GUILTY Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 *Arrest* #18

[Kemug]

I think that the prosecution does allege that Erin was a bumbling idiot type of killer.

imo

I am surprised that Erin is not better-spoken, considering her intelligence and background.

 

[browneyes]

…

 

[Two SCents]

…

As per the trial coverage, they didn't go to church. The details of the afternoon have been covered to the enth degree.

 

[LinasK]

As per the trial coverage, they didn't go to church. The details of the afternoon have been covered to the enth degree.

Wasn't her excuse for not going to church that she didn't feel well? Yet she felt well enough to drive 3 hours for a flying lesson in white pants???

 

[dothetime]

I've always considered that she saw Heather and Ian as collateral damage. She invited them because no one would think she'd have motive to kill all four of them. It sounds preposterous.

It may be, she saw Heather and Ian as representing her parents (consciously or subconciously) whom she seems to have hated, as their names are almost identical. Heather / Ian and Heather / Eitan.

 

[Hercule Holmes]

Hobbies, heckles and love letters: How Erin Patterson’s life is unfolding behind bars

The mushroom triple-killer has never been known to be violent in prison. But one thing has peeved those behind bars with her.

www.theage.com.au

Hobbies, heckles and love letters: How Erin Patterson’s life is unfolding behind bars​

The triple-murderer was stony-faced when the jury read their verdict out. In prison, her demeanour changed.

By Chris Vedelago

July 11, 2025

She doesn’t curse or spit at the guards or bash anyone. But she has put inmates and guards off with her constant complaints, which are often taken as showing her complete lack of awareness of where she is.

“Her cell is too hot or too cold: ‘What are you going to do about it?’ she’d say. It was complaint after complaint after complaint,” says a guard who formerly worked in her unit.

“It’s not a hotel; it’s a prison. Yes, she wasn’t convicted yet. But it’s still a prison. It’s not meant to be customised for your comfort.”

snip

Only one of these online mates would turn up in person – except as witnesses for the prosecution – to stand with Patterson during the trial: Alison Prior. They met for the first time after charges were laid, and Prior would be granted permission to approach Patterson in the dock to speak to her.

Patterson had been in a maximum security unit for her safety since she was remanded in November 2023 but was moved into the special protection unit last year.

For almost 24 hours a day, she would be left staring at four walls – and her brief of evidence – cut off from almost all human contact except for her guards.

There is another article in The Age today by Tony Wright. I bought the hard copy so can't post a link.

There was a book published in 2022, "Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus. It was Dymock's book of the year in Australia that year. The fictional protagonist, Elizabeth Zott, becomes a TV cooking host.

In chapter 30 she tackles a recipe for getting rid of loved ones. "If it were me, I'd opt for the Amanita phalloides". Goes on to explain how it withstands high heat and very much resembles the harmless straw mushroom.

The monologue finishes with "So if someone dies and there's an inquiry, you can easily play the dumb housewife and plead mistaken mushroom identity".

 

[Susjay]

Mushroom trial spawns toxic media hot takes after Erin Patterson’s guilty verdict | Weekly Beast

Coverage ranges from psychedelic gifs to ‘full-on Walking Dead-style zombie stuff’. Plus: is the ABC really listening?

www.theguardian.com

Mushroom trial spores toxic media hot takes after Erin Patterson’s guilty verdict​

Amanda Meade

The extraordinary photographs of the triple murderer in a prison van in May were published by every media outlet, bought from the wire agency AFP for more than $1,500 each or a discounted rate for the set of six.

These pics of the guilty woman are so exceptionally gratifying to see as I recall hearing her husband claim that she absolutely loathes having her photo taken. I read a report about him sharing a pic of his wife’s feet on facebook ( I think it was) and he said this was as close as he would ever get to posting a photo of his wife because she never wanted anyone to take her photo - ever.

 

[Monstradamus]

Honestly, when I first learned of this murder, I was under the impression that she had served the luncheon outside in her garden.

A bit too cold outside in a Victorian winter

 

[dothetime]

[bbm]

that's interesting about removing the chair ... is that common in Australia? I've never seen that here in Canada

Some Christians leave a spare chair at the meal table (usually with place setting) for the 'unseen guest / Christ present among them, or for the 'stranger' in need should one appear.

