Erin Patterson trial LIVE: Mushroom cook testifies in her own defence
Welcome to day 25 of the trial of Erin Patterson, live from Morwell.
Our journalists will bring you updates from court throughout the day in the blog below.
Ms Patterson, 50, is accused of murdering her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, along with Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and attempting to murder Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson with a beef wellington allegedly laced with lethal death cap mushrooms.
She has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Need to catch up on the trial? Click here for more coverage. The Mushroom Cook
In testimony the world has been waiting 674 days to hear, mushroom cook Erin Patterson has taken the stand and offered a raw response to a key question. The Mushroom Cook
Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson has told the jury about her struggles with poor self-esteem and the biggest hurdle in her marriage.
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8 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Childcare worker phone ban, national register to dominate Friday's education ministers meeting
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. State and federal education ministers will discuss progress on a nationwide mobile phone ban for early childcare workers, among a range of other measures aimed at bolstering safety at centres. States, including South Australia, Victoria and most recently Western Australia, have already gone further with a total ban on personal mobile phones in centres, however all states and territories agreed to the voluntary Model Code set by the Commonwealth. The federal code restricts educators and workers from taking photo and videos on their personal devices. However, centre-issued devices are exempt from the rule. Other measures set to dominate the meeting, which will be held in Sydney on Friday, include funding a National Educator Register to ensure workers who fail to meet standards can't bypass state jurisdictions, tougher penalties to deter noncompliance and mandatory child safety training for all staff. State and federal education ministers will discuss new rules for childcare centres to keep children safe. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare will also propose a funding package of up to $189m over four years to implement the changes. The special meeting of education ministers follows a string of child abuse and sexual assault allegations, including Melbourne former childcare worker Joshua Brown who faces more than 70 charges. Australian Federal Police officers allege NSW worker David William James produced child abuse material of 10 victims, the oldest being six years old. As a result, the Commonwealth passed laws which would cut off funding to centres which repeatedly breached standards, plus allow compliance officers to conduct checks without prior warning. Former Melbourne childcare worker Joshua Brown has been hit with more than 70 child abuse and child sexual assault charges. Picture Supplied Mr Clare said Friday's meeting would discuss the 'next step' in ensuring safety standards in centres. 'No parent should ever have to wonder if their child is safe when they drop them off at child care,' he said. 'We need a national register to ensure we know who is caring for our children and their work history.' He also flagged mandatory child safety training as another priority. 'The overwhelming majority of childcare workers are awesome at what they do caring for and educating our children. They are just as angry as everyone else,' he said. 'They're our best asset here and we need to back them with the skills to spot when something isn't right. 'We also need to ban personal phones and ramp up inspections to make sure centres are up to scratch.' Education Minister Jason Clare will convene a special meeting with his state counterparts to discuss safety measures. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh conceded 'there was more to do'. 'Our action supports the overwhelming majority of educators and providers who do the right thing and shuts the door on people and providers who do harm,' she said. 'Our investment of up to $184m is the biggest child safety package the early learning sector has ever seen.' The Coalition's education and early learning spokesman Jonno Duniam said Friday's meeting must produce 'immediate, consistent reforms'. He said there needed to be a consistent phone ban across all states, and backed South Australia's $50,000 penalties for noncompliance on Model Code. 'Every opportunity to shift the dial should be on the table. This includes considering targets in the extended preschool reform agreement,' he said. 'A national register of childcare workers should have been implemented already, and there must be consistency in the implementation of personal phone bans. 'South Australia is imposing $50,000 penalties for noncompliance to the new code. We want to see all states and territories follow suit.' Originally published as Childcare worker phone ban, national register to dominate Friday's education ministers meeting
Courier-Mail
a day ago
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AFL 2025: Adelaide Crows not taking responsibility in Izak Rankine investigation
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Adelaide Crows have come under scrutiny for 'arguing the toss at every turn' with regards to the ongoing investigation into the alleged homophobic slur delivered by Izak Rankine to a Collingwood player. The Crows are bracing for Rankine to be dealt a season-ending suspension from the AFL, but despite expectations a decision would be made on Tuesday — as all parties involved have been spoken to — the league will continue to mull the situation until at least Thursday before determining a sanction. Watch every game until the 2025 AFL Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Adelaide was granted 'additional time to respond to the AFL's proposed determinations', per an AFL statement on Wednesday afternoon. The alleged incident occurred on Saturday night, before relevant interviews took place and submissions made on Monday. The league is thought to be hunting a five-match ban for Rankine — which would end his season — with the Crows now in the process of readying their response. Respected commentator and AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley called the drawn-out process 'convoluted' on Wednesday night, with the saga about to enter its fourth day. Izak Rankine's saga is set to enter a fourth day. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images) 'That is an intolerably convoluted process, and it risks the AFL looking indecisive — perhaps behind the scenes they haven't been at all, but that's how it looks from the outside,' Whateley began on Fox Footy. 