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

[imstilla.grandma]

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[MsMarple]

Witnesses told a jury the delicacy – cooked using the RecipeTin Eats cookbook by chef Nagi Maehashi – travelled in blue zip lock bags in a police car from Erin Patterson’s home to the Leongatha hospital.

It was then driven 116 kilometres east of Leongatha in the back of an ambulance with Erin Patterson as she made her way to Monash Medical Centre to be examined.

An urgent taxi transported the leftovers further east to the Royal Botanic Gardens, but mycologist Camille Truong had already left for the day.

Truong didn’t see any death cap mushrooms inside, so she put the lunch leftovers in her fridge at home before taking them back to work and testing again later the next day.

Despite using specialist tools, she told the jury she was unable to visually identify traces of death cap mushrooms using her microscope, finding only common field mushrooms.

Inside the forensic journey to unmask a deadly mushroom meal

Plucked from Erin Patterson’s outdoor bin, the leftover eye fillet coated in mushroom and encased in pastry has been examined across Melbourne in the lead-up to her triple murder trial.

www.theage.com.au

Thanks Grandma!

I googled the referenced cookbook and found the how to video. I suspect Erin maybe used it more as a guide although I’d be impressed if she followed it exactly. There’s been no mention of the crepe or prosciutto layers although I may have missed testimony.

Ugh, at the end of the video the cook fed an end cut to a happy dog and even though it had nothing to do with this case I involuntarily flinched.

 

[SouthAussie]

I’m looking forward to how LE conducted their investigation. Maybe we’ll get a clearer picture of what Erin said in interviews and when. Did she ever disclose to LE that she foraged rather than bought the death caps? We’ve only heard about it through her lawyers.

And hopefully the digital forensics will reveal more. I also wonder if LE conducted a financial accounting.

IMO we’re at the halfway point and what we learn from here out will complete the puzzle, one way or another. JMO

I had a look back. Erin was arrested on 2nd November (poisonings 29th July), interviewed, and charged with murder that day.

On 11th August she was maintaining that she bought the mushrooms at a supermarket and Asian grocery store, as that is when she sent that 5 page statement to the police, after initially giving a "no comment" interview to the police.


In a written statement sent to Victoria Police on Friday – and obtained exclusively by the ABC – Gippsland woman Erin Patterson has given her first detailed account of what transpired before and after the fatal lunch.
Erin Patterson, woman at centre of suspected Leongatha mushroom poisoning, gives her account of fatal meal


Detectives arrested 49-year-old Leongatha woman Erin Patterson at her Gippsland home shortly after 8am on Thursday.
There was a heavy police presence at the property, with investigators searching the house, garage and Ms Patterson's car over several hours, seizing items from inside.
In a written statement sent to police in August, Ms Patterson said she bought fungi for the lunch at a supermarket and an Asian grocery store, and was herself hospitalised after eating the lunch.
Erin Patterson interviewed by police over Leongatha mushroom poisoning deaths


Police confirmed on Thursday evening she had been charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder.
Police said the murder charges, and two attempted murder charges related to an incident on July 29 when Ms Patterson hosted a lunch at her Leongatha home.
Police suspect poisonous mushrooms were used in the meal, where four people fell ill afterwards.
Police said the three other attempted murder charges related to separate incidents in Victoria between 2021 and 2022.
Police charge Erin Patterson with murder over deadly Leongatha mushroom lunch

 

[BreakingNews]

Just wondering whether she will say she actually did buy dried mushrooms and stored them in a container in her pantry and that she also had foraged and dried (the death cap) mushrooms (which she could claim she thought were safe) and put them in a similar container and that in the rush to make the lunch she must have mixed them up and only realised afterwards what might have happened and panicked and ditched the dehydrator. This may sway jurors as far as intent....

