Erin Patterson guilty of all charges in mushroom murder trial
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1News
3 hours ago
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Full scope of mushroom trial media circus revealed
The full scope of the circus surrounding the mushroom murder trial has been revealed as the biggest media matter the Supreme Court has managed in recent history. As the Victorian trial entered week 11 on Monday, almost double its expected six weeks, a jury returned with four guilty verdicts and convicted Erin Patterson of three murders and one attempted murder. Her estranged husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died after Patterson served them beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023. A total of 252 media outlets had been interested in the case, the Supreme Court of Victoria confirmed this afternoon. This included 15 international media from the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand, which grew to 22 after the verdicts were handed down, a court spokeswoman said. ADVERTISEMENT There were nine authors, including acclaimed writer Helen Garner, seven podcasts, seven documentary film crews, including one from streamer Stan, and one drama series – ABC's Toxic. "These figures make the trial the biggest matter media-wise the court has managed in recent history," the court's media and public affairs manager Anthea Cannon said. The court actively monitored the extensive trial coverage and issued 16 directions to media to remove content, including four for social media commentary, she said. The working-class town of Morwell has been the backdrop of one of the world's most talked-about trials. (Source: 1News) Most were related to breaches of sub judice, a form of contempt related to publishing information that might improperly influence a jury, and a small number of inaccuracies were corrected. Cannon said the court was pleased with the quality and diligence of reporting, but was concerned some outlets and commentators with no direct contact with the trial were purporting to cover the case. "At least one such outlet has been referred to the Office of Public Prosecutions for contempt as a result," she said. ADVERTISEMENT "The way this trial captured the public's attention and was discussed and dissected in popular culture was particularly challenging and should serve as a reminder why the principle of sub judice exists – to ensure every person who appears in court is afforded a fair trial." Justice Christopher Beale told the trial, while the jury was out on June 16, that the Kyle and Jackie O Show would be referred to prosecutors for potential breach of sub judice for commenting about it live on air. 1News Australia correspondent Aziz Al Sa'afin speaks to Breakfast in the wake of yesterday's verdict. (Source: Breakfast) Meanwhile, the court has confirmed sequestered jurors were placed in the same hotel as the police informant Stephen Eppingstall and prosecutors while they deliberated. Justice Beale's associate emailed both defence and prosecution about the incident but said there had been no interaction between prosecutors, police and the jury. "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 email said. Most hotels had been booked out as national tennis table championships were being held in the Latrobe Valley at the same time as the jury entered its final days deliberating. ADVERTISEMENT On Monday morning, the prosecution emailed the associate to say they were no longer staying at the same hotel. The email said the informant had been staying in a different wing of the hotel and was using a different entrance to the jurors. "And he took steps to avoid common areas from the point that he became aware that they were there," the email said. The prosecution's legal team had to move from its accommodation on Friday and tried to move again when it became aware the jury was at its new accommodation. However, due to a lack of available accommodation, they could only move senior counsel and prosecution solicitors stayed at the same accommodation. "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 prosecution email said. ADVERTISEMENT Patterson will next face court later in 2025 for a pre-sentence hearing.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
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Man charged with murder after shooting, carjacking in Hamilton
Photo: 123rf A 20-year-old man has been charged with murder after a shooting and carjacking in Hamilton. Police were called to a house on Bellmont Avenue in the suburb of Chartwell around 6.40pm on Wednesday, and located a 31-year-old man deceased. The alleged offender, who was known to the victim, had fled the scene and police searched for him with the assistance of the Eagle helicopter. About 12.20am on Thursday the alleged offender stole a car from a driver at gunpoint, police said. The driver had stopped to pick up the man who was hitchhiking on Gordonton Road. The driver was uninjured but were understandably shaken by the incident, Detective Inspector Daryl Smith sid. About 12.40am on Thursday a police dog unit spotted the stolen car and chased it north to Ngāruawāhia, where road spikes were deployed. The car came to a stop in Ngāruāwahia and the alleged offender was arrested, Smith said. The man has been charged with murder, aggravated robbery and failing to stop for police. A local resident, who did not want to be named, said earlier on Wednesday she had seen about six to 10 armed police and four to five police cars around the corner of Comries Road and Bellmont Road. She said a helicopter had been circling since around 8pm. The resident said when she approached police to ask about what was going on, an officer told her it was a "dangerous" situation and asked her to leave. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
