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

[Deleted member 363451]

I disagree. It is Erin who sounds financially abusive, to me. She left him in 2015 when she got her money from her grandmother, and bought a house in her name only while stringing him along for many years later.

She was an accountant. She knows about money. She handled the finances, it appears.

Yes, she lent money to his siblings, but that doesn't make her a saint. Perhaps she liked having that over them for control reasons, too. Yes they were interest free, but they were indexed. Not exactly "free loans". Besides, having lent money offers tax relief for Erin.

The fact that Simon was paying for Medical bills, School fees (expensive Anglican private school) etc and did the unthinkable and put "separated" on his tax return because he was literally separated her for 7 years prior, seems to have been the event that triggered her resentment.

She threatened him that she would lodge for child support and family tax benefit, which he said sure, go ahead, but I am not going to keep paying everything else AND ALSO child support.

Add to that, his parents wouldn't get on her side to control him financially.....

I also think she was afraid that a government declaration of separation in 2022 could point to him divorcing her in 12 months in 2023. Given her inheritances would have been divided equally among the parties, she stood to lose a lot of money and control.

Then, we have the fact that the Child Support Agency assessed him at only needing to pay her $48 per month which sounds like nothing, but they would ONLY make that assessment if her income was higher than his, because they take into consideration income but also care percentage. This shows that even though she did the majority of caretaking of the children, that her income must have been quite significantly higher than his.

In 2019 (after her mothers death and her large inheritance from that) when she wanted to reconcile, she put his name on the title of her new house which in my opinion, was a way to financially lure him back to the relationship because he was unhappy about being excluded from her 'wealth' which was supposed to be equally shared in a marriage.

Then if you add to that, that each of the siblings of Simons stood to inherit approximately $700k each upon his parents death, it would mean that the two siblings who owed "her" money could have paid it out in a lumpsum, while also getting rid of Simons support system (his parents).

They lived separately, it's not exactly like he had much influence in her life from afar - how could he be that controlling? He didn't even go to her house, and they had a cold text relationship.

I think the motive is clear - and it is financial, just like the vast majority of poisonings are.

All alleged, all my opinion only.

I wasn't aware of some of the information you just posted and I didn't know that Erin was an accountant. Yes, I agree now that it was in fact her that was the financially abusive partner.

 

[Kemug]

When i saw how little time the toxins remain in the body, I couldn't help but think this is why she might have thought she could get away with it. Allegedly.

Yes, especially as symptoms take hours to appear, so the window for testing is actually less than 24 hours.

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Silly though to invite 4 guests (and even planning on inviting 5, had Simon attended) who don't live in the same household and as such don't eat the same food normally. When all 4 guests ended up in hospital the next day, it was very easy to pinpoint the event that caused their food poisoning type symptoms.

 

[SouthAussie]

“She said .....That her parents died a long time ago. ....

“She talked about when they separated she gave Simon half her inheritance because she thought that is what you did when you separated.​

Her own mother died in 2019. 4 years before the poisonings. 4 years before she spoke with Ms Cripps.

Simon and Erin permanently separated in 2015.

Yet she said that she gave Simon half her inheritance, because that's what you do when you separate? Her mother died 4 years after they separated.

I hope we get some real indication of a forensic investigation into her finances and bank accounts. Otherwise any lies she is telling are just going to slip by. People might think they are the truth (with no proof of that).

 

[Detechtive]

Yes, especially as symptoms take hours to appear, so the window for testing us actually less than 24 hours.

Good point - it can take up to 12 hours for symptoms to appear, and most people would just think "eh, i have a stomach bug" i imagine. If it wasn't for Simon insisting they go to hospital, perhaps these deaths wouldn't have been connected back to Erin.

 

[MrJ]

I think it is possible that EP is a victim of financial abuse as there are many possibilities of what is really going on. But I also think this is a boy who cried wolf situation where the many lies she has told medical staff, police and God knows who else has made it hard to separate what is true from what isn't. Jmo and all alleged

 

[Detechtive]

Her own mother died in 2019. 4 years before the poisonings. 4 years before she spoke with Ms Cripps.

