Lunch guests’ toxicology results shown in court
The court has been shown the toxicology results for the lunch guests, Erin Patterson, and her two children.
Alpha-amanitin and beta-amanitin were detected in Don Patterson’s urine sample, which was taken while he was still alive (anti-mortem) on 30 July at Dandenong Hospital.
However, other anti-mortem samples - for blood, serum (which is a fluid containing red blood cells) and hair - did not detect either toxin, nor did post-mortem samples of blood or a section of his liver.
Gerostamoulos explained it was not uncommon for alpha-amanitin or beta-amanitin to not appear in anti-mortem or post-mortem samples, depending on the type of sample and when it was taken.
He said samples taken as soon as possible after the poisoning event were most likely to detect the toxins, which are also most easily detectable in urine.
“They (alpha-amanitin and beta-amanitin) don’t persist over time,” he said.
“If after 24 hours, or 30 hours, a sample is unavailable, you are not going to find alpha-amanitin, or beta-amanitin.”
Gerostamoulos added that a finding of “undetected” means the sample has not found traces of the substance in amounts above the test’s detectable threshold.
The court was also shown the toxicology results for Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson.
Neither alpha-amanitin or beta-amanitin were found in any of the samples taken from both women.
For Ian Wilkinson, beta-amanitin was detected in his serum, but there was no alpha-amanitin found.
There was also alpha-amanitin detected in his urine (but no beta-amanitin). Death cap toxins weren’t discovered in any of his other sample results.
Erin Patterson and her two children submitted blood and sample serum, with toxicology results finding no detectable death cap mushroom toxins.
Photos of leftover tests shown to court
The court has been shown a slideshow of photos outlining the various steps toxicologists took while examining the leftovers of the beef wellington.
The photos included the food remnants in zip-lock bags (when they first arrived at hospital) and food samples in viles with ethanol.
Death cap toxins found in lunch leftovers and food dehydrator
Two of the main toxins in death cap mushrooms were detected in food samples taken from the lunch leftovers and the food dehydrator Patterson allegedly dropped off at a local tip.
The toxicology tests were aimed at detecting traces of alpha-amanitin and beta-amanitin.
For the leftovers, samples were taken of the pastry, meat, mushroom paste, and a gravy.
Beta-amanitin was found in a sample of the mushroom paste and meat sample.
For the food dehydrator, four samples of vegetable matter from the food dehydrator were found to contain both alpha-amanitin and beta-amanitin.
Erin Patterson is accused of killing three people with poisonous death cap mushrooms.
7news.com.au
