Latest news with #DonaldPatterson
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Malay Mail
‘It's possible it was me': Australian accused in fatal mushroom lunch trial says after internet logs search for deadly fungi
SYDNEY, June 6 — An Australian woman accused of the murder of three elderly relatives of her estranged husband by feeding them poisonous mushrooms said it was possible she had searched for lethal death cap mushrooms on her computer, a court heard on Friday. Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband. The prosecution accuses her of knowingly serving the guests the death caps as part of a Beef Wellington at her home in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 people some 135 km (84 miles) from Melbourne. She denies the charges, which carry a life sentence, with her defence calling the deaths a 'terrible accident'. The accused, who began giving evidence for her own defence on Monday, was cross-examined for a second day by prosecution barrister Nanette Rogers on Friday. Rogers said forensic evidence showed a person using a computer found in Erin Patterson's home had conducted searches for death cap mushrooms on iNaturalist, a website where enthusiasts log localised sightings of animals and plants. 'I suggest that that person was you. Correct or incorrect?' Rogers asked. Patterson replied: 'I don't remember doing it. It's possible it was me', adding she did not know if it was possible that one of her two children had conducted the searches. The defence's decision to call Erin Patterson as a witness has re-ignited interest in the trial that began in late April. Podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers from local and international media have descended on the town of Morwell where the trial is being held, about two hours east of Melbourne. State broadcaster ABC's daily podcast about the proceedings is currently Australia's most popular, while many domestic newspapers have run live blogs on trial developments. The prosecution rested its case on Monday after a month of evidence from relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts. The trial, expected to conclude this month, continues on Tuesday. — Reuters
Reuters
4 days ago
- General
- Reuters
Erin Patterson: mushroom murders accused searched for deadly strain before deaths, court hears
SYDNEY, June 6 (Reuters) - An Australian woman accused of the murder of three elderly relatives of her estranged husband by feeding them poisonous mushrooms said it was possible she had searched for lethal death cap mushrooms on her computer, a court heard on Friday. Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband. The prosecution accuses her of knowingly serving the guests the death caps as part of a Beef Wellington at her home in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 people some 135 km (84 miles) from Melbourne. She denies the charges, which carry a life sentence, with her defence calling the deaths a "terrible accident". The accused, who began giving evidence for her own defence on Monday, was cross-examined for a second day by prosecution barrister Nanette Rogers on Friday. Rogers said forensic evidence showed a person using a computer found in Erin Patterson's home had conducted searches for death cap mushrooms on iNaturalist, a website where enthusiasts log localised sightings of animals and plants. "I suggest that that person was you. Correct or incorrect?" Rogers asked. Patterson replied: "I don't remember doing it. It's possible it was me", adding she did not know if it was possible that one of her two children had conducted the searches. The defence's decision to call Erin Patterson as a witness has re-ignited interest in the trial that began in late April. Podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers from local and international media have descended on the town of Morwell where the trial is being held, about two hours east of Melbourne. State broadcaster ABC's daily podcast about the proceedings is currently Australia's most popular, while many domestic newspapers have run live blogs on trial developments. The prosecution rested its case on Monday after a month of evidence from relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts. The trial, expected to conclude this month, continues on Tuesday.
Al Arabiya
5 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Australian accused in mushroom murders cross-examined by prosecution
An Australian woman accused of using poisonous mushrooms to murder three elderly relatives of her estranged husband was cross-examined by the prosecution on Thursday, denying she had measured a 'fatal dose' on her kitchen scales. Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband. The prosecution accuses her of knowingly serving the guests lethal death cap mushrooms as part of a Beef Wellington at her home in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 some 135 km (84 miles) from Melbourne. She denies the charges, which carry a life sentence, with her defence calling the deaths a 'terrible accident.' Under cross-examination on Thursday by the prosecution, Erin Patterson was asked whether a series of photos of mushrooms placed on weighing scales in her kitchen was evidence she had been measuring a 'fatal dose' to serve to her lunch guests. 'I suggest that you were weighing these death cap mushrooms so that you could calculate the weight required for the administration of a fatal dose for one person. Agree or disagree?' barrister Nanette Rogers said. 'Disagree,' Patterson replied. Patterson accepted under cross-examination that she had lied to police and medical professionals following the lunch when she was asked whether she had ever foraged for mushrooms or owned a food dehydrator, which was later found in a waste disposal plant containing traces of death caps. While being examined by her own barrister Colin Mandy, Patterson said earlier on Thursday that she did not intentionally pick death cap mushrooms, or knowingly serve them to her lunch guests. Nor had she pretended to be sick after the lunch to avoid becoming a suspect in the case, she said. The trial has captured public attention across Australia, where such cases are exceedingly rare. Podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers from local and international media have descended on the town of Morwell where the trial is being held, about two hours east of Melbourne. State broadcaster ABC's daily podcast about the proceedings is currently Australia's most popular, while many domestic newspapers have run live blogs on trial developments. Justice Christopher Beale, the judge presiding in the case, told the jury the cross-examination of the accused would probably continue into next week. The prosecution rested its case on Monday after a month of evidence from relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts. After the defence rests, the parties will discuss whether the prosecution might seek to reopen its case in light of defence evidence, Beale told the jury. The trial, set to conclude this month, continues.
