Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial jury placed in same hotel as police, prosecution team
The jury was sequestered from Monday last week while they decided their verdicts for the murders of Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.
The court has confirmed that on Saturday afternoon, a member of Justice Christopher Beale's staff informed him that it had come to light that the jury had been staying at the same hotel as the police informant who charged Erin Patterson, Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall, and two prosecution solicitors.
"[The staff member] also told me that there has been no interaction between them and the jury," Justice Beale wrote in an email informing the prosecution and defence teams of the development.
"The jury have had a separate floor to themselves and have eaten their meals in a conference room separate from other guests of the hotel.
"But all guests use the same entrance at the hotel."
The jury was moved to a new hotel in a different town on Saturday night but Justice Beale referred to the relocation as a coincidence.
"I understand that there is a shortage of accommodation in the district, but it is obviously undesirable for any of the parties or the informant to be staying at the same hotel as the jury," he wrote.
The prosecution responded to the email, confirming that LSC Eppingstall became aware of the situation on the Thursday and that he had been staying in the hotel for the duration of the trial, but that he had been accommodated in a different wing and was using a different entrance.
"He took steps to avoid common areas from the point that he became aware that they were there," the responding email said.
It said the prosecution team's previous accommodation had been booked out and the solicitors had tried, but failed, to find an alternative when they became aware they were sharing the hotel with the jury.
There were a number of events in the region at the time.
"We confirm that the prosecution solicitors did not interact with the jury at any stage and also took steps to avoid any incidental contact in common areas," the email said.
The Supreme Court said Erin Patterson's defence team did not respond to the correspondence.
The ABC also understands jurors were taken to a hospitality venue on Sunday, a rest day from deliberations almost a week after they retired to consider their verdicts.
It is understood that they did not interact with any of staff or other patrons at the venue and were escorted by jury keepers, who jurors had been told would be "making sure nobody interferes with you".
Meanwhile, author Nagi Maehashi has issued a public plea for privacy after being linked to the Erin Patterson trial.
During evidence, it was revealed Patterson used the RecipeTin cookbook Dinner to cook the fatal beef Wellington lunch in June 2023.
Ms Maehashi posted on social media on Tuesday, calling on the media to stop contacting her about the case.
"It is of course upsetting to learn that one of my recipes — possibly the one I've spent more hours perfecting than any other — something I created to bring joy and happiness, is entangled in a tragic situation," she wrote.
"Other than that, I have nothing to say and I won't be talking to anyone."
Police found and photographed the recipe book when they searched Patterson' Leongatha home.
Patterson told the court she had wanted to cook something special for her guest but made several changes to recipe, including serving individual portions rather than one large log.
She claimed she couldn't find a large piece of beef tenderloin at the supermarket, but the prosecution put it to the jury that Patterson made individual serves to control who received the death cap mushrooms and ensure she did not poison herself.
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