Mushroom murder trial jury fail to reach verdict, sending deliberations into a sixth day
The fog got heavier the closer you got to town, providing an ironically eerie backdrop to a place that has hosted one of Australia's most famous murder trials.
It's been nine weeks since Patterson's trial began, with multiple key witnesses including Patterson's estranged husband, doctors, nurses, mushroom experts, the fatal lunch's sole survivor and even the accused herself taking the stand.
The case has drawn international media like the BBC to the Gippsland town of 14,000, with documentary makers from Netflix seen filming outside the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court.
Just before 10am on Friday all the major Australian news outlets gathered outside the court, with some erecting small marquees to house all their camera equipment, microphones, autocue and laptops.
Journalists sat on camping chairs, going over notes of the case in the event the jury reached a verdict.
It's mostly a waiting game, with members of the media making small talk with each other, as well as with the local police that they've come to befriend.
The police station is only just next door, so officers walk through the outside court precinct regularly.
Locals also pop by, bringing their friendly dogs for pats — a welcome reprieve for weary journalists.
By mid-morning the fog had all but gone and was replaced with bright blue skies and a pleasantly warm sun, making sitting around and waiting for something to happen a bit easier.
When deliberations broke at 1pm for lunch, the media quickly dispersed, grabbing a bite to eat from one of the many local cafés near the court.
As Prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC returned an hour later, she was jovial and friendly as she made a passing comment to waiting journalists about them sitting out of the sun.
While journalists and members of the media have dedicated a good chunk of their lives to covering the case, by far the biggest impact has been on the locals, whose once relatively unknown town has been transformed into a media circus.
Some locals, like Carolyn Rich, have enjoyed the excitement the trial has brought to the town, even going so far as to nab a seat in the public gallery to watch the proceedings for herself.
The local florist waited for about 45 minutes to get into the court during the first few weeks of the trial in May.
'It was interesting, it is different to when you're watching it on TV to when you're actually face to face … and the family (is) right there, so it's got a different feel about it,' she told 7NEWS.com.au.
'(I've) always (been) interested in true crime, even before we had all the streaming services.
'I was only in there for a couple of hours though.'
She said she hadn't noticed the increased media presence have much of an impact on business, but locals had noticed it had become harder to get car parks in town.
'We probably haven't seen many of the reporters, only when they've wanted to come in and speak to us,' Rich said.
Other locals however are more than ready for the trial to finish and for everyone to move on.
'I don't even read it in the local paper anymore, because it's just gone on for too long and I'm just not interested in it at all,' Lorraine Dickson, who works at the local Vinnies, said.
'I followed it for a short time but then after that, it's just gone on too long.'
She also remarked that it had become harder for locals to get car parks in the town.
While a quick verdict is hoped for by members of the media and some locals, 7NEWS Melbourne chief crime reporter Cassie Zervos, who has been covering the trial on and off over the past nine weeks, said it was important to remember the jury were making a life-changing decision.
'It's someone's life that has to be determined by these strangers and it's a huge decision,' she said.
'So yes, I'd love to get home …. but I think as a reporter it feels silly complaining.'
Patterson is accused of murdering three relatives and attempting to kill a fourth at a family lunch by serving up beef wellington with poisonous death cap mushrooms
She has pleaded not guilty to murdering her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, after the trio died days after attending a July 2023 lunch at her Leongatha home.
The 50-year-old has also pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Heather's Baptist pastor husband, Ian, 68, who spent months in hospital, but survived.
The jury will continue deliberating on Saturday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Melbourne synagogue hit by arson attack, scuffles in CBD
Police are investigating an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue carried out while about 20 people, including children, were having a Shabbat dinner inside the place of worship. The latest anti-semitic attack punctuated what appeared to be a coordinated night of anti-Israel protests in central Melbourne which has left Jewish people fearing for their safety. Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Phillip Zajac told this masthead that a lone arsonist used fuel to torch the front doors of the East Melbourne Synagogue in Albert Street, East Melbourne at about 8pm. A local fire brigade responded quickly and contained the fire, which caused only superficial damage to the blue stone building and heavy timber doors. The attack was captured on CCTV. Zajac said the attack needed to be quickly condemned by Premier Jacinta Allan and the perpetrator identified and prosecuted. 'I don't know what the government can do but there have to be consequences for people who do things like this,' he said. 'Lighting a place of worship is just dreadful. 'The Premier needs to come out with a strong statement condemning this. We expect her to shout it from the rooftops that this behaviour is totally unacceptable and the perpetrator will be found and will face charges. 'A place of worship has got nothing to do with the Middle East dispute. This has really gotten to me. I don't know what to say. 'The attack follows the firebombing last December which gutted the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea. No charges have been laid in that attack despite Victorian and federal police launching a joint taskforce investigation into the suspected terror attack.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Melbourne synagogue hit by arson attack, scuffles in CBD
