Latest news with #Forensic
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Economic Times
Erin Patterson's suppressed evidence uncovered; deadly fungi PDFs, a plot to kill her husband with chicken curry and odd Facebook posts
Synopsis New evidence has surfaced in Erin Patterson's triple-murder case, revealing previously suppressed pre-trial details. Prosecutors alleged Patterson showed a long-standing interest in poisonous mushrooms through a Facebook post and possessed documents detailing lethal substances. The jury was not informed about Patterson's disposal of cardboard and putting out bins on the day of the fatal lunch, actions the prosecution deemed incriminating. AP FILE - Erin Patterson leaves a court in Melbourne, Australia, on April 15, 2025. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP, File) Erin Patterson's triple-murder case has taken a new turn after previously suppressed pre-trial evidence was made public. Patterson, 50, was convicted in July of killing three people and attempting to kill a fourth with a poisoned beef Wellington lunch in 2023. It is also revealed that the alleged Australian mushroom killer tried to poison husband with chicken curry, pasta, and wrap. The evidence, once ruled inadmissible by Justice Christopher Beale, included a Facebook post prosecutors said showed Patterson's long-standing interest in poisonous to pre-trial material, reportedly by the Nightly, the prosecutors alleged Patterson uploaded a photo of a cat eating mushrooms about 18 months before the first alleged poisoning in November 2021. The post read: 'My cat chewed on this mushroom just now. He is having a vomit. Was in grassland near trees, I'm in Victoria Australia.'Prosecutors claimed Patterson did not own a cat and that the post was dishonest. They planned to use it to argue she had a focused interest in poisons. Defence lawyers objected, saying the post's reliability was questionable and that the source of the screenshot had previously manipulated images. Justice Beale ruled the evidence out, agreeing it could unfairly prejudice the jury. Victoria Police digital investigators found thousands of files on devices seized from Patterson's home, searching for terms like 'death,' 'mushroom,' and 'poison.' According to among them was an appendix from a 2007 book, Criminal Poisoning: Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys, found on a Samsung detailed properties and lethal doses of substances, including antifreeze, arsenic, and cyanide. Prosecutors alleged Patterson had access to it in 2019. The Nightly stated that another PDF, an Overview of Fungi in Melbourne, contained images of death cap mushrooms. The defence maintained that it had little value as it did not mention poisonous mushrooms. The jury heard Patterson disposed of the dehydrator used to dry the deadly mushrooms after leaving the hospital on August 2, 2023. But they were not told she visited Koonwarra transfer station the day of the fatal lunch to dispose of cardboard, or that she put her bins out for collection that same day as per the Nightly points prosecutors had argued were incriminating conduct in pre-trial remains convicted of murdering Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson.
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Experts weigh in as Delhi HC calls for SOP over ‘indiscriminate' FSL referrals
A recent Delhi High Court order seeking authorities to frame guidelines to 'avoid unnecessary' referrals to forensic science laboratories (FSLs) in the national capital has sparked a debate among investigators, lawyers, and forensic experts. The court issued the direction on July 9 while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Subhash Vijayran, a resident doctor pursuing an M.D. in forensic medicine at Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi. He had raised concerns over the growing backlog at FSLs due to 'indiscriminate sample submissions'. As of mid-2025, over 20,000 forensic reports are reportedly pending at FSLs in Delhi. The court has now asked the Centre and Delhi government to decide within three months whether formal guidelines can be drafted to address the problem. Although the intent is to reduce clogging of the FSLs on the account of alleged 'unmindful and indiscriminate references', there is no consensus yet on whether such guidelines are practical or enforceable. '40% avoidable samples' A 2023 report by the National Human Rights Commission titled 'Forensic Science and Human Rights' found that 30-40% of viscera analyses sent to FSLs in Delhi were 'avoidable', especially in cases such as drowning, burning, and trauma deaths. The report also stated that if the autopsy surgeon is able toestablish the cause of death, other than in cases of death by poisoning, the viscera need not be referred to the FSLs for analysis. A senior Delhi Police official told The Hindu that the department is aware about the FSL backlog and has already taken steps to address it. 'Verbal instructions have been issued to all investigating officers to avoid unnecessary referrals to FSLs, especially in cases involving viscera preservation,' he said, adding that the officers are now expected to decide on a case-by-case basis. Dr. Vijayran said, 'During my postings in various mortuaries of Delhi, I came across an unpleasant practice of many doctors wherein they indiscriminately send viscera, blood, histopathology and toxicological samples to the FSLs and other labs after post-mortems – even in the most obvious and innocuous cases.' 'No doubt, in some cases, the samples are genuinely required to be sent, but in many cases where they are not, they are still sent. In defence, doctors argue that they do not want to get into unnecessary trouble with the law, in case someone might question as to why they did not send the samples,' he explained. Legal opinions divided Advocate Gyanant Kumar Singh warned against rigid guidelines. 'I think it should be left to the police instead of making blanket guidelines, which can be counterproductive. The guideline can never be rigid or exhaustive,' Mr. Singh said. In contrast, advocate Prabhav Ralli emphasised that forensic evidence is central to justice, especially in grave offences like murder and sexual assault. 'Quality of evidence' 'If the FSL reference is not done, it certainly affects the quality of the evidence as there is no scientific proof available, perhaps leaving the prosecution with only oral evidence/testimony to rely on,' Mr. Ralli said. 'In cases of reverse burden of proof, the onus to prove innocence is on the accused, and therefore, the absence of an FSL report rather dents the defence's case,' he said.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