Simon and Erin permanently separated in 2015.

Yet she said that she gave Simon half her inheritance, because that's what you do when you separate? Her mother died 4 years after they separated.

I hope we get some real indication of a forensic investigation into her finances and bank accounts. Otherwise any lies she is telling are just going to slip by. People might think they are the truth (with no proof of that).

Yes but they separated in 2015 which is when she "split" the inheritance (according to her). That doesn't take into consideration her financial position in 2022/2023 (after another large inheritance from her mothers death in 2019) and having built a home on a cheap-ish property which would have increased her wealth quite significantly, which is when the family court going through a divorce will assess your assets, not backdated to 2015. So potentially, that is another $1m she would have had to give to Simon upon divorce.

 

[Detechtive]

I think it is possible that EP is a victim of financial abuse as there are many possibilities of what is really going on. But I also think this is a boy who cried wolf situation where the many lies she has told medical staff, police and God knows who else has made it hard to separate what is true from what isn't. Jmo and all alleged

In my mind, it is not of significance if she is a victim of financial abuse. Nothing justifies the alleged murder of his parents, aunty and alleged attempted murder of his uncle.

She allegedly orphaned him. He is allegedly an orphan because of her.

 

[MrJ]

In my mind, it is not of significance if she is a victim of financial abuse. Nothing justifies the killing of his parents, aunty and attempted murder of his uncle.

She orphaned him. He is an orphan because of her.

Completely agree. I bring it up as it had been mentioned previously. There's quite a lot of evidence that points one way, her defence had a bit of an uphill battle MOO

 

[Detechtive]

So why was it reported yesterday that it wasn't detected in the leftovers?

Because that scientist only inspected the mushrooms visually, not chemically.

Given that a duxelle is pulsated, it would have been incredibly difficult to visually confirm death Cap mushrooms in it, in my non medical or scientific opinion.

 

[SouthAussie]

So why was it reported yesterday that it wasn't detected in the leftovers?

I think that the botanist from the botanic gardens didn't "see" Death Caps in the leftovers.

The toxicologist from today found the unseeable toxins in the leftovers.

 

[drsleuth]

20m ago

Erin Patterson trial now down one juror​

By Judd Boaz​

While one juror was told to collect his things and leave the courtroom this morning, the trial will continue.

In Victoria, a court is allowed to empanel an additional three jurors in a criminal trial.

Criminal trials come with significant costs — both financially and personally — for everyone involved, from the jury to the accused, the victims and the dozens of witnesses.

The additional jurors means the trial can continue in the event of an incident like today, or if a juror falls seriously ill.

Juror dismissed in Erin Patterson murder trial — as it happened

Erin Patterson faces three charges of murder in the Latrobe Valley Law Courts. She's accused of killing three relatives by serving them beef Wellington containing poisonous mushrooms. Follow the events as they happened in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

I thought something was going on this morning with the late start.

 

[drsleuth]

23m ago07.35 BST

Juror discharged from Patterson trial​

A juror has been discharged from Erin Patterson’s triple murder trial.

Earlier today, Justice Christopher Beale told the jury he had received information the juror had been discussing the case with family and friends “contrary to my instructions”.

He said he had not made a positive finding that the juror discussed the case with family and friends, but “neither could I discount the possibility that he had”.

He directed the jury not to contact the juror who had been discharged, directly or indirectly.

18m ago07.40 BST
Beale reminded jurors this morning of the directions he gave to them at the beginning of the trial.

He said:

You should only discuss the case with your fellow jurors."

The discharging of the juror means 14 jurors remain on Patterson’s murder trial.

The jury were previously told only 12 jurors would be in the final cohort to deliberate on the verdict for Patterson’s trial.

Erin Patterson trial day 12 – as it happened

This blog is now closed

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

Juror discharged from Patterson trial after tip-off claiming he had discussed the case​

A juror has been discharged from the Erin Patterson trial after Justice Christopher Beale received information that he had breached instructions to not discuss the trial with anyone but fellow jurors.