Police are investigating an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue carried out while about 20 people, including children, were having a Shabbat dinner inside the place of worship. The latest anti-semitic attack punctuated what appeared to be a coordinated night of anti-Israel protests in central Melbourne which has left Jewish people fearing for their safety. Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Phillip Zajac told this masthead that a lone arsonist used fuel to torch the front doors of the East Melbourne Synagogue in Albert Street, East Melbourne at about 8pm. A local fire brigade responded quickly and contained the fire, which caused only superficial damage to the blue stone building and heavy timber doors. The attack was captured on CCTV. Zajac said the attack needed to be quickly condemned by Premier Jacinta Allan and the perpetrator identified and prosecuted. 'I don't know what the government can do but there have to be consequences for people who do things like this,' he said. 'Lighting a place of worship is just dreadful. 'The Premier needs to come out with a strong statement condemning this. We expect her to shout it from the rooftops that this behaviour is totally unacceptable and the perpetrator will be found and will face charges. 'A place of worship has got nothing to do with the Middle East dispute. This has really gotten to me. I don't know what to say. 'The attack follows the firebombing last December which gutted the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea. No charges have been laid in that attack despite Victorian and federal police launching a joint taskforce investigation into the suspected terror attack.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Families' fearful wait to learn alleged abuser's moves
Authorities have been accused of dropping the ball in their failure to disclose an alleged child abuser's full work history as police dig into his past. Joshua Dale Brown has been charged with more than 70 sex offences after allegedly abusing eight children aged under two at a childcare facility at Point Cook, in Melbourne's southwest. The 26-year-old worked in at least 20 centres since 2017, for which a list and set of dates have already been made public. But Victoria Police said they were continuing to investigate further details of his employment history as a matter of priority after parents reported discrepancies in the listed dates. "We understand that many in the community are feeling concerned and anxious, however it is incredibly important that this information is confirmed, then thoroughly reviewed with other relevant agencies prior to any public release," a police spokeswoman said. Childcare operator Affinity Education, which operates several facilities where Brown worked, is reviewing its records following reports he might have been employed longer than first thought. The families of 1200 children have been told to get the infants tested for sexually transmitted infections as a precaution. Parents have contacted the Australian Childhood Foundation complaining they're not getting adequate communication from authorities or childcare centre management. "We're dropping the ball," the charity's chief executive Janise Mitchell told AAP. She supported the police investigation but added there needed to be a constant line of communication to the families most closely impacted. "What that loses sight of is the anxiety, the terror, the fear parents are laying awake with every night, wondering where they sit in the unfolding scenario," Ms Mitchell said. "In the absence of communication, fear grows, mistrust grows, and anxiety grows that there's something going on." Families of the children recommended for STI testing are anxiously awaiting results, with several told to get their infants checked twice. They were first told to get their child checked for two diseases and then days later were warned about the need to test for a third. State, territory and federal education ministers are due to meet in August and they will discuss tighter safety measures, including the introduction of CCTV in centres and a national register of childcare workers. NSW has flagged a trial of CCTV cameras in centres, as an urgent Victorian review examines making the technology mandatory. South Australia is considering cameras and fast-tracking mobile phone bans in childcare centres while Western Australia is conducting a child safety review into facilities there. The Albanese government also plans to fast-track legislation to allow funding to be stripped from centres that don't meet standards, while spot checks will be introduced to limit fraud. But a former royal commissioner has slammed governments for dragging their feet on creating a national regime for working with children checks after an inquiry in 2015 issued the recommendation. Brown had a valid working with children check and was not known to police or subject to any complaints before his arrest in May. Robert Fitzgerald, one of five members of the royal commission, said it was shameful the recommendation remained unfulfilled. "Ten years on, that job should have been completed and the fact that it isn't means there are gaps in our child safeguarding regime," the now-age discrimination commissioner said. Every state and territory maintains separate working with children schemes with different rules and requirements. Victoria, Queensland and NSW have all committed to reviewing or tightening up their regimes. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Authorities have been accused of dropping the ball in their failure to disclose an alleged child abuser's full work history as police dig into his past. Joshua Dale Brown has been charged with more than 70 sex offences after allegedly abusing eight children aged under two at a childcare facility at Point Cook, in Melbourne's southwest. The 26-year-old worked in at least 20 centres since 2017, for which a list and set of dates have already been made public. But Victoria Police said they were continuing to investigate further details of his employment history as a matter of priority after parents reported discrepancies in the listed dates. "We understand that many in the community are feeling concerned and anxious, however it is incredibly important that this information is confirmed, then thoroughly reviewed with other relevant agencies prior to any public release," a police spokeswoman said. Childcare operator Affinity Education, which operates several facilities where Brown worked, is reviewing its records following reports he might have been employed longer than first thought. The families of 1200 children have been told to get the infants tested for sexually transmitted infections as a precaution. Parents have contacted the Australian Childhood Foundation complaining they're not getting adequate communication from authorities or childcare centre management. "We're dropping the ball," the charity's chief executive Janise Mitchell told AAP. She supported the police investigation but added there needed to be a constant line of communication to the families most closely impacted. "What that loses sight of is the anxiety, the terror, the fear parents are laying awake with every night, wondering where they sit in the unfolding scenario," Ms Mitchell said. "In the absence of communication, fear grows, mistrust grows, and anxiety grows that there's something going on." Families of the children recommended for STI testing are anxiously awaiting results, with several told to get their infants checked twice. They were first told to get their child checked for two diseases and then