurse recalls Patterson’s bid to leave hospital​

The court has heard from nurse Kylie Ashton who, along with Dr Veronica Foote, spoke to Erin Patterson when she arrived at Leongatha Hospital on Monday 31 July, 2023.

“She (Patterson) would not come to a cubicle for a formal assessment,” Ashton said.

“I would have told her the others were unwell and it was important we did a thorough assessment.

“She had told me that she had been the fifth member of the lunch and that she consumed the meal that was prepared and that she had had diarrhoea and nausea since that occasion but no vomiting.

“I think she had been advised (to attend) as a fifth member (of the lunch), but I am not sure who by.

“She said she had not come to hospital prepared to be admitted and that she needed to go and sort out her children.

“I implored her to stay... (But) she got up and said she needed to leave.”

Ashton said she gave Patterson a form to sign, which would declare that she was leaving hospital on her own volition against the advice of medical staff.

Ashton said Patterson signed the form and left.

The court previously heard Patterson returned to the hospital a few hours later.

Under cross-examination, Colin Mandy SC put it to Ashton that Patterson said she would be returning to the hospital after she made arrangements for her children.

“Not initially, she was just saying she couldn’t be there at that time,” Ashton said.

‘She wanted to talk to them about adult stuff’: Patterson’s daughter recalls talks about deadly lunch

Erin Patterson is accused of killing three people with poisonous death cap mushrooms.

7news.com.au

 

[Megnut]

The children probably had PB&J sandwiches.

My guess, she didn't want anyone asking the children questions. About anything.

 

[drsleuth]

2m ago11.56 AEST
Prosecutor Jane Warren asks Ashton, the director of nursing at Gippsland Southern Health Service in July 2023, about her conversation with Erin before she discharged herself from hospital on 31 July.

That was two days after the fateful beef wellington lunch.

Ashton says she explained to Erin about the importance of her staying at hospital to be assessed:

Warren asks about Erin’s response. Ashton says:

That she had not come to hospital preparing to be admitted and she needed to go away to sort out her children.

Ashton says she “implored” Erin to stay. She says she told Erin her “life was at risk” and two guests from the lunch were in the intensive care unit

Erin refused to move into a hospital bay for examination, Ashton tells the court.

2m ago11.57 AEST

Erin signed ‘discharge at own risk form’, court hears​

The jurors are shown Erin Patterson’s “discharge at own risk form” that she signed when leaving Leongatha hospital at 8.10am that day, against medical advice.

Kylie Ashton recalls reaching Erin before she left the hospital and requesting she sign the form.

She says she told Erin she needed to return to hospital and have treatment to ensure she didn’t become unwell like the other lunch guests.

Ashton told Erin her blood pressure and pulse were elevated at this point:

I said these could be symptoms of illness and we needed to do further investigation to ensure she was safe.

Erin Patterson trial day eight – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[Eloise]

No, it is no leap. But it is interesting that the defence is the one who is bringing up the loans.
That is why I question that as a motive. I think it is more likely trying to make Erin look good, generous, would never hurt her in-laws intentionally, she actually helped them.

I guess that I am not seeing why the defence would help provide a motive.


Eg:
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.

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

I agree. Defence are not in the business of providing a motive, and they brought it up. I think they did it to show Erin's generosity as a person, as nothing was brought up about the money ever being a bone of contention.

Motive ultimately has nothing to do with finding her guilty anyway. She could have 1000 good reasons to have hated everyone at that lunch, and it still doesn't mean she didn't do it or deserves to be found not guilty. If anything it would mitigate her sentence. But I don't think it's a factor. I think, personally, she just wanted to be in control. In fact, she may have even enjoyed having people owe her money. But regardless, motive isn't required to prove guilt. She could have no motive whatsoever and still have done it.

Bold and italic by me.

The wording is a bit ambiguous, so hard to tell if the meter box was just searched because it was there, or because the dogs led them there.

If the dogs led them there, and they found an item or items of interest, that seems very odd to me. I've heard of people hiding spare keys in a meter box, but nothing else. If that was the case, a small part of me could believe that a random usb was attached to the keys.

It would never occur to me to use a meter box for anything else. I get that it's waterproof and all that, but I still wouldn't use it for anything like storage. Who's with me on that?

I wouldn't use it for such but I also wouldn't poison my inlaws with death cup duxelle in a beef wellington. I don't know that we can judge her decision making skills as we would a typical person haha

 

[whitelilac]

I think Erin would have been better off to agree to an assessment.
Who leaves the hospital if your life may be in serious danger. She was told the others were in the ICU.
As a jury member, I would question that.

 

[drsleuth]

30 minutes ago
Highlight

Erin asked doctor about guests' conditions​

Dr Veronica Foote, who was working at Leongatha Hospital in July 2023, has returned to the witness box for cross-examination by Colin Mandy SC.
She was on duty when Erin presented to the hospital two days after the lunch at 8.05am, before she discharged herself at 8.10am.
The court heard that when Erin re-presented about 9.50am she said she was “feeling unwell” with abdominal pain and diarrhoea.
“She told me she had eaten the same meal as the other guests,” Dr Foote said.
She told the court Erin said she sourced the mushrooms from Woolworths and an Asian grocer.
Dr Foote said she told Erin she would need to be transferred to Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne and that treatment could involve a liver transplant.
She agreed that Erin had enquired about the state of the guests.
“I responded that I wasn’t able to give her information about other patients due to patient confidentiality.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-murder-trial-live-mushroom-cook-faces-court-for-day-8-of-trial/live-coverage/668497f4061b54774bf26f95a77aaac3?amp

 

[JBowie]

"She agreed that Erin had enquired about the state of the guests."

I think that's the first time I have heard that said.

 

[drsleuth]

now12.10 AEST
Erin’s lawyer, Colin Mandy is cross-examining Kylie Ashton

He asks about the previous evidence from medical witnesses that Erin was present at the hospital for 5 minutes before she discharged herself.

Ashton confirms everything she has described occurred within this five minute time period.

She says Erin repeatedly said she could not stay at hospital.

Mandy suggests that Erin said she was prepared to have treatment, just not at that point.

Ashton says Erin did not initially say this but agreed to return to hospital at a later time.

Erin Patterson trial day eight – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

3m ago12.12 AEST
Erin’s blood pressure and pulse was high, court hears

Under cross-examination, Ashton agrees that she did not give Erin specific details about the other lunch guests due to confidentiality requirements.

Ashton recalls calling Foote for assistance to help convince Erin to stay at the hospital.

She agrees she told Foote that Erin’s blood pressure and pulse was high.

Ashton says she cannot recall Erin specifically saying she would come back but that she agreed to return to hospital.

The cross-examination has concluded.

Erin Patterson trial day eight – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com