Reuters
5 days ago
- Reuters
Erin Patterson: Australian mushroom murders accused cross-examined by prosecution
SYDNEY, June 5 (Reuters) - An Australian woman accused of using poisonous mushrooms to murder three elderly relatives of her estranged husband was cross-examined by the prosecution on Thursday, denying she had measured a "fatal dose" on her kitchen scales. Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband. The prosecution accuses her of knowingly serving the guests lethal death cap mushrooms as part of a Beef Wellington at her home in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 some 135 km (84 miles) from Melbourne. She denies the charges, which carry a life sentence, with her defence calling the deaths a "terrible accident". Under cross-examination on Thursday by the prosecution, Erin Patterson was asked whether a series of photos of mushrooms placed on weighing scales in her kitchen was evidence she had been measuring a "fatal dose" to serve to her lunch guests. "I suggest that you were weighing these death cap mushrooms so that you could calculate the weight required for the administration of a fatal dose for one person. Agree or disagree?" barrister Nanette Rogers said. "Disagree," Patterson replied. Patterson accepted under cross-examination that she had lied to police and medical professionals following the lunch when she was asked whether she had ever foraged for mushrooms or owned a food dehydrator, which was later found in a waste disposal plant containing traces of death caps. While being examined by her own barrister Colin Mandy, Patterson said earlier on Thursday that she did not intentionally pick death cap mushrooms, or knowingly serve them to her lunch guests. Nor had she pretended to be sick after the lunch to avoid becoming a suspect in the case, she said. The trial has captured public attention across Australia, where such cases are exceedingly rare. Podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers from local and international media have descended on the town of Morwell where the trial is being held, about two hours east of Melbourne. State broadcaster ABC's daily podcast about the proceedings is currently Australia's most popular, while many domestic newspapers have run live blogs on trial developments. Justice Christopher Beale, the judge presiding in the case, told the jury the cross-examination of the accused would probably continue into next week. The prosecution rested its case on Monday after a month of evidence from relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts. After the defence rests, the parties will discuss whether the prosecution might seek to reopen its case in light of defence evidence, Beale told the jury. The trial, set to conclude this month, continues.
CBC
6 days ago
- General
- CBC
Australian woman accused of murders with toxic mushrooms gives her account of fatal lunch
An Australian woman accused of murdering three of her estranged husband's elderly relatives with poisonous mushrooms gave her account of the fatal lunch on Wednesday, in a case that has gripped the public. Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband. The prosecution alleges she knowingly served the guests lethal death cap mushrooms in a beef Wellington at her home in Leongatha, a town of around 6,000 people some 135 kilometres from Melbourne. She denies the charges, with her defence saying the deaths were a "terrible accident." She faces a life sentence if found guilty. The accused, the first witness for her own defence and who began her evidence on Monday afternoon, repeatedly wept as she told the court on Wednesday she may have accidentally included foraged mushrooms into the food she served. "Now I think there was a possibility there were foraged ones in there," she said as she was questioned by her own barrister, Colin Mandy. The court also heard on Wednesday that Erin Patterson had invented medical issues partly to elicit sympathy from her estranged husband's relatives, from whom she said she felt she was growing apart. "I didn't want their care of me to stop, so I kept it going. I shouldn't have done it," she told the court. "Did you lie to them?" Mandy asked. "I did lie to them," the accused replied, through tears. The prosecution alleges Patterson invented the medical issues to lure the victims to her home for the meal, a claim she denies. The prosecution rested its case on Monday, following a month of evidence from witnesses, including relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts. The trial, which began on April 29, has seen intense interest from Australian and international media, with podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers descending on the town of Morwell, around 155 kilometres east of Melbourne, where the trial is being held. State broadcaster ABC's daily podcast about proceedings is currently the most popular in the country, while many Australian newspapers have been running live blogs on the case. The trial, scheduled to conclude this month, continues.
