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

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Dehydrator picked up by police​

By Judd Boaz​

After identifying the item deposited, Mr Canty tells the court he had an employee look for the item deposited, describing it as looking like a microwave.

He says a police officer came to collect it the same day.

The defence has no questions and this concludes Mr Canty's evidence.

Up next, a statement from Senior Constable Paul Burns from Wonthaggi Police Station is read to the court.

Senior Constable Burns describes going to collect the dehydrator from the tip, taking photos of it in the e-waste bin.

These photos are then shown to the court.

Expert says Erin Patterson's medical files suggest she was ill — as it happened

Erin Patterson is on trial charged with the murders of three relatives who died after eating a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

19m ago14.27 AEST
The prosecution has called its next witness, Darren Canty.

He is the operations manager for waste management company Dasma Group that operates the Koonwarra transfer station and landfill, the court hears.

2m ago05.44 BST

Jurors shown CCTV footage from a Victorian tip​

Darren Canty says he was contacted by Victoria police on 4 August 2023 about the tip. He was asked to make enquires about footage from 2 August.

He found the CCTV footage and sent this to police, he says.

The footage, which is played to jurors, shows a red four wheel drive car driving into the carpark at the tip.

After parking, a woman gets out of the car and opens the boot before walking towards the shed at the tip.

The jury is also shown still images from the tip which show the red four wheel drive at the tip. Another image shows a woman carrying an item to one of the sheds at the tip.

Canty says he asked an employee to examine the tip shed on 4 August. He recalls the employee’s discovery:

He said it kind of looked like a microwave dehydrator.

The court room is shown a photo of the black dehydrator discovered at the tip.

Erin Patterson murder trial live: expert who examined lunch sample twice tells court it did not contain death cap mushrooms

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

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Im curious about the actual meal...
So the plan was for five guests + erin to eat lunch. The evening before, Simon changes his mind and decides not to attend.
Ian Wilkinson said that each plate had a beef wellington, which he said looked like a pastie - a pastry case fully enclosing steak and mushrooms. I think its safe to assume that she had to pre-make these (and said she had in her own messages to Simon) so what happened to the additional one that she would have prepared for Simon? She was expecting five guests but only four actually turned up on the day...

I believe Simon pulled out the day before, by text at 6.54pm. Erin replied a few minutes later with "I've spent many hours this week preparing lunch or (?for) tomorrow". There was no mention of having constructed the beef wellingtons at that point. I don't think we know at what point they were put together, or the mushroom paste made, or the pastry closed over sealing both the pasties and the fate of the 4 who ate the tainted ones.

To me, it's quite plausible that they were constructed after this conversation and she did not make one specifically for Simon. Maybe she spread the tainted mushrooms across 4 pasties instead of 5, making them more potent and ensuring she had no death cap powder left over. Or maybe she left enough to put into his coffee or something like that if he indeed have a change of heart and turn up.

MOO

Text messages in lead-up to deadly mushroom lunch revealed as Erin Patterson’s estranged husband testifies

Murder accused urged Simon Patterson to change his mind about not attending ‘special meal’, Victorian court hears

www.theguardian.com

 

[drsleuth]

now05.49 BST
Prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC is showing the court a photo of an Eftpos transaction linked to the tip.

Canty agrees it matches the tip’s own records.

The dehydrator was collected by a police officer the same day, the court hears.

Erin Patterson murder trial live: expert who examined lunch sample twice tells court it did not contain death cap mushrooms

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

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
Just now

Medical doctor states no proof that Erin Patterson had cancer​

​

By Judd Boaz​

The next witness called into the box is Professor Andrew Bersten.

Professor Bersten is an intensive care specialist, and was supplied with medical records relating to Erin Patterson.

Dr Rogers begins with the alleged cancer diagnosis.

"Is there sufficient evidence in Erin Patterson's medical files to support the assertion she was diagnosed with cancer?" she asks.

"I could not find evidence to affirm that statement," Professor Bersten replies.

Expert says Erin Patterson's medical files suggest she was ill — as it happened

Erin Patterson is on trial charged with the murders of three relatives who died after eating a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Marg944]

I think I heard it from the prosecution during opening Statements---which is not considered evidence, per se. So hopefully they will put the forensics team that tested the dehydrator up soon.

