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

[Little Jack]

I am waiting for evidence about google searches ... "how long does it take to die from Death Cap poisoning", "how long till you are sick after eating Death Caps" ..... "how long till Death Cap toxins are out of your system" ....

"Ho long to die in snow after eating death caps"

 

[MsMarple]

Are all divorce agreements determined by the government in Australia? Here in the US the parties can iron out division of property, child support, custody etc.. if they can’t come to a fair agreement then they can ask the court to step in.

 

[Detechtive]

Are all divorce agreements determined by the government in Australia? Here in the US the parties can iron out division of property, child support, custody etc.. if they can’t come to a fair agreement then they can ask the court to step in.

No, the majority are done by consent, and are self lodged. Usually only the acrimonious cases end up in the Family Court System, which I suspect this one may have!

 

[Detechtive]

Maybe I'm a bit slow, but it only just occurred to me that if Erin truly did put powdered mushrooms in her children's food, then they would have been contaminated by these 'accidental death caps' prior, considering they were picked in May, unless, of course, she kept the dried death caps separate to those 'normal' mushrooms she was allegedly foraging. And if she kept them separate, that shows she knew they were poisonous.

Surely this points to premeditation of at least serious harm, if not premeditated murder.

 

[katydid23]

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, when I read that statement:
'I gave Simon half of my inheritance, because that's what you do when you separate'

I thought What The Heck? It did not ring true to me at all...

 

[drsleuth]

Erin Patterson mushroom trial: Toxicologist takes stand, lethal dose ‘variable’

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

7news.com.au

Last day of week three of Erin Patterson’s trial set to kick off​

Welcome to 7NEWS.com.au’s live blog of the Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial.

Here is a recap of what the court has heard so far from the trial:

WEEK 1

Day one: It was revealed that three charges of attempted murder against Patterson in relation to her estranged husband had been dropped by the prosecution.

Day two: The prosecution and defence gave their opening addresses to the jury.

The court heard the prosecution will allege Patterson used a fake cancer diagnosis as the pretense for hosting the lunch, that the guests were served on different coloured plates to her, and she travelled to areas where death cap mushrooms were sighted in early 2023.

The prosecution will also allege Patterson dumped a food dehydrator – which was found to contain traces of death cap mushrooms – at a local tip in the days after the lunch, and that she set up two phones in early 2023 but only one was recovered by police during a search of her home.

The defence will argue the deaths were an “accidental terrible tragedy” and Patterson did not intentionally poison her guests.

The defence say Patterson lied to police because she “panicked”.

Day three: Erin Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon, took the stand as the prosecution’s first witness. The court heard about the former couple’s relationship, Patterson’s inheritance, and were shown texts the pair exchanged about the lunch and child support.

Day four: Simon Patterson returned to the stand for cross-examination. He became emotional as he described the court process as “very difficult”. The court heard Patterson suffered from mental illness, that she was “very hurt” after an “afterthought invite” to Gail’s birthday party, and was shown more heated texts about child support payments.

WEEK 2

Day five: Three friends Patterson made in a true crime Facebook group took the stand. They said Patterson shared photos of her food dehydrator online and that she consulted the group for advice on beef wellington recipes around July 2023.

Day six: Ian Wilkinson, who was the only guest to survive the lunch, took the witness stand. He described his relationship with Patterson, what happened at the lunch, and the symptoms he and his late wife, Heather, later suffered.

Day seven: The court heard evidence from the children of the four lunch guests as well as doctors who oversaw the two couple’s treatment. Don and Gail Patterson’s daughter, Anna Terrington, became emotional on the stand while recalling conversations with her parents about the lunch. The court was also shown CCTV of Patterson leaving the hospital against medical staff’s advice and heard a triple 0 call a doctor made to police after she discharged herself.

Day eight: The court heard from nurses and paramedics who tended to Patterson at hospital. They said she did not seem “unwell” and that they did not witness her making frequent trips to the toilet, despite her reportedly suffering from diarrhoea. The court also saw a pre-recorded interview of Patterson’s daughter speaking to a detective in August 2023 Her daughter told the officer her mother was sick the day after the lunch and she saw her go to the toilet around “ten times”.

Day nine: The court was shown a pre-recorded interview of Patterson’s son speaking to a detective. During the conversation, the teenage boy spoke about disputes between his parents and said his mother reported having diarrhoea after the lunch.

WEEK 3

Day 10: The court heard evidence from a mushroom expert, mycologist Thomas May, who provided information about the growth and distribution of death cap mushrooms in Australia. The court heard that he shared photos of death cap mushrooms on iNaturalist, a website where citizen scientists share observations of wild mushrooms, in May 2023. His observation was made in Outtrim, in Victoria’s Gippsland region. The prosecution will allege Patterson travelled to that area in the days after the sighting.