I doubt very much that she will testify. She doesn't have to. The prosecution would have a field day! MOO

 

[HoneyBunOne]

Police confirmed on Thursday evening she had been charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder.
Police said the murder charges, and two attempted murder charges related to an incident on July 29 when Ms Patterson hosted a lunch at her Leongatha home.
Police suspect poisonous mushrooms were used in the meal, where four people fell ill afterwards.
Police said the three other attempted murder charges related to separate incidents in Victoria between 2021 and 2022.
Police charge Erin Patterson with murder over deadly Leongatha mushroom lunch

Shortened and bold by me.

I wasn't aware these were the charges. As for the July 29th date, the 3 counts of murder are obvious, as is 1 count of attempted murder. Are the police claiming the 2nd attempt on that date was Simon?

As for the 3 other attempted murder charges, I assume they all relate to Simon? I knew there were a couple of times he felt unwell, including the time he nearly died, but I'm not sure how the police came to the conclusion that they were attempts at murder. I mean in retrospect you can summise that was likely, but for police to be able to lay charges would indicate something solid. Do we know the details of these attempts and the evidence police have?

 

[Spectrix]

I doubt very much that she will testify. She doesn't have to. The prosecution would have a field day! MOO

I was hoping that she might stand up in front of the jury and turn on the crocodile tears that she did so well with the media

 

[SouthAussie]

Shortened and bold by me.

I wasn't aware these were the charges. As for the July 29th date, the 3 counts of murder are obvious, as is 1 count of attempted murder. Are the police claiming the 2nd attempt on that date was Simon?

As for the 3 other attempted murder charges, I assume they all relate to Simon? I knew there were a couple of times he felt unwell, including the time he nearly died, but I'm not sure how the police came to the conclusion that they were attempts at murder. I mean in retrospect you can summise that was likely, but for police to be able to lay charges would indicate something solid. Do we know the details of these attempts and the evidence police have?

The police withdrew the charges for attempted murder against Simon. (yes, they are all for attempts against him)

We do not know if they were withdrawn so they can charge EP with them later, or if they are permanently withdrawn.

imo


IN A sensational development on day one of the triple murder trial of Erin Patterson, 50 of Leongatha, the prosecution has dropped the four attempted murder charges where Ms Patterson’s estranged husband Simon Patterson was the alleged victim.

When advising the new jury that the charges of attempted murder relating to Simon Patterson had been “discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions”, in other words those charges have been dropped,

Justice Beale instructed the jurors to put them out of their mind, especially if they had previously been aware of charges in relation to Ms Patterson’s estranged husband.

Four attempted murder charges dropped in Patterson case - South Gippsland Sentinel Times

The prosecution has dropped the attempted murder charges where Simon Patterson was the alleged victim. IN A sensational development on day one of the triple murder trial of Erin Patterson, the prosecution has dropped the attempted murder charges...

www.sgst.com.au

 

[LinasK]

They probably grow in a cluster, and she picked the whole cluster.
As well, the entire Death Cap is poisonous. Stem included.

imo


I would wear some form of glove to separate my hands from actually touching the Death Caps. Each cluster must be removed early, before the little umbrella opens up.

A STROLL THROUGH THE GARDEN Sharing some ideas to battle Death Cap mushrooms in yards

A few years ago, a reader sent me an email about identifying a mushroom in his lawn. As time has progressed, I am starting to learn more about these fascinating creations.

www.times-gazette.com

Okay, then whoever has gone foraging with her can testify as to if she wore gloves when she foraged. If she did wear gloves, then it's a sure sign that she didn't pick them "accidentally".

 

[LinasK]

Just wondering whether she will say she actually did buy dried mushrooms and stored them in a container in her pantry and that she also had foraged and dried (the death cap) mushrooms (which she could claim she thought were safe) and put them in a similar container and that in the rush to make the lunch she must have mixed them up and only realised afterwards what might have happened and panicked and ditched the dehydrator. This may sway jurors as far as intent....

But there's no evidence that she bought mushrooms in an Asian grocery store.

 

[Deleted member 363451]

I doubt very much that she will testify. She doesn't have to. The prosecution would have a field day! MOO

And I was hoping to hear more of her lies...