“Under section 33 of the Juries Act, I have the power to discharge a juror if it appears to me that the juror should not continue to act as a juror. A moment ago I discharged (a) juror,” Justice Beale told the jury panel on Thursday.

“I received information that he had been discussing the case with family and friends contrary to my instructions.”

Justice Christopher Beale emphasised that he had not made a positive finding that the juror had discussed the case with his family and friends, but he had no information before him to rule it out.

“I want to remind you of my instruction that you should only discuss the case with your fellow jurors in the privacy of the jury room,” Justice Beale continued.

“I have asked him not to contact you and you are not to contact him directly or indirectly while this trial is continued.”

Court hears Erin Patterson decided not to use dried mushrooms in pasta dish due to ‘smell’

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

7news.com.au

 

[HoneyBunOne]

When i saw how little time the toxins remain in the body, I couldn't help but think this is why she might have thought she could get away with it. Allegedly.

And maybe that's why she took so long to present to the hospital. She could try to argue that the toxins had left her body by the time she presented to A & E.

 

[Ellery84]

Key Event

38m ago

Juror discharged by judge



By Kristian Silva

A juror has been discharged from the Erin Patterson trial, after reports emerged that he had been discussing the case with family and friends.

The male juror was formally released from the panel of 15 jurors on Thursday morning by Justice Christopher Beale.

The ABC can only report the information now, after an interim suppression order restricting media coverage was lifted on Thursday afternoon.

Justice Beale said there was a "reasonable possibility" that information about the juror discussing the case with outsiders was credible. The judge said no findings had been reached as to the man’s possible misconduct.

While informing the remaining jurors that the man had been removed from the case, Justice Beale said confidential juror discussions were "vital to the administration of justice".

"I want to remind you of my directions. You should only discuss the case with your fellow jurors in the privacy of the jury room," he said.

Fourteen jurors remain on the case, which still has several weeks left to run.

When all the evidence is completed, two other jurors will be balloted off to leave a final 12 to make the call on whether Erin Patterson is guilty or acquitted of murder and attempted murder charges.





Live: Juror dismissed in Erin Patterson murder trial

 

[SouthAussie]

In my mind, it is not of significance if she is a victim of financial abuse. Nothing justifies the alleged murder of his parents, aunty and alleged attempted murder of his uncle.

She allegedly orphaned him. He is allegedly an orphan because of her.

I don't think he financially abused her at all. She spins a good story. She is a proficient liar.

Why doesn't she say what Simon did with his civil engineer's salary, or his annual monetary gift from his grandmother?

Why didn't she go to Family Court and stop the financial "abuse"? Apply for what she thought she should rightfully get from Simon, and see if the court agreed?

 

[Kemug]

That's if they had indeed shared another meal together, which is unlikely in the time frame required...

Ian says not.

 

[Kemug]

In my mind, it is not of significance if she is a victim of financial abuse. Nothing justifies the alleged murder of his parents, aunty and alleged attempted murder of his uncle.

She allegedly orphaned him. He is allegedly an orphan because of her.

And the children have not a single grandparent left.

 

[SouthAussie]

20m ago

Erin Patterson trial now down one juror​

​

By Judd Boaz​

While one juror was told to collect his things and leave the courtroom this morning, the trial will continue.

In Victoria, a court is allowed to empanel an additional three jurors in a criminal trial.

Criminal trials come with significant costs — both financially and personally — for everyone involved, from the jury to the accused, the victims and the dozens of witnesses.

The additional jurors means the trial can continue in the event of an incident like today, or if a juror falls seriously ill.

Juror dismissed in Erin Patterson murder trial — as it happened

Erin Patterson faces three charges of murder in the Latrobe Valley Law Courts. She's accused of killing three relatives by serving them beef Wellington containing poisonous mushrooms. Follow the events as they happened in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

I thought something was going on this morning with the late start.

Good thing they chose 15 jurors.