Toronto cops probing murder after body dumped along 401 in Pickering
Homicide detectives are investigating a gruesome murder after human remains were found dumped along the side of Hwy. 401 in Pickering early Friday. Toronto Police have confirmed their officers are investigating the murder after a body was found along the south side of the busy highway's eastbound lanes just west of Whites Rd. – in Durham Region, just outside of their jurisdiction – shortly after midnight. No further details have been officially released so far. However, Toronto Sun sources say the remains were discovered in a suitcase and are believed to be that of a missing Scarborough woman. Toronto cops spent Friday morning searching an area along the side of Hwy. 401, using MTO trucks to help block the highway while Forensic Unit and Marine Unit officers could scour a watery marshy gully using metal detectors and long poles. The officers recovered evidence and cleared from the area around the noon-hour. A Homicide detective showed up before noon and walked into the crime scene, which was littered with various police markers near a culvert system just off the highway. Aidan Kendic and his co-workers, who work at a nearby musical instrument and sound warehouse, wandered over to learn about the grisly find while they were on their coffee break. 'I don't know what to make of it. I just heard about it five or 10 minutes ago,' Kendic said. 'It's pretty crazy.' 'It does freak me out. I don't know why they would pick here right next to my work. I don't know what to make of it,' he added. Some of his co-workers had the same thoughts as they peered through the fences separating the overgrown marsh area, their employer's building and Hwy. 401, snapping cellphone images of the officers searching. Further down Hwy. 401 in Durham Region, sources said a dumpster was removed on a flatbed from the Pickering Casino Resort Hotel, likely taken to the Centre for Forensic Sciences. Around noontime, the CTV helicopter captured video footage of multiple Toronto Police vehicles, a Forensic Unit truck and a large group of officers searching for further evidence at a waste management transfer station in Pickering on Friday. It's believed that the various crime scenes are connected somehow yet police have yet to reveal any of their findings. While not officially confirmed by police, Sun sources say the murder is thought to be tied to an unknown trouble call that 43 Division responded to recently after neighbours reported hearing people fighting at a residence in Scarborough. Investigators 'working tirelessly' to catch 15-year-old boy's killer Toronto teen charged with murder in death of 14-year-old boy Cops identify Scarborough homicide victim According to sources, the officers were unable to locate a woman who may have been involved in the incident. Investigators later reviewed video from a security camera on the premises and spotted her entering the property but not exiting. Sources said a man was taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault related to the missing woman after officers found evidence of evidence of a suspected crime scene in a home. – With files by Jack Boland and Chris Doucette
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Man, 60s, dies after horror two-car crash in Westmeath as woman seriously injured in hospital as urgent appeal made
A MAN in his 60s has died following a horror two-car crash in Co Westmeath that left another woman hospitalised. The incident occurred this evening on the N4 in Ballinalack, Co The crash involved two The driver of one car, a man in his 60s, was taken from the scene of the crash to Midlands Sadly, he was later pronounced dead. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS A second person, a woman also in her 60s, was injured at the scene. She was taken to Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore to be treated for injuries described by Gardai as "serious". And the Local diversions were put in place for drivers to take alternative routes. Most read in Irish News Gardai have made an urgent appeal for anyone with information about the crash to contact them. They are especially seeking anyone who has dash cam footage from the time of the incident. GARDA STATEMENT A Garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a fatal two-vehicle road traffic collision on the N4 at Ballinalack, Co. Westmeath, today, Wednesday 9th July 2025. "The incident which involved two cars occurred at approximately 4.20pm. "The road is currently closed for a technical examination by Forensic Collision Investigators and local diversions are in place. "The male driver of one of the cars (aged in his 60's) was conveyed to Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. URGENT APPEAL "He was later pronounced deceased. "The female driver of the second car (aged in her 60's) was conveyed to Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore hospital for treatment of serious injuries. "No other injuries were reported at the time. "Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. "Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area between 3.30pm and 4.30pm this afternoon, Wednesday 9th July 2025, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí. "Anyone with information is asked to contact Mullingar Garda Station on (044) 938 4000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. "Ref: PR24815/2025." 1 Gardai have made an urgent appeal for anyone with information to come forward Credit: PA
ITV News
02-07-2025
- ITV News
Child dies and three people seriously injured in Donegal crash
A child has died and several people have been injured in a car crash in Co Donegal on Wednesday. Gardai said the child was a female passenger. The female driver of the car, a male front-seat passenger and a female child, who was a rear-seat passenger, are in a serious condition in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. The collision, involving a van and a car, took place on the R240 at Carrowmore in Glentogher, Carndonagh before 6.30pm on Wednesday. The road was closed overnight pending a technical examination by Forensic Collision Investigators and local diversions were put in place. An appeal has been issued to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who may have footage of the incident to contact them. Those with information are advised to contact Buncrana Garda Station, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