Patterson’s hospital tests indicate she did have diarrhoea, expert says

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

7news.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

3m ago05.52 BST
The next witness is Paul Burns, a senior constable attached to the Bass Coast crime unit.

His written statement, where he describes collecting the dehydrator, is read to the court.

He says he was sent to collect the dehydrator at the tip on 4 August 2023. He took photos of the dehydrator once he arrived at the tip.

The photos are shown to the jury.

1m ago05.55 BST
The prosecution’s next witness is Prof Andrew Bersten, an intensive care specialist

Rogers asks Bersten if he has been provided with Erin Patterson’s medical records. He agrees he has.

She asks if he has found any evidence of Erin having cancer, as the prosecution has alleged she told the lunch guests.

I could not find evidence to affirm that statement.

Under questioning by, he says a self-administered cervical cancer test done in May 2023 which showed normal results.

That [the result] was conveyed to her.

Erin Patterson murder trial live: expert who examined lunch sample twice tells court it did not contain death cap mushrooms

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

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Doctor asked Erin's reported illness after beef Wellington lunch​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr Rogers asks Professor Bersten about gastroenteritis, its symptoms and its causes.

She then asks him about Erin Patterson's alleged illness after the lunch.

He says there were three components to her illness: her initial presentation, the notes from the ambulance service and the notes from Monash Health.

Professor Bersten and Dr Rogers begin going through the series of events following Erin's first presentation to hospital.

They note a nurse documented "liquid bowel actions", and normal vital signs aside from a high pulse.

Expert says Erin Patterson's medical files suggest she was ill — as it happened

Erin Patterson is on trial charged with the murders of three relatives who died after eating a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Detechtive]

I believe Simon pulled out the day before, by text at 6.54pm. Erin replied a few minutes later with "I've spent many hours this week preparing lunch or (?for) tomorrow". There was no mention of having constructed the beef wellingtons at that point. I don't think we know at what point they were put together, or the mushroom paste made, or the pastry closed over sealing both the pasties and the fate of the 4 who ate the tainted ones.

To me, it's quite plausible that they were constructed after this conversation and she did not make one specifically for Simon. Maybe she spread the tainted mushrooms across 4 pasties instead of 5, making them more potent and ensuring she had no death cap powder left over. Or maybe she left enough to put into his coffee or something like that if he indeed have a change of heart and turn up.

MOO

Text messages in lead-up to deadly mushroom lunch revealed as Erin Patterson’s estranged husband testifies

Murder accused urged Simon Patterson to change his mind about not attending ‘special meal’, Victorian court hears

www.theguardian.com

I heard something somewhere recently that she bought the actual beef and mushrooms on the Friday night? So it is possible she hadn't put them together yet, but I still think she thought her guilt trip on Simon would work and he would show up.

In any case, very easy to flush an extra pastie down the toilet after the lunch.

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Erin Patterson had normal lactate levels​

By Judd Boaz​

Professor Bersten notes point-of-care tests conducted on Erin Patterson, which provide rapid results.

It found normal lactate levels, normal urea levels, creatinine levels at the upper end of the reference level and slightly high haemoglobin levels.

Professor Bersten says the readings were not consistent with dehydration.

Earlier in the trial, we heard Don Patterson suffered from extremely high lactate levels following his poisoning with death cap mushrooms.

Expert says Erin Patterson's medical files suggest she was ill — as it happened

Erin Patterson is on trial charged with the murders of three relatives who died after eating a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago06.02 BST
The prosecutor, Nanette Rogers, then turns to Erin’s “purported” illness after consuming the beef Wellington lunch.

She asks what he has found about this based on her medical records.

Prof Andrew Bersten says Erin presented to the urgent care clinic at Leongatha on 31 July 2023 - two days after the lunch - with complaints of abdominal pain and diarrhoea. She said these had persisted since the lunch, Bersten tells court.

He says a nurse documented three Erin which were “liquid bowel actions” at 10am, 10.04am and 10.06am that day.

A further two bowel actions by Erin were reported later that morning, the court hears.

Erin Patterson murder trial live: expert who examined lunch sample twice tells court it did not contain death cap mushrooms

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

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Following Erin Patterson's journey through medical system​

By Judd Boaz​

Erin Patterson was transferred from Leongatha to the Monash Medical Centre, where she stayed overnight.

The notes from her ambulance transfer state she was stable during her transfer between the facilities.