'It does make me wonder why Andrew Dillon and his legal team didn't go to Adelaide on Tuesday, sit in the board room and stay until matters were resolved. 'I think on a public front ... this is going to run all the way until game day of Round 24 — it's a nasty story. It's got an unsavoury edge, and some of the debate around it is it's damaging to the code.' Whateley expressed his belief that the Crows aren't acting 'in a contrite manner' as they continue to try for the most lenient possible suspension. Dawson speaks on potentially losing Rakine for the AFL finals Video Player is loading. Play Video This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. X Learn More Loaded : 31.71% Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. 00:23 SUBSCRIBER ONLY Dawson speaks on potentially losing Rakine for the AFL finals more more spoken about what it could mean to be down one of their guns. Adelaide Crows' Jordan Dawson has...... ... more 'My focus, really, is on Adelaide, who seem desperate to fight every angle of this,' he said. 'It's not a picture of accepting responsibility and acting in a contrite manner. And they are arguing the toss at every turn, formally and informally — (making the argument) finals games should be worth more than home-and-away games, even though there's no precedent in the system for that. 'They have gone with Rankine was provoked, which is a big stretch, I think — he was antagonised, but provoked is a big stretch. 'Informally, they've even raised Snoop Dogg. That's the domain of talkback radio, not a responsible footy club.' Whateley said there were 'three possibilities' that could have eventuated. 'Front up to what happened, pledge to address whatever it is in the environment that allowed this to happen, and accept what's coming,' he said. The Crows forward is facing a lengthy suspension, but the club aren't giving up the fight. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Former Demons captain Garry Lyon took a slightly different route to Whateley, suggesting the Crows were within their rights to 'fight and fight hard' to get Rankine off the hook — provided they also fall on their sword and accept the forthcoming penalty when the time comes. 'It's incumbent from a supporter's point of view to do the best job they possibly can to see if they can get Izak back playing,' Lyon said on AFL 360. 'Now, as unsavoury as that may sound, and as you've pointed it out, it smacks of them not wanting to take responsibility, I think they are entitled to argue their case as vociferously and as strongly as they possibly can, given the stakes that are at play — so long as they are accepting of the final verdict and it doesn't go too far. 'As a football club that's sitting on top of the ladder and are premiership favourites, there is a way to deal with it. And as I said, I don't begrudge them the right to fight and fight hard — even if that means getting in the trenches a bit — but there comes a time where you do need to show some humility and be accepting of the penalty, and that'll come.' Originally published as 'Desperate' Crows questioned for 'arguing at every turn' as slur saga stalls
Courier-Mail
a day ago
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Woman who alleges she was bashed unconscious by man at Rufus Du Sol concert speaks out
Don't miss out on the headlines from Music Festivals. Followed categories will be added to My News. The woman at the centre of a horrific alleged assault at a Rufus Du Sol concert in Los Angeles has spoken out about the 'traumatic' incident as she signalled her intention to file a lawsuit. A US mother-of-three, identified as Shelby Elston, identified herself as the woman in a viral video taken at the Australian band's show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California at the weekend, which showed an unidentified male punching a female concertgoer repeatedly in the crowd. Elston, who is based in Arizona, shared a statement via music outlet Festive Owl earlier this week, seeking the public's help to identify the man in the video as she shared what led to the alleged attack. Shelby Elston has identified herself as the woman in the video. Elston said the incident was "traumatic". 'We were at the concert to see our favorite (sic) artist, but the night turned traumatic,' Elston began. 'When we first got to our seats, a drink was accidentally spilled, lightly splashing the man in front of us. We apologized (sic) immediately, but he yelled that it was intentional and ran off, leaving his companion behind. We apologized (sic) to her and thought it was over.' Elston continued to allege, about half an hour later, the man returned, screaming and threatening violence. 'I tried to calm the situation and apologized (sic) again — and the next thing I remember, I woke up in the medical tent an hour later and missed the entire show. 'This man PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE, knocking me out and causing significant bleeding, while he continued attacking our group. Another friend tried to protect us, but the attacker fled into the crowd and hasn't been found. A police report was filed. 'We are traumatized (sic). If anyone knows this man or his companion, PLEASE reach out. He should be held accountable for this assault.' has contacted Elston for further comment. Rufus Du Sol band members Tyrone Lindqvist, James Hunt and Jon George also released a statement about the alleged incident. Picture:Elston took to the comment section of the original post again on Wednesday with an update, believing to have since located the man. 'It's been a hectic two days but after going through my emails and messages, I believe this person is absolutely [name redacted],' she wrote. 'Charges will absolutely be filed and a civil lawsuit as well. I'm going to make this man PAY for what he did to me and my friends. Thank you to everyone for who reached out to me!' Meanwhile, Rufus Du Sol – comprising of Sydney trio Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George and James Hunt – released a statement on their official Instagram page declaring they were 'heartbroken' to learn of the incident. The mother-of-three says she was knocked unconscious. 'Delivering moments for our fans to gather and celebrate safely is what we live for,' the band shared on Instagram stories. 'We have been heart broken to hear of the act of violence that took place during the opening act on Saturday. This type of behavior (sic) is completely unacceptable anywhere and the fact that this happened at one of our shows was devastating to learn about. 'Local law enforcement are actively investigating the situation. Anyone with information to assist the investigation should please contact the Pasadena Police Department.' A spokesperson for the Pasadena Police Department confirmed to New York Post a police report had been filed, but they have not yet arrested a suspect. Originally published as Woman who alleges she was bashed unconscious by man at Rufus Du Sol concert speaks out
