Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #9 *Arrest*

[drsleuth]

1m ago05.51 BST
Fungi expert Dr Thomas May says on 21 May 2023 he submitted a post of death cap mushrooms he had spotted on a walk to the iNaturalist website with “several photographs”.

The post included the location of Outtrim.

He says he submitted the post under his iNaturalist profile name “Funkey Tom”.

The jurors are shown a screenshot image of the post.

Mays says the location uploaded was “fairly accurate.”

He says he dropped a pin location in the post to show where he had spotted the death cap mushroom.

Erin Patterson murder trial live: fungi expert says death cap mushrooms have been mistaken for edible ones in past

Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to a beef wellington lunch she served at her house in Leongatha. Follow live updates

www.theguardian.com

 

[BreakingNews]

Does anyone remember the location where she foraged for the Death Cap mushrooms? I don't think it was in Leongatha where she lived.

Do you have a reference were it states she actually foraged for death caps?

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Defence cross-examination of mushroom expert begins​

By Judd Boaz​

Sophie Stafford begins her cross-examination of Dr Tom May, and begins by recounting his expertise in the field of mycology and myriad publications.

Ms Stafford confirms with Dr May that while death cap mushrooms grow under trees in the oak tree family, other mushrooms can also be found under those trees.

The defence recaps the anatomy of death cap mushrooms, recounting the different colour variation as the mushroom ages.

Mushroom expert quizzed on death cap identification in Erin Patterson trial — as it happened

An internationally recognised fungi expert has given evidence in the trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of murdering three relatives with a poisoned beef Wellington meal. Look back at how the day unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[BreakingNews]

So this is to prove that she can't blame them on having bought them in an Asian grocery store and that she had to have picked them? Earlier in the thread someone showed a picture of a box of mixed variety mushrooms. In the states mushrooms are only sold by the specific variety- like you buy a box of only Bella or Crimini mushrooms or Portabella or Shitaki for example, not varieties.

Asia is not just China.

 

[drsleuth]

10 minutes ago

Mushroom expert gave 'very precise' pin of death caps growing in Gippsland​

Dr May is now being asked about a post he made on iNaturalist on May 21, 2023.
The jury has been shown a screenshot of his post under the username funkeytom.
He confirmed he posted an observation of death cap mushrooms, which included photos.
“It was in Outtrim and I believe it would have been Neilson St in Outtrim,” he said.
“I was in Outtrim because I was giving a presentation to a local community group about fungi. I went for a walk and saw these,” he said of the death cap mushrooms.
He said he provided a “very precise” pin for the latitude and longitude.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-victoria/trial-for-accused-mushroom-cook-killer-erin-patterson-resumes/live-coverage/6fd8204a5e2d7dbf4934b94634421ed7?amp#scroll-to-31573695

 

[drsleuth]

Pictures of death caps allegedly used in Patterson’s lunch shown to court​

The court has been shown photos of death cap mushrooms mycologist Thomas May posted to iNaturalist in May 2023.

May made the sighting near Almurta, in Victoria’s Bass Coast region.

The court previously heard the prosecution will allege Patterson travelled to two areas in Victoria where death cap mushrooms were growing shortly after sightings were reported in autumn 2023.

The death cap mushrooms were spotted near Almurta in May 2023. Credit: iNaturalist/ user FunkeyTom

Expert reveals to court he posted location of death caps online before mushroom lunch

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

7news.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Jury shown photo of death cap mushrooms at Outtrim​

By Joseph Dunstan​

This is among the photos the jury was shown of death cap mushrooms identified by fungi expert Tom May at Outtrim, near Leongatha, on May 21, 2023.

Death cap mushrooms were sighted at Outtrim in May 2023. (iNaturalist)

Mushroom expert quizzed on death cap identification in Erin Patterson trial — as it happened

An internationally recognised fungi expert has given evidence in the trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of murdering three relatives with a poisoned beef Wellington meal. Look back at how the day unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Shortfusepsb]

What would the odds be of the Death caps identified and uploaded to iNaturalist by Dr May being the ones used in the Beef Wellingtons?

 

[drsleuth]

3m ago

Defence questions fungi expert on varying mushroom appearances​

By Melissa Brown​

Erin Patterson's defence lawyer Sophie Stafford is taking Dr May through the differences in appearance between young and mature death caps, including colour variations.

He says “very, very young ones” are white but the colour varies once the mushroom matures.

She’s now asking about the ring on the stem of a death cap. He says it’s “generally” visible on all death caps.

She asks if the ring can fall off older mushrooms and he agrees.

“There are mushrooms with white gills that are not toxic,” Ms Stafford says.

“That’s correct,” Dr May says.

Mushroom expert quizzed on death cap identification in Erin Patterson trial — as it happened

An internationally recognised fungi expert has given evidence in the trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of murdering three relatives with a poisoned beef Wellington meal. Look back at how the day unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Defence now takes fungi expert through mushroom gallery​

By Kristian Silva​

Dr May is taken to a series of 10 mushroom photos, put up on the screen by defence barrister Sophie Stafford.

It appears to be a game of ‘guess the mushroom’, which Ms Stafford concedes is a "somewhat artificial exercise".

Ms Stafford says she wants him to identify whether the mushrooms on the screen are death cap mushrooms.

The first picture shows a brownish mushroom next to a kitchen knife. The second shows two mushrooms with long white stems. He says both resemble death cap mushrooms.

The third shows the underside of a mushroom being held by a person wearing gloves. Dr May says some features appear unclear to conclusively say whether they are Amanita phalloides.

"For all of these images there might be a possibility… it could be something else," he says.

