Latest news with #SupremeCourtofVictoria
West Australian
15 hours ago
- West Australian
Erin Patterson trial: Accused triple murderer's Facebook rants, body image issued and mushroom obsession
Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson has revealed her love for wild mushrooms in a second day of explosive evidence as she was questioned over a fatal lunch that killed three of her relatives. The trial took a surprise turn on Monday when Ms Patterson's defence team called the accused to the stand to give evidence, which continued for a full day in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Tuesday. Ms Patterson is accused of killing her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, by feeding them beef Wellington that contained poisonous death cap mushrooms during a lunch on her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023. On Tuesday, as members of the public queued in lines that extended outside the court building to get in to the public gallery, the court heard evidence on how the accused received a sizeable inheritance that allowed she and Mr Patterson to purchase a home, lend money to family and for the accused to start a 'second-hand book store'. It was a business that only lasted around a year, but was something that perhaps foreshadowed Ms Patterson's interest in rummaging and collecting. She explained how she would go to book markets, picking finds for her store's collection. Ms Patterson and her husband Simon moved from WA to Victoria before the birth of their second child so their son, and eventually any future children they had, could be closer to 'nana and papa' — two of the three people that died from death cap mushroom poisoning after a lunch cooked by Ms Patterson. After the couple's return to Victoria and the birth of their second child, Ms Patterson told the court about her 'formal separation' from Mr Patterson. Despite parting ways, Ms Patterson said her in-laws 'continued to love me', becoming emotional in the Morwell courtroom in regional Victoria. The accused triple murderer explained she stayed close with her ex-partner and their family, not just for the children, but also because she 'always thought that we would bring the family back together', adding that in 2019 she 'saw a future' for her and Mr Patterson. But hopes for a relationship rekindling appear to not have been shared by Mr Patterson, who in November 2022 told Ms Patterson he had listed his relationship status as 'single' on a tax form. Although Ms Patterson said her reaction to this was 'good' as it meant she could then potentially claim family tax benefits, it was the beginning of 'conflict' between the accused, her ex-partner and her in-laws. Ms Patterson told the court she was 'very hurt' when she realised she had not been invited to Gail Patterson's 70th birthday lunch, something she admitted to shouting at her ex-partner about. Although later deemed an 'oversight' by Don Patterson, Ms Patterson said the 'hurt', which led to her outburst, highlighted the need for improved communication between the two. Shortly after, Ms Patterson revealed a 'conflict over money' with her ex-partner, something she said had not occurred before. As tension was rife between Ms Patterson, her ex and her in-laws, the accused admitted to taking to a Facebook group to 'vent' in a 'desperate' move that she said she now regrets. 'This family, I swear to god,' Ms Patterson posted in what she felt was a 'private' space. She accused her in-laws of only wanting to 'pray' for her children and not help resolve ongoing issues. 'I'm sick of this s..t,' Ms Patterson wrote in a later post, adding she wanted 'nothing to do' with Mr Patterson's family. Discussing her 'venting' messages about her in-laws, whom she is accused of murdering, Ms Patterson broke down, saying 'they didn't deserve it', adding she wished 'never sent' the messages. Despite wishing her words were not posted, Ms Patterson said she felt 'heard' by her online community of supportive women. Ms Patterson confirmed to the court that she told her Facebook community she 'loved mushrooms' and even shared images with them of a food dehydrator that she had purchased, with the photos showing the dehydrator in use with shelves filled with mushrooms. She admitted that after her fascination with mushrooms begin around the time of the first COVID lockdown in Victoria, she 'was experimenting with different ways' to get the 'best result' of dehydrating them. Ms Patterson explained she liked 'exotic' mushrooms, claiming to find they had 'more flavour', and enjoyed eating a variety of types because 'they taste good and they are very healthy'. The accused mentioned an instance on her property when she saw her dog eating mushrooms growing on her property. She said she picked these so that she could try and identify the mushroom type, admitting she later learnt that was hard to do. After that instance, Ms Patterson's confidence grew, as she later picked wild mushrooms from her property that she thought were safe. 