 

[Two SCents]

Wasn't her excuse for not going to church that she didn't feel well? Yet she felt well enough to drive 3 hours for a flying lesson in white pants???

That's an interesting point. It was actually her son who said they didn't go to church because she wasn't feeling well.

The boy recalled his mother telling him she felt unwell the morning after the lunch. He said she shared that she’d been to the toilet a few times during the night. She drove her son to a flying lesson in Tyabb, which was later cancelled.

“She said she had to go a few times [to the toilet] during the night,” the boy said. “She did not sound great. It sounded like it was worse than she was saying it was.

“She was playing it down, that’s what it sounded like.”

Son of alleged mushroom lunch killer Erin Patterson said relationship between parents ‘very negative’

The pre-recorded video evidence of Patterson’s children was played to the jury on Friday, the ninth day of the murder trial.

www.theage.com.au

From her daughter's statement played in court........

In her interview, she tells police that Patterson said she was sick on the morning of 30 July 2023, the day after the lunch.

She said she had a sore tummy and diarrhoea, the girl told police, and that she had seen her go to the toilet about 10 times.

Australia mushroom murders trial: Erin Patterson’s daughter describes eating ‘leftovers’ of fatal lunch in police video

Court also hears from nurse who says triple murder accused told Leongatha hospital staff ‘I don’t want any of this’ in relation to treatment for suspected poisoning

www.theguardian.com

During questioning from Dr Rogers, EP said they didn't go to church because her son had a sore tummy.

Patterson said her memory of that morning was different to the version of events described by the teenager, and that it was he who had suggested not going to church that morning.

The accused woman said that she got up that morning and went to check her son’s bedroom next door. After realising he was not in the room, she walked downstairs and found her son sitting in the TV room.

“The first thing he said to me was, ‘I’ve got a sore tummy ... can we not go to church today?’” Patterson told the court.

As it happened: Prosecutor suggests accused mushroom cook wanted to appear unwell after beef Wellington lunch - Erin Patterson trial day 29

Accused killer Erin Patterson has spent another full day in witness box during her triple murder trial. She has pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder and one of attempted murder.

www.smh.com.au

I found this odd because it would've been more supportive to EP's story of being unwell to agree with what her son had stated. But instead, she disagreed with his supportive testimony.

 

[Ellery84]

These pics of the guilty woman are so exceptionally gratifying to see as I recall hearing her husband claim that she absolutely loathes having her photo taken. I read a report about him sharing a pic of his wife’s feet on facebook ( I think it was) and he said this was as close as he would ever get to posting a photo of his wife because she never wanted anyone to take her photo - ever.

Her feet are still on display on her Insta profile. IMO

 

[Monstradamus]

[bbm]

that's interesting about removing the chair ... is that common in Australia? I've never seen that here in Canada

No, not common here in Australia, imo. Not in my house, anyway.

 

[nb93x]

She reminds me a lot of Joan Ferguson from Wentworth!

 

[Susjay]

I would love to see a psychologist's report on Erin. I think it would be VERY interesting

Would love to read a psychologists report - with popcorn please!

 

[Susjay]

Her feet are still on display on her Insta profile. IMO

Thanks I’ll pass on checking that out…

 

[Ellery84]

Thanks I’ll pass on checking that out…

Yes, I would just leave it.

 

[Monstradamus]

She reminds me a lot of Joan Ferguson from Wentworth!

The Freak.
If the shoe fits, imo

 

[Sarahlou]

She reminds me a lot of Joan Ferguson from Wentworth!

Ooh if Pamela Rabe were younger/larger she'd be perfect to play Erin.

I just thought, we haven't seen a mugshot of Erin. Do they not release them in Australia?

 

[LadyL]

I nominate Dr Chris Webster for an AO.

what's an AO?

Oh absolutely. I have no doubt of her guilt and was so relieved when it was recognised by the jury (after watching the legal wranglings and sheer volume of evidence that was excluded I don't have much faith in a jury determining actual guilt/innocence but hope in most cases they are able to come to a verdict that reflects the reality of the situation).

I was just clarifying that for a mum in a good mental space, to abandon her child and husband like that is unthinkable and might suggest she's an uncaring monster but throw PND into the mix and it makes so much more sense.

what is PND?

 

[Eloise]

what's an AO?



what is PND?

Order of Australia https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/order-australia

postnatal depression