Her vital signs were within a normal range when she arrived at Monash.

Dr Rogers says toxicologist cleared Erin Patterson at Monash, and Professor Bersten agrees.

Expert says Erin Patterson's medical files suggest she was ill — as it happened

Erin Patterson is on trial charged with the murders of three relatives who died after eating a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Deleted member 363451]

Defence asks hypothetical question of mushroom expert​

By Judd Boaz​

A discussion begins over the buttery collybia mushroom, which Dr May mentioned is highly unlikely to grow in Victoria.

Ms Stafford, as she has about a dozen times already, asks that if it were to grow in Victoria, what similarities it would have to a death cap mushroom.


Dr May appears very reluctant to say the mushroom could be found in Victoria, but concedes it could theoretically be found in Victoria.

The similarities to death cap and non-toxicity of the buttery collybia are pointed out, and we move on to yet another mushroom.

They're not exactly as abundant as the normal field mushroom. Desperation plus from the defence.

 

[drsleuth]

Court shown CCTV of Patterson allegedly making trip to a local rubbish tip​

The court has been shown footage of Patterson allegedly driving into Koonwarra Transfer Station at 11.34am on 2 August 2023.

The woman in the CCTV can be seen opening her car boot, picking up something in her arms, and carrying it into the tip.

The court previously heard Patterson was discharged from Monash Hospital on the evening of 1 August 2023 after tests indicated she had no signs of death cap mushroom poisoning.

Darren Canty, operation manager for Dasma Group which oversees the transfer station, told the court he was contacted by Victoria Police on 4 August as they were making inquiries into someone attending the landfill two days prior.

Canty said he identified the CCTV police were seeking, made a copy of it, and passed it onto a detective.

Canty said the area where the woman depicted in the CCTV dropped off the goods was an e-waste section of the tip.

On the same day he reviewed the footage, Canty asked an employee to inspect the area where the woman was seen dropping off the goods, he told the court.

He said his employee found a dehydrator in that section of the tip and police were contacted, with a detective collecting it later that day.

A photo of the dehydrator - a black cube containing several translucent/white trays - was shown to the court.

The court was also shown an eftpos receipt from Koonwarra Transfer Station showing the registration number, date, time, and item name.

On the receipt, is noted the item being deposited was ‘e-waste’.

Canty explained some items can be dropped at the tip for free, but people are required to pay if they are getting rid of e-waste items.

Jury hears from cop who picked up the food dehydrator​

In his statement, Burns said he was contacted on 4 August 2023 from detectives investigating the lunch while he was on shift at Wonthaggi Police Station.

He said he was asked to go pick up the food dehydrator at Koonwarra Transfer Station.

Burns said he met a employee at the tip who directed him to the dehydrator, before he took photos, wrapped it up, and took it back to the police station.

Patterson’s health records show no signs of cancer, expert says​

Professor Andrew Burston, an intensive care specialist, has told the court Patterson’s files indicate she did not have cancer at the time of the lunch.

The court has heard Burston was given Patterson’s medical files from 2 March 2023 to 2 August 2023 to examine.

Prosecution: “Is there enough medical information to show Erin Patterson was diagnosed with cancer during that time?”

Burston: “I cannot find (any) evidence (of that).”

Prosecution: “Was there a self-screening test in March 2023?”

Burston: “Yes.”

Prosecution: “And that was normal?”

Burston: “Yes. And I think she was advised no further screening was needed for five years.”

Patterson’s hospital tests indicate she did have diarrhoea, expert says

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

7news.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

8 minutes ago
Highlight

CCTV footage of woman dumping dehydrator at tip played in court​

Darren Canty, an operations manager for the Dasma Group, has entered the witness box.
The court heard Dasma Group operates the Koonwarra Transfer Station and Landfill.
In its opening address to the jury, the defence admitted Erin lied to police about dumping her food dehydrator at the tip.
The jury was shown CCTV footage from the tip taken at 11.34am on August 2, four days after the lunch.
A red SUV can be seen entering the frame and driving up to a green storage shed.
A woman exits the car, wearing a grey sweater and cream pants.
She can be seen opening the boot, taking out an item and walking into the shed.
About 20 seconds later, she returns to her car without the item.
Mr Canty said he reviewed the CCTV footage after police contacted him on August 4.
He told the court he asked one of his employees to search the bin for the item the woman in the CCTV footage left behind.
The jury was then shown a photo of a black dehydrator.