Day 11: CCTV footage of Patterson allegedly dropping a food dehydrator to a tip in the days after the lunch was shown in court. A mycologist who examined leftovers of beef wellington recovered from Patterson’s bin revealed the food remnants only contained field mushrooms. The court also heard from a medical expert who found Patterson’s hospital records did suggest she was suffering from a diarrhoeal illness.

Day 12: The court heard from a child protection worker who interviewed Patterson in the days after the lunch. She said Patterson described Simon as “controlling”, spoke about the beef wellington recipe, the lunch, and her bid to prevent a diarrhoea accident. The court also heard from a toxicologist who revealed traces of death cap mushroom toxins were found in the lunch leftovers and a dehydrator recovered from a tip.

Today is a half day.

 

[drsleuth]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/forensic-tests-revealed-death-cap-toxins-in-debris-from-dumped-dehydrator/live-coverage/ebdc70f3d92b97e521bf68a46a4152fc?amp

LIVE

Erin Patterson trial LIVE day 13: Forensic tests revealed death cap toxins in debris from dumped dehydrator​

A forensic toxicologist will return to the witness box today, after telling the jury yesterday that toxins from death cap mushrooms were found in debris taken from inside the dumped dehydrator.

 

[drsleuth]

Analysis of beef Wellington lunch leftovers probed in mushroom trial — as it happened

The triple murder trial of Erin Patterson continues from the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell. She's accused of killing three relatives who ate a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial live.

www.abc.net.au

6m ago

WATCH: Juror discharged from Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial​

By Judd Boaz​

On Thursday, we learned that a juror had been discharged from the Erin Patterson trial, after reports emerged that he had been discussing the case with family and friends.

Key Event
Just now

What happened in court yesterday?​

By Tim Callanan​

Thursday was an eventful day in court as a juror was discharged amid reports he'd been discussing the case with family and friends.

The trial also heard from Victoria's chief toxicologist Dimitri Gerostamoulos, who said death cap mushroom toxins were detected in beef Wellington leftovers found in Ms Patterson's bin.

Those results were at odds with a different test conducted by a mushroom expert, who viewed the bin items under a microscope.

Also in Thursday's testimony, child protection worker Katrina Cripps told the court Ms Patterson told her instructions for the beef Wellington were contained in a RecipeTinEats cookbook.

 

[katydid23]

Right you are. And she also didn’t poison her beloved dog. That would have taken some effort - to keep the food from the dog.


Dogs love left-overs.

EXACTLY. I have always seen that is incriminating evidence. On the day of the luncheon, she'd have scraps of meat from her 4 guests ----wouldn't it be logical that she'd give some of that leftover beef to her beautiful Labrador?

 

[drsleuth]

Key Event
Just now

Murder trial resumes in Morwell​

By Kristian Silva​

Hello again from inside courtroom 4.

The Erin Patterson trial is coming to the end of its third week.

Even though it has been a shortened week with only four sitting days, the evidence has been technical and dense.

Thankfully, we haven't lost any more jurors from the panel, with 14 coming into court today. Erin Patterson is in the dock, wearing a dark-coloured blouse and a brown cardigan.

Analysis of beef Wellington lunch leftovers probed in mushroom trial — as it happened

The triple murder trial of Erin Patterson continues from the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell. She's accused of killing three relatives who ate a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial live.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

Toxicologist returns to the stand​

Victoria’s chief toxicologist Dimitri Gerostamoulos has commenced cross examination.
By Tita Smith

5 minutes ago

Erin Patterson mushroom trial: Toxicologist takes stand, lethal dose ‘variable’

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

7news.com.au

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Forensics expert continues giving evidence​

By Tim Callanan​

The jury is continuing to hear testimony from Dimitri Gerostamoulos who is Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University's Department of Forensic Medicine.

Defence lawyer Colin Mandy SC is asking Dr Gerostamoulos about the testing of two bags which contained leftovers from the lunch at Erin Patterson's house.

Mr Mandy puts it to the forensics expert that the items were from two places at Erin Patterson's home but were put in one bag, to which he agrees and says it was not an ideal way to receive samples.

Dr Gerostamoulos also confirms a piece of foil was also included in the contents sent for testing.

Mr Mandy asks about the process for testing and Dr Gerostamoulos says small parts of the larger ample are tested.

"It's not possible to test the whole sample," he says.