'I cut a bit off one of the mushrooms, fried it up with some butter, ate it, and then saw what happened,' she told the court. 'They tasted good and I didn't get sick.' Ms Patterson said she 'put them in meals we all ate', speaking about meals for her and her children. 'I chopped them up very, very small, so they couldn't pick them out.' It was at that point that the prosecution raised an objection that kept Ms Patterson from giving evidence for much of the afternoon. When her evidence resumed, Ms Patterson was asked if she accepted that death cap mushrooms were in the fatal lunch that left three people dead. 'Yes, I do,' Ms Patterson said, adding that the majority of mushrooms in the lunch came from 'the local Woolworths in Leongatha,' and that 'there were some' from an Asian grocer in Melbourne. The Asian grocer mushrooms were purchased in April 2023, Ms Patterson told the court, adding that they had a 'pungent' smell. She said she intended to use those mushrooms on the day of purchase, but chose against it due to the odour. Ms Patterson went on to confirm that those 'pungent' mushrooms ended up in the cupboard alongside other dehydrated mushrooms ahead of the fatal lunch. She said she would add mushrooms that she had dehydrated into containers she 'already had going' with other dehydrated mushrooms. Ms Patterson earlier told Justice Christopher Beale and the jury she 'didn't trust' the healthcare system The mother-of-three told the court about how her daughter had digestive issues and her son had issues with his knees, becoming emotional at multiple points. However, Ms Patterson's own health concerns were also detailed, with the accused revealing her struggles with an eating disorder stemming from her childhood and her tendency to consult 'Dr Google' due to her lack of trust in doctors. 'I didn't love hospitals,' Ms Patterson said. 'I didn't trust that these people knew what they were doing.' Her Google search results for information on ovarian cancer and brain tumours were discussed, with Ms Patterson admitting she often 'self-diagnosed', later realising 'every headache is not a brain tumour'. She also revealed that as a child, her mother would weigh her to ensure she was not 'putting on too much weight'. Ms Patterson said this behaviour led to years of struggles, including phases of 'not eating' and 'bingeing'. She also told the court that since her 20s she had bulimic tendencies, something daily at its worst, something monthly when doing better. She cried as she explained she had tried to keep the eating disorder private. The trial continues.
Perth Now
15 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘I love mushrooms': Accused killer cook's explosive evidence
Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson has revealed her love for wild mushrooms in a second day of explosive evidence as she was questioned over a fatal lunch that killed three of her relatives. The trial took a surprise turn on Monday when Ms Patterson's defence team called the accused to the stand to give evidence, which continued for a full day in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Tuesday. Ms Patterson is accused of killing her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, by feeding them beef Wellington that contained poisonous death cap mushrooms during a lunch on her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023. On Tuesday, as members of the public queued in lines that extended outside the court building to get in to the public gallery, the court heard evidence on how the accused received a sizeable inheritance that allowed she and Mr Patterson to purchase a home, lend money to family and for the accused to start a 'second-hand book store'. It was a business that only lasted around a year, but was something that perhaps foreshadowed Ms Patterson's interest in rummaging and collecting. She explained how she would go to book markets, picking finds for her store's collection. Ms Patterson and her husband Simon moved from WA to Victoria before the birth of their second child so their son, and eventually any future children they had, could be closer to 'nana and papa' — two of the three people that died from death cap mushroom poisoning after a lunch cooked by Ms Patterson. After the couple's return to Victoria and the birth of their second child, Ms Patterson told the court about her 'formal separation' from Mr Patterson. Despite parting ways, Ms Patterson said her in-laws 'continued to love me', becoming emotional in the Morwell courtroom in regional Victoria. The accused triple murderer explained she stayed close with her ex-partner and their family, not just for the children, but also because she 'always thought that we would bring the family back together', adding that in 2019 she 'saw a future' for her and Mr Patterson. But hopes for a relationship rekindling appear to not have been shared by Mr Patterson, who in November 2022 told Ms Patterson he had listed his relationship status as 'single' on a tax form. Although Ms Patterson said her reaction to this was 'good' as it