 

[Deleted member 363451]

I doubt very much that she will testify. She doesn't have to. The prosecution would have a field day! MOO

Accidentally acquired poisonous mushrooms.
Accidentally told the police about acquiring said mushrooms from an Asian grocery store and can't remember which one.
Accidentally forgot that they were foraged.
Accidentally disposed of the dehydrator used to dehydrate said mushrooms at the tip.
Accidentally lied to police about having owned said dehydrator
Accidentally remotely wiped phone while police were searching the house for evidence.
Accidentally lied about a cancer diagnosis to justify hosting lunch without children present.

 

[Porky1]

Fridge AT HOME??????

Yikes.

Better, I suppose, than the breakroom fridge.

I would have thought there would be compliance issues with taking ‘evidence’ home

 

[ch_13]

I would have thought there would be compliance issues with taking ‘evidence’ home

In fairness, when the mycologist did this it was just a simple public health matter. There was no criminal investigation yet, so the mushrooms weren't considered evidence.

 

[Ellery84]

There’s no reasonable

I would have thought there would be compliance issues with taking ‘evidence’ home

It is not ideal, but it is my assumption that they were desperately trying to save lives. IMO

 

[Ellery84]

In fairness, when the mycologist did this it was just a simple public health matter. There was no criminal investigation yet, so the mushrooms weren't considered evidence.

That’s true. Good point!!!

 

[Jake18]

Accidentally acquired poisonous mushrooms.
Accidentally told the police about acquiring said mushrooms from an Asian grocery store and can't remember which one.
Accidentally forgot that they were foraged.
Accidentally disposed of the dehydrator used to dehydrate said mushrooms at the tip.
Accidentally lied to police about having owned said dehydrator
Accidentally remotely wiped phone while police were searching the house for evidence.
Accidentally lied about a cancer diagnosis to justify hosting lunch without children present.

I can’t understand how she can get away with not testifying. We haven’t heard her police statement yet, but her original police interview (as far as we know) stated that she didn’t forage, didn’t have a dehydrator and definitely bought the mushrooms at a shop.

Assuming that the police evidence confirms this, doesn’t that evidence stand unless she formally counters it?

 

[SouthAussie]

I can’t understand how she can get away with not testifying. We haven’t heard her police statement yet, but her original police interview (as far as we know) stated that she didn’t forage, didn’t have a dehydrator and definitely bought the mushrooms at a shop.

Assuming that the police evidence confirms this, doesn’t that evidence stand unless she formally counters it?

Her defence team has agreed that she foraged. It is a non-issue now.

Colin Mandy is her barrister.

Mandy went on to say that: “She also lied to the police about foraging for mushrooms. She admits that.
“She did forage for mushrooms. Just so that we make that clear, she denies that she ever deliberately sought out death cap mushrooms.”

Erin Patterson showed no sign of liver damage experienced by other mushroom lunch attenders, trial hears

Victorian jury also sees images appearing to show accused disposing of food dehydrator at tip, and hears from expert who examined lunch leftovers

www.theguardian.com

 

[Kemug]

Accidentally acquired poisonous mushrooms.
Accidentally told the police about acquiring said mushrooms from an Asian grocery store and can't remember which one.
Accidentally forgot that they were foraged.
Accidentally disposed of the dehydrator used to dehydrate said mushrooms at the tip.
Accidentally lied to police about having owned said dehydrator
Accidentally remotely wiped phone while police were searching the house for evidence.
Accidentally lied about a cancer diagnosis to justify hosting lunch without children present.

Quite accident prone, isn't she?

 

[srper2]

Okay, then whoever has gone foraging with her can testify as to if she wore gloves when she foraged. If she did wear gloves, then it's a sure sign that she didn't pick them "accidentally".

She may not have worn any gloves, easy to cut with a knife and flip into a plastic bag without touching them.

 

[srper2]

Quite accident prone, isn't she?

Quite!