5 minutes ago
Highlight

'No evidence' of Erin's cancer diagnosis: ICU specialist​

Professor Andrew Bersten, an intensive care specialist, has taken the stand.
The court heard he had examined the medical records of the accused and found no evidence that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC asked: “Is there sufficient evidence in Erin Patterson’s medical files to support the assertion that she was diagnosed with cancer?”
He replied: “I could not find evidence to confirm that statement.”
The court heard Erin had completed a self-administered cervical screening test in March 2023 and the “results were normal”.
The prosecution alleges she falsely claimed to have cancer to explain why the children were not at the lethal lunch, while the defence has suggested Erin only told the lunch guests she had a “suspected” diagnosis of cancer.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/erin-patterson-trial-live-updates-from-morwell-court/live-coverage/2b9110af7759d006a800bf76bb848d28?amp

 

[Spectrix]

It sounds like Erin has made two separate beef wellington dishes. The safe one was thrown into the bin, knowing and ready for the police to take it away to examine

As this wasn't the leftovers Erin and her kids had eaten

It's alleged by the prosecution that Erin made separate untainted beef Wellingtons for herself (at the lunch) and the kids later.
She claims to have scraped the mushrooms off the leftovers (I gather she'd removed the pastry).
That was the untainted leftovers that she volunteered to the police.

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

The tests ran on Erin Patterson​

By Judd Boaz​

Professor Bersten is asked about a stool sample taken from Erin Patterson, designed to find foreign pathogens.

"The indication is that no pathogens were detected," Dr Rogers says.

"That's correct," Professor Bersten says.

Professor Bersten is then asked to explain sophisticated blood and liver tests that were run on Erin Patterson.

The tests were run on blood taken at Leongatha Hospital when Ms Patterson first presented.

He says many of her results fell within standard, reference ranges.

Professor Bersten also notes her creatinine and haemoglobin levels had fallen towards reference ranges since the initial tests.

He again states that the ratios of urea to creatinine in Erin's body were not consistent with dehydration.

Expert says Erin Patterson's medical files suggest she was ill — as it happened

Erin Patterson is on trial charged with the murders of three relatives who died after eating a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Deleted member 363451]

4m ago

Defence and prosecution wrap up with Dr Truong​

​

By Judd Boaz​

We're back to the phone call Dr Truong had with a doctor following her examination.

Mr Mandy asks about a conversation that took place between Dr Truong and doctors on August 1.

She disputes this, and says she does not remember the day.

Mr Mandy says notes obtained from the doctor during the call stated the possiblity of ghost or oyster mushrooms in the dish.

Dr Truong disputes this, and says they were simply discussing mushrooms that "could" theoretically be in a dish.

The defence has no further questions, and the prosecution also finishes.

Court breaks for lunch.

Expert says Erin Patterson's medical files suggest she was ill — as it happened

Erin Patterson is on trial charged with the murders of three relatives who died after eating a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

The defence are grasping tightly for straws...

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
3m ago

Doctor says Erin had evidence of diarrhoeal illness​

By Judd Boaz​

Dr Rogers asks Professor Bersten his opinion on Erin Patterson's illness.

"I thought there was evidence that she had a diarrhoeal illness," he says.

He cites a mild level of dehydration at Erin's presentation, and slightly elevated levels of haemoglobin and fibrinogen consistent with a sudden illness.

However, he notes the illness did not appear to be severe and there was no other biochemical evidence of a liver injury.

He again confirms to the court that Erin's vital signs were all normal otherwise.

The prosecution finishes its questioning, and before the defence gets a change to question Professor Bersten, we head to a break.

Expert says Erin Patterson's medical files suggest she was ill — as it happened

Erin Patterson is on trial charged with the murders of three relatives who died after eating a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial in our live blog.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Deleted member 363451]

I'm remembering that too, but don't have a source.

"
She lied to police about not owning a food dehydrator, nor using one, he said. CCTV footage showed her dumping the dehydrator at the local tip. A forensic analysis showed it had traces of death cap mushrooms, and her fingerprints."

Deliberate poisoning or a tragic accident? The question at the heart of Australia’s mushroom murders trial

Jury hears of a collapsed marriage, cancer claim and mushroom foraging in week one of the trial of Erin Patterson

www.theguardian.com