meant she could then potentially claim family tax benefits, it was the beginning of 'conflict' between the accused, her ex-partner and her in-laws. Ms Patterson told the court she was 'very hurt' when she realised she had not been invited to Gail Patterson's 70th birthday lunch, something she admitted to shouting at her ex-partner about. Although later deemed an 'oversight' by Don Patterson, Ms Patterson said the 'hurt', which led to her outburst, highlighted the need for improved communication between the two. Shortly after, Ms Patterson revealed a 'conflict over money' with her ex-partner, something she said had not occurred before. As tension was rife between Ms Patterson, her ex and her in-laws, the accused admitted to taking to a Facebook group to 'vent' in a 'desperate' move that she said she now regrets. 'This family, I swear to god,' Ms Patterson posted in what she felt was a 'private' space. She accused her in-laws of only wanting to 'pray' for her children and not help resolve ongoing issues. 'I'm sick of this s..t,' Ms Patterson wrote in a later post, adding she wanted 'nothing to do' with Mr Patterson's family. Discussing her 'venting' messages about her in-laws, whom she is accused of murdering, Ms Patterson broke down, saying 'they didn't deserve it', adding she wished 'never sent' the messages. Despite wishing her words were not posted, Ms Patterson said she felt 'heard' by her online community of supportive women. Ms Patterson confirmed to the court that she told her Facebook community she 'loved mushrooms' and even shared images with them of a food dehydrator that she had purchased, with the photos showing the dehydrator in use with shelves filled with mushrooms. She admitted that after her fascination with mushrooms begin around the time of the first COVID lockdown in Victoria, she 'was experimenting with different ways' to get the 'best result' of dehydrating them. Ms Patterson explained she liked 'exotic' mushrooms, claiming to find they had 'more flavour', and enjoyed eating a variety of types because 'they taste good and they are very healthy'. The accused mentioned an instance on her property when she saw her dog eating mushrooms growing on her property. She said she picked these so that she could try and identify the mushroom type, admitting she later learnt that was hard to do. After that instance, Ms Patterson's confidence grew, as she later picked wild mushrooms from her property that she thought were safe. 'I cut a bit off one of the mushrooms, fried it up with some butter, ate it, and then saw what happened,' she told the court. 'They tasted good and I didn't get sick.' Ms Patterson said she 'put them in meals we all ate', speaking about meals for her and her children. 'I chopped them up very, very small, so they couldn't pick them out.' It was at that point that the prosecution raised an objection that kept Ms Patterson from giving evidence for much of the afternoon. When her evidence resumed, Ms Patterson was asked if she accepted that death cap mushrooms were in the fatal lunch that left three people dead. 'Yes, I do,' Ms Patterson said, adding that the majority of mushrooms in the lunch came from 'the local Woolworths in Leongatha,' and that 'there were some' from an Asian grocer in Melbourne. The Asian grocer mushrooms were purchased in April 2023, Ms Patterson told the court, adding that they had a 'pungent' smell. She said she intended to use those mushrooms on the day of purchase, but chose against it due to the odour. Ms Patterson went on to confirm that those 'pungent' mushrooms ended up in the cupboard alongside other dehydrated mushrooms ahead of the fatal lunch. She said she would add mushrooms that she had dehydrated into containers she 'already had going' with other dehydrated mushrooms. Ms Patterson earlier told Justice Christopher Beale and the jury she 'didn't trust' the healthcare system The mother-of-three told the court about how her daughter had digestive issues and her son had issues with his knees, becoming emotional at multiple points. However, Ms Patterson's own health concerns were also detailed, with the accused revealing her struggles with an eating disorder stemming from her childhood and her tendency to consult 'Dr Google' due to her lack of trust in doctors. 'I didn't love hospitals,' Ms Patterson said. 'I didn't trust that these people knew what they were doing.' Her Google search results for information on ovarian cancer and brain tumours were discussed, with Ms Patterson admitting she often 'self-diagnosed', later realising 'every headache is not a brain tumour'. She also revealed that as a child, her mother would weigh her to ensure she was not 'putting on too much weight'. Ms Patterson said this behaviour led to years of struggles, including phases of 'not eating' and 'bingeing'. She also told the court that since her 20s she had bulimic tendencies, something daily at its worst, something monthly when doing better. She cried as she explained she had tried to keep the eating disorder private. The trial continues.
