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Erin Patterson murder trial LIVE updates: Prosecutor makes her closing argument to jury

Erin Patterson murder trial LIVE updates: Prosecutor makes her closing argument to jury

The Age15 hours ago

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10.04am
Closing arguments expected to start today
By Marta Pascual Juanola
Accused killer Erin Patterson concluded providing evidence in court last Thursday after spending eight days in the witness box.
Patterson spent the majority of those days under cross-examination by senior Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC.
After the mother of two was excused from the witness box on Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale told the jury that this concluded all the evidence in the trial.
'All right. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that's the completion of the evidence in this case,' Beale said.
Rogers is expected to start delivering the prosecution's closing address to the jury this morning.
After Rogers concludes her address, it will be the defence's turn to deliver their closing arguments before Beale gives his final directions to the jury. The jury will then be sent out to deliberate their verdicts.
10.03am
Foggy start to week eight
By Marta Pascual Juanola
Senior Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC, was among the first to arrive at the Latrobe Valley law courts this morning alongside Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall, who is the lead investigator in the case.
It was another foggy start to the week in the valley, as temperatures in Morwell dipped below zero just before 8am today. The temperature had risen to 3 degrees by 9am, with a top of 14 degrees forecast for the day.
Here are some images captured by Age and Sydney Morning Herald photographer Jason South this morning.
10.03am
Welcome to our live coverage
By Marta Pascual Juanola
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the murder trial of accused mushroom killer Erin Patterson at the Latrobe Valley law courts in Morwell.
My name is Marta Pascual Juanola and together with my colleague, court reporter Erin Pearson, we will bring you the latest information from inside courtroom four as it comes to hand.
Today marks day 32 of the proceedings and the start of week eight of the trial.
Patterson is accused of murdering her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, by serving them a lunch of beef Wellington that contained death cap mushrooms at her home in Leongatha on July 29, 2023.
Heather's husband, Baptist pastor Ian Wilkinson, also attended the lunch and ate the meal, but survived after spending several weeks in the hospital, most of those in an induced coma.

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Toolbox murder accused blame 'star witness', each other
Toolbox murder accused blame 'star witness', each other

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Two men accused of murdering two people by drowning them in a toolbox have blamed each other, an acquaintance or a witness for the killings at their trial's end. Stou Daniels, Davy Malu Junior Taiao and Trent Michael Thrupp are charged with murdering Cory Breton, 28, and Iuliana Triscaru, 31, at Kingston in Logan, south of Brisbane, on January 24, 2016. The bodies of Mr Breton and Ms Triscaru were found in the toolbox at the bottom of Scrubby Creek two weeks after they were allegedly murdered. The defendants' barristers began giving their closing addresses to the jury on Monday after a two-week trial in Queensland's Supreme Court. Taiao's defence barrister Lars Falcongreen told the jury it could not convict his client of murder on the basis of any claim he was at the death scene because that was not alleged by the prosecution. "It is possible (Thrupp's defence barrister) might attempt to throw my client under the bus. She may ask you to accept that Taiao ... was at the lagoon and was responsible for sinking the toolbox," Mr Falcongreen said. He told the jury witness Lelan Harrington testified he heard another man tell Taiao "I f***ed up and put them in Scrubby Creek", suggesting his client had no prior knowledge of the killings. "(The other man) considered that killing them was 'f***ing up'," Mr Falcongreen said. "This is from the star prosecution witness, upon whom the case rises and falls." Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane previously told the jury he would allege Daniels and Taiao were liable for murder by forcing the alleged victims into the toolbox at the unit at Kingston in the hours before their death. Mr Falcongreen said the pair were "treated abysmally" at the apartment but only in a plan to scare them as part of a drug dispute. He told the jury the prosecution had spoken extensively about how Thrupp either threw the toolbox into nearby Scrubby Creek or was present when it happened. All three defendants pleaded not guilty to two murder charges at the start of their trial earlier in June. Thrupp's defence barrister Jessica Goldie told the jury Mr Harrington could have been a passenger in a Toyota HiLux utility moving the toolbox containing Mr Breton and Ms Triscaru to Scrubby Creek. "The prosecution have said to you that (Mr Harrington's) hands are clean. You might find they are filthy," she said. "He crafted a version of events with a goal of protecting himself. He has not served a single day in jail." Ms Goldie said Mr Harrington's claim Thrupp confessed to him he shot Mr Breton and Ms Triscaru in the head before placing them in the toolbox to sink was a "complete fabrication" and was contradicted by forensic evidence. The jury previously heard Mr Harrington deny he was involved in the murders. Ms Goldie said phone records suggested Taiao could also have been at Scrubby Creek. Daniels' defence barrister, John Fraser, is due to give his closing address on Tuesday.

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