Analysis of beef Wellington lunch leftovers probed in mushroom trial — as it happened

The triple murder trial of Erin Patterson continues from the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell. She's accused of killing three relatives who ate a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial live.

www.abc.net.au

 

[katydid23]

I am waiting for evidence about google searches ... "how long does it take to die from Death Cap poisoning", "how long till you are sick after eating Death Caps" ..... "how long till Death Cap toxins are out of your system" ....

I'm worried we won;'t get very much data from her phones because she slyly changed out her SIM cards and she remotely reset the phone they had taken from her. And her other one was never found.

 

[Detechtive]

DBM

 

[drsleuth]

4 minutes ago

Forensic toxicologist returns to the witness box​

Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine toxicologist Dr Dimitri Gerostamoulos has returned to the witness box.
He is being cross-examined by defence barrister Colin Mandy SC.

Mr Mandy has recounted the journey of the leftovers of the beef wellington, which Dr Gerostamoulos and his team tested for death cap mushroom amatoxins.
He told the court they were retrieved from an “outdoor garbage bin” at Erin’s home.
“The bag that the leftovers were placed in was seeping,” Mr Mandy said, noting they were located in a bag with other rubbish.
He said the leftovers were then taken to Leongatha Hospital before they were sent to mycologist Camille Truong at the Royal Botanic Gardens on July 31.
They arrived at the VIFM lab on August 29.
“I can’t comment on the way they’ve been handled,” Dr Gerostamoulos said.
“Only the fact we received them in a large ziplock bag and we tested the contents.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/the-mushroom-cook/forensic-tests-revealed-death-cap-toxins-in-debris-from-dumped-dehydrator/live-coverage/ebdc70f3d92b97e521bf68a46a4152fc?amp

 

[drsleuth]

1m ago

Forensics expert explains testing process​

By Tim Callanan​

Dr Gerostamoulos is being shown photographs of the samples that were sent for testing, which have been divided into separate vials.

There is an explanation from Dr Gerostamoulos of the testing process for the testing of the contents of the vials, of which there were nine.

"The process is really about concentrating these samples," Dr Gerostamoulos explains, which he says is standard procedure.

He explains that methanol is added to the vials to extract compounds of interest from the contents of the vial.

Analysis of beef Wellington lunch leftovers probed in mushroom trial — as it happened

The triple murder trial of Erin Patterson continues from the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell. She's accused of killing three relatives who ate a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. Follow the trial live.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Deleted member 363451]

I'm worried we won;'t get very much data from her phones because she slyly changed out her SIM cards and she remotely reset the phone they had taken from her. And her other one was never found.

Yes, not the actions of an innocent person...

 

[drsleuth]

Toxicologist returns to the stand​

Victoria’s chief toxicologist Dimitri Gerostamoulos is being cross-examined by defence barrister Colin Mandy SC about the protocols used to test the lunch leftover samples.

The court previously heard death cap mushroom toxins were found in samples taken from the lunch leftovers and the food dehydrator recovered from a local tip.

Death cap mushroom toxins were also found in biological samples taken from Don Patterson and Ian Wilkinson.

There were no death cap mushroom toxins found in samples taken from Gail Patterson, Heather Wilkinson, or Patterson and her two children.

Gerostamoulos previously told the court the ability to detect death cap toxins in biological samples depend on the timing and the nature of the sample, with those collected soon after the poisoning event more likely to render a positive result.

Erin Patterson mushroom trial: Toxicologist takes stand, lethal dose ‘variable’

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

7news.com.au

 

[katydid23]

I agree. They will argue Erin was exposed to the DC as evidenced by her gastro symptoms, that her urine was tested too late for the toxin test to be meaningful and she was just very lucky.

And that all of the samples would/could have tested positive for DC toxins but the seepage means some of the toxin containing fluid leached away.

It doesn’t explain how they’ll justify the children’s negative tests though, or them being so well. Their urine tests probably were meaningful as they were tested closer to ingestion

True, but she still has some big problems. She lied to the doctors who were trying to save her four 'loved' ones. She could have saved their lives by telling the truth so they could quickly receive the antidotes.

She continued to lie to everyone and tipped the dehydrator. So that goes against the defense claim that it was an unavoidable accident.

 

[LinasK]

Ms Cripps says when Erin later took her son to the shops, she did not want to get out of the car and preferred to remain seated to prevent incontinence.

If she really had diarrhoea, remaining seated in the car would not have helped much,. It must nit have been a very serious case if just sitting prevents an eruption, imo.

That's exactly what I said because I have experienced it on a road trip. Taking Imodium helps, sitting in a car, not so much.