The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
Erin Patterson murder trial LIVE: Lead detective returns to witness box in mushroom case
Latest posts Latest posts 10.53am Why is Erin Patterson's trial being heard in Gippsland? By Marta Pascual Juanola Erin Patterson's murder trial is being heard in the Latrobe Valley justice precinct in Morwell, about 150 kilometres from Melbourne. While some major criminal trials are heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne, Patterson is being tried in Morwell because that's the closest suitable courtroom to where the alleged crime was committed. Australian criminal law recognises the rights of local communities to observe court proceedings related to crimes committed in their area, and the right of an accused person to be judged by their peers. Morwell is about 60 kilometres from Leongatha, where the deadly lunch took place in 2023. 10.53am Who is who in the family tragedy By Marta Pascual Juanola For those unfamiliar with the case, here is a family tree showing the relationship between Erin Patterson, her estranged husband and the family. 10.51am By Marta Pascual Juanola Victoria Police's Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall, will return to the witness box this morning to continue his evidence for a fifth day. Eppingstall, the lead homicide detective and informant in the case, has been in the witness box since last Tuesday afternoon. 10.51am Welcome to our live coverage By Marta Pascual Juanola Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of day 24 of the murder trial of accused mushroom cook Erin Patterson at the Latrobe Valley law courts in Morwell. My name is Marta Pascual Juanola, and together with my colleague Erin Pearson, we will bring you the latest information from courtroom 4. Patterson is accused of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, by serving them a lunch of beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms at her home in Leongatha on July 29, 2023. Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died in hospitals in the days after the meal. Heather's husband Ian also fell ill after eating the meal but survived after weeks in hospital.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Erin Patterson murder trial LIVE: Lead detective returns to witness box in mushroom case
Latest posts Latest posts 10.53am Why is Erin Patterson's trial being heard in Gippsland? By Marta Pascual Juanola Erin Patterson's murder trial is being heard in the Latrobe Valley justice precinct in Morwell, about 150 kilometres from Melbourne. While some major criminal trials are heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria in Melbourne, Patterson is being tried in Morwell because that's the closest suitable courtroom to where the alleged crime was committed. Australian criminal law recognises the rights of local communities to observe court proceedings related to crimes committed in their area, and the right of an accused person to be judged by their peers. Morwell is about 60 kilometres from Leongatha, where the deadly lunch took place in 2023. 10.53am Who is who in the family tragedy By Marta Pascual Juanola For those unfamiliar with the case, here is a family tree showing the relationship between Erin Patterson, her estranged husband and the family. 10.51am By Marta Pascual Juanola Victoria Police's Detective Leading Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall, will return to the witness box this morning to continue his evidence for a fifth day. Eppingstall, the lead homicide detective and informant in the case, has been in the witness box since last Tuesday afternoon. 10.51am Welcome to our live coverage By Marta Pascual Juanola Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of day 24 of the murder trial of accused mushroom cook Erin Patterson at the Latrobe Valley law courts in Morwell. My name is Marta Pascual Juanola, and together with my colleague Erin Pearson, we will bring you the latest information from courtroom 4. Patterson is accused of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, by serving them a lunch of beef Wellington containing death cap mushrooms at her home in Leongatha on July 29, 2023. Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died in hospitals in the days after the meal. Heather's husband Ian also fell ill after eating the meal but survived after weeks in hospital.