Dr May says many images can miscontrue the actual colour of a mushroom, making it difficult to determine what a mushroom is.

1m ago

'Artificial exercise' continues​

By Judd Boaz​

The defence continues to show images of mushrooms to Dr May and challenge him to make a guess about which mushrooms are consistent with death caps.

He says many of the images are partially obscured and make it hard to judge what species each mushroom is.

Dr May continues to work through the images, pointing out the physical characteristics of each mushroom in each image to the court.

Mushroom expert quizzed on death cap identification in Erin Patterson trial — as it happened

An internationally recognised fungi expert has given evidence in the trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of murdering three relatives with a poisoned beef Wellington meal. Look back at how the day unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Old Soul]

I don’t think Erin intended to point a finger at fresh white button mushrooms purchased at Woolworth’s. I think she intended to implicate dehydrated mushrooms from an unbranded package with handwritten indecipherable Chinese lettering from an unidentified Asian grocery in an unidentified town.
JMO

Interesting that she claimed to have bought dried mushrooms from the Asian grocery store then, only later, discovered her “fun fact” that mushrooms lose volume after using her own dehydrator.

“So fun fact the dehydrator reduces mushroom mass by 90 per cent. Do you think woolies would mind if I put the dehydrator into their vegetable section and dry things before I buy them.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/erin-patterson-trial-online-true-crime-friends-tell-jury-she-shared-highs-and-lows-of-life-in-group/news-story/fd1e8b63084187736f45463483a0dc71?amp

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Interesting.

Sorry, I've been madly trying to get up to speed but as quick as I read, the posts keep coming.

In regards to the above, yes and no. She may not have wanted to answer some curly questions, or blatantly lie in front of witnesses, or she could just have been shielding her children from the situation at hand, especially given their remaining grandparents were not in a good way.

Regardless, it's not looking good for Erin, there's just too many oddities and lies that continue to pile up until there's a mountain of them.

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Court breaks​

By Judd Boaz​

We reach the end of the defence's mystery mushroom gallery, and Justice Beale calls for a quick break.

Mushroom expert quizzed on death cap identification in Erin Patterson trial — as it happened

An internationally recognised fungi expert has given evidence in the trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of murdering three relatives with a poisoned beef Wellington meal. Look back at how the day unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

now06.20 BST
Erin Patterson’s lawyer, Sophie Stafford, has begun cross-examining Dr Thomas May.

Stafford is taking May through 10 images of mushrooms and asking him to identify which ones are consistent with death caps.

May says some images do not reflect the actual colour of the mushroom which can make it difficult to determine the species.

For all of these images there might be a possibility… it could be something else.

Erin Patterson murder trial live: fungi expert says death cap mushrooms have been mistaken for edible ones in past

Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to a beef wellington lunch she served at her house in Leongatha. Follow live updates

www.theguardian.com

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Court hears no evidence of death cap mushrooms in China​

By Melissa Brown​

Dr May and the prosecutor are now discussing the distribution of death cap mushrooms around the world.

Using data from organisations that dedicate resources to mapping the spread of death caps, he agrees that they had first been reported in Australia from 1960s.

He says the data did not show them being recorded in China.

He said there was doubt about whether they were recorded South Korea, Japan and far eastern Asia.

Dr May says a study of the death cap from China in 2010 concluded "that currently there is no evidence that amanita phalloides occurs in China".

Erin should have done better research... lol

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
4m ago

Fungi expert correctly identifies 10/10 death cap mushrooms​

K
By Kristian Silva​

Before the break, Dr May was shown 10 photos of mushrooms, which he identified as likely death caps.

Picture 4 was a close up of the bottom of a mushroom.

Picture 5 was a series of about 12 mushrooms, which Dr May noted appeared to be lacking gills.

Picture 6 was a decomposed mushroom in a plastic bag, which had some dirt on it.

Picture 7 had a mushroom which Dr May said was "highly consistent" with Amanita phalloides, he said. It is a single, freestanding yellowish mushroom near some brown leaves.

"It would be good to see the underside," he said.

Picture 8 showed a white tall, narrow mushroom.

Picture 9 were two white-yellow mushrooms.

Picture 10 was the top of a brown mushroom.

The hearing's just resumed and Erin Patterson's defence barrister Sophie Stafford confirms the photos are "all of death cap mushrooms".

Mushroom expert quizzed on death cap identification in Erin Patterson trial — as it happened

An internationally recognised fungi expert has given evidence in the trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of murdering three relatives with a poisoned beef Wellington meal. Look back at how the day unfolded in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Deleted member 363451]

There probably wasn't sightings posted closer to home. They appear less prolific than I imagined. Only two sightings in 2023 in the vicinity of her home in Loch and that other O place.

That is damning, IMO.

Yes, very damning...

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Depends how often you buy them and if you often frequent various shops.

I'll take a guess and say that Erin wasn't a frequent shopper for dried mushrooms.

 

[drsleuth]

4m ago06.43 BST
Lawyer Sophie Stafford says Dr Thomas May has made clear the limitations of his opinion when looking at the 10 images and where he required further information.

“That is correct,” he says.

Under cross-examination by Stafford, May agrees that death cap mushrooms may not be reported on websites like iNaturalist because there are no regular surveys in the state besides “sweeps” done at some locations in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne.

He agrees there is an under-reporting of death cap mushrooms in regional areas.

Erin Patterson murder trial live: fungi expert says death cap mushrooms have been mistaken for edible ones in past

Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to a beef wellington lunch she served at her house in Leongatha. Follow live updates

www.theguardian.com

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Do you have a reference were it states she actually foraged for death caps?

She admitted it to police.