Defence raise ‘context' for Erin's messages

Perth Now

3 days ago

A series of messages sent by alleged triple-murderer Erin Patterson to her online friends group needs to be examined in the 'context' of a group of women venting about their lives, her trial has been told.
Ms Patterson's barrister Colin Mandy SC revisited the messages his client sent to a Facebook group chat between December 6 and 9, 2022, complaining about her husband and his family.
He took Detective leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall, the last prosecution witness of the trial, to the six pages the jury had seen, raising they were extracted from 186 pages of messages with an 'enormous amount of context'.
'I accept there was a lot more conversation occurring,' Constable Eppingstall replied. Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Supplied. Credit: Supplied
Ms Patterson is facing trial accused of murdering Simon Patterson's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and aunt, Heather Wilkinson, after the trio died following a deadly beef Wellington lunch in the Victorian town of Leongatha on July 29, 2023.
She is also accused of attempted to murder Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson who survived after spending about a month and a half in hospital.
Prosecutors allege she deliberately poisoned the meal with death cap mushrooms while Ms Patterson's defence have argued the deaths were a tragic accident.
Ms Patterson's chat logs were first raised in the trial last week when Victoria Police senior digital forensics officer Shamen Fox-Henry gave evidence about the messages found in cache data on a Samsung phone. Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall was the officer tasked with investigating Ms Patterson. NewsWire / Diego Fedele Credit: News Corp Australia
On Thursday, Mr Mandy provided several examples of messages between participants of the group, suggesting they needed to be seen in the full context.
'Simon's dad contacted me this morning to say that he and Gail had tried to talk to Simon about the matters I raised and to get 'his side' but he refused to talk about it … So he said all that he can ask is that Simon and I get together to pray for the children (Emoji) (Emoji) this family I swear to f--king god,' the first message from Ms Patterson reads.
Mr Mandy took Constable Eppingstall to the 'discussions left out' of the chat logs the jury say.'What morons!' Ms Patterson's friend Jenny Hay replies.
'Anyway you weren't asking them to adjudicate … You just wanted them to hear your story.
'So Simon is meant to pray for his own children because they have a s--t dad? It makes no sense.'
Ms Patterson responds; 'I said to him about fifty times yesterday that I didn't want them to adjudicate (Emoji) nobody bloody listens to me. At least I know they're a lost cause.'
Later another friend, who's name was redacted, replies; 'its pathetic'.
'Even if he doesn't want to talk about your marriage they could at least demand to know how he is financially supporting the kids.'
Ms Patterson replies by saying; 'no nothing. But also more happened'.
'Don rang me last night to say that he though there was a solution to all this if Simon and I get together to try and talk and pray together (Emoji) (Emoji).' Simon's parents Don and Gail Patterson died in early August 2023. Supplied Credit: Supplied
After reading through the exchange, Mr Mandy questioned Constable Eppingstall if he accepted the chat contained multiple participants 'talking like this, that is venting to each other'.
'Yes that's fair to say sir, yes,' the officer responded.
Constable Eppingstall is expected to return to the witness box when the trial resumes on Friday.
The trial continues.