1News
4 days ago
- 1News
Erin Patterson mushroom trial nears end - what you need to know
The trial of Erin Patterson, accused of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder a fourth by serving them a meal allegedly laced with death cap mushrooms, continues in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Detective Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall has been on the stand for four days. His testimony has revealed new details about Erin Patterson's messages, devices and the digital evidence that investigators say helped build their case. Australia Correspondent Aziz Al Sa'afin wraps up week five of the trial. The case On July 29, 2023, Erin Patterson hosted a lunch at her home in Leongatha, Victoria, serving beef Wellington to her former in-laws: Don and Gail Patterson, Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, and Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson. ADVERTISEMENT Subsequently, all four guests fell ill with symptoms consistent with death cap mushroom poisoning. Don, Gail, and Heather died in the following days, while Ian survived after intensive medical treatment, including a liver transplant. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, asserting that the incident was a tragic accident. Who is Detective Eppingstall? Detective Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall has led the investigation. This week, jurors have heard his detailed evidence over four consecutive days and both sides have put his case under a microscope. Prosecution's case Digital evidence and purchase history ADVERTISEMENT Detective Eppingstall presented evidence indicating that Patterson's computer had been used to access iNaturalist, a website documenting death cap mushroom sightings, in May 2022. Additionally, Woolworths Everyday Rewards data showed purchases of mushrooms, pastry, eye fillet, onions and mashed potato in the week leading up to the lunch Detective Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall. (Source: Nine) Mobile devices and SIM card activity Eppingstall testified that Patterson used multiple phones and allegedly swapped SIM cards during a police search of her home. One device, referred to as "Phone A", remains missing. Another phone was subjected to multiple factory resets, the court was told. Dehydrator and disposal ADVERTISEMENT The prosecution highlighted that Patterson initially denied owning a food dehydrator. However, a manual was found in her home and CCTV footage showed a woman getting out of a red SUV and disposing of a dehydrator at a local transfer station shortly after the lunch. Forensic analysis detected traces of death cap mushroom toxins on the dehydrator. Text messages and health claims Text messages presented in court revealed that Patterson had informed her former in-laws about undergoing cancer tests, a claim unsubstantiated by medical records. The prosecution suggests this was a fabricated excuse to for the lunch as well as to prevent her children from attending. Defence's argument Contextualizing digital evidence ADVERTISEMENT Defence counsel Colin Mandy SC argued the digital evidence, including internet searches and purchase histories, does not conclusively prove intent to harm. He emphasised that others could have accessed the computer and that receipts do not confirm which mushrooms were used in the meal. Emotional state and health concerns The defence acknowledged that Patterson lied about her health status but contended that these falsehoods stemmed from panic and longstanding health anxieties. Patterson had a history of researching potential ovarian cancer, which the defence argues contributed to her mental state. Relationship dynamics Messages from a Facebook group chat were introduced, showing Patterson expressing frustration toward her in-laws and estranged husband. ADVERTISEMENT The defence maintained that these messages were taken out of context and represented emotional venting rather than evidence of malicious intent. Police investigation scrutiny Under cross-examination, Detective Eppingstall faced questions regarding the thoroughness of the investigation. The defence pointed out during the initial search of Patterson's home, several electronic devices and bank records were not seized. Eppingstall admitted to certain oversights but defended the overall integrity of the investigation. Patterson's Police interview shown to court Detective who led the investigation reveals stark new details about Patterson's actions and behaviour following the fatal lunch. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT One of the most scrutinised parts of the case is Patterson's interview with police, recorded three days after the fatal lunch. The jury was played audio of the three-hour interview earlier in the trial. In it, Patterson appeared emotional but denied deliberately poisoning her guests. She repeatedly told officers she didn't know how the mushrooms could have become contaminated, saying: 'I didn't do anything... I loved them.' She said the beef Wellington was made with a mix of button mushrooms from the supermarket and dried mushrooms she believed were bought from an Asian grocer 'a long time ago'. Patterson insisted she had no reason to harm her former in-laws and described the incident as 'an accident'. However, Police noted that some of Patterson's statements conflicted with other evidence presented at trial, including: She said she didn't own a dehydrator yet CCTV showed a woman disposing of one at a rubbish tip on the day Patterson discharged herself from hospital. She initially told police she hadn't searched for mushrooms online, despite forensic evidence showing mushroom-related searches on a computer seized from her home. She said she cooked and ate the same meal as her guests, but hospital staff said she did not display symptoms consistent with mushroom poisoning. The defence has acknowledged that Patterson lied in parts of her interview but argued these were 'panicked omissions' from someone in shock and grief. They urged the jury not to treat her inconsistencies as proof of guilt, but rather as the behaviour of a distressed woman who was overwhelmed by the unfolding tragedy.