days later were warned about the need to test for a third. State, territory and federal education ministers are due to meet in August and they will discuss tighter safety measures, including the introduction of CCTV in centres and a national register of childcare workers. NSW has flagged a trial of CCTV cameras in centres, as an urgent Victorian review examines making the technology mandatory. South Australia is considering cameras and fast-tracking mobile phone bans in childcare centres while Western Australia is conducting a child safety review into facilities there. The Albanese government also plans to fast-track legislation to allow funding to be stripped from centres that don't meet standards, while spot checks will be introduced to limit fraud. But a former royal commissioner has slammed governments for dragging their feet on creating a national regime for working with children checks after an inquiry in 2015 issued the recommendation. Brown had a valid working with children check and was not known to police or subject to any complaints before his arrest in May. Robert Fitzgerald, one of five members of the royal commission, said it was shameful the recommendation remained unfulfilled. "Ten years on, that job should have been completed and the fact that it isn't means there are gaps in our child safeguarding regime," the now-age discrimination commissioner said. Every state and territory maintains separate working with children schemes with different rules and requirements. Victoria, Queensland and NSW have all committed to reviewing or tightening up their regimes. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Authorities have been accused of dropping the ball in their failure to disclose an alleged child abuser's full work history as police dig into his past. Joshua Dale Brown has been charged with more than 70 sex offences after allegedly abusing eight children aged under two at a childcare facility at Point Cook, in Melbourne's southwest. The 26-year-old worked in at least 20 centres since 2017, for which a list and set of dates have already been made public. But Victoria Police said they were continuing to investigate further details of his employment history as a matter of priority after parents reported discrepancies in the listed dates. "We understand that many in the community are feeling concerned and anxious, however it is incredibly important that this information is confirmed, then thoroughly reviewed with other relevant agencies prior to any public release," a police spokeswoman said. Childcare operator Affinity Education, which operates several facilities where Brown worked, is reviewing its records following reports he might have been employed longer than first thought. The families of 1200 children have been told to get the infants tested for sexually transmitted infections as a precaution. Parents have contacted the Australian Childhood Foundation complaining they're not getting adequate communication from authorities or childcare centre management. "We're dropping the ball," the charity's chief executive Janise Mitchell told AAP. She supported the police investigation but added there needed to be a constant line of communication to the families most closely impacted. "What that loses sight of is the anxiety, the terror, the fear parents are laying awake with every night, wondering where they sit in the unfolding scenario," Ms Mitchell said. "In the absence of communication, fear grows, mistrust grows, and anxiety grows that there's something going on." Families of the children recommended for STI testing are anxiously awaiting results, with several told to get their infants checked twice. They were first told to get their child checked for two diseases and then days later were warned about the need to test for a third. State, territory and federal education ministers are due to meet in August and they will discuss tighter safety measures, including the introduction of CCTV in centres and a national register of childcare workers. NSW has flagged a trial of CCTV cameras in centres, as an urgent Victorian review examines making the technology mandatory. South Australia is considering cameras and fast-tracking mobile phone bans in childcare centres while Western Australia is conducting a child safety review into facilities there. The Albanese government also plans to fast-track legislation to allow funding to be stripped from centres that don't meet standards, while spot checks will be introduced to limit fraud. But a former royal commissioner has slammed governments for dragging their feet on creating a national regime for working with children checks after an inquiry in 2015 issued the recommendation. Brown had a valid working with children check and was not known to police or subject to any complaints before his arrest in May. Robert Fitzgerald, one of five members of the royal commission, said it was shameful the recommendation remained unfulfilled. "Ten years on, that job should have been completed and the fact that it isn't means there are gaps in our child safeguarding regime," the now-age discrimination commissioner said. Every state and territory maintains separate working with children schemes with different rules and requirements. Victoria, Queensland and NSW have all committed to reviewing or tightening up their regimes. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Authorities have been accused of dropping the ball in their failure to disclose an alleged child abuser's full work history as police dig into his past. Joshua Dale Brown has been charged with more than 70 sex offences after allegedly abusing eight children aged under two at a childcare facility at Point Cook, in Melbourne's southwest. The 26-year-old worked in at least 20 centres since 2017, for which a list and set of dates have already been made public. But Victoria Police said they were continuing to investigate further details of his employment history as a matter of priority after parents reported discrepancies in the listed dates. "We understand that many in the community are feeling concerned and anxious, however it is incredibly important that this information is confirmed, then thoroughly reviewed with other relevant agencies prior to any public release," a police spokeswoman said. Childcare operator Affinity Education, which operates several facilities where Brown worked, is reviewing its records following reports he might have been employed longer than first thought. The families of 1200 children have been told to get the infants tested for sexually transmitted infections as a precaution. Parents have contacted the Australian Childhood Foundation complaining they're not getting adequate communication from authorities or childcare centre management. "We're dropping the ball," the charity's chief executive Janise Mitchell told AAP. She supported the police investigation but added there needed to be a constant line of communication to the families most closely impacted. "What that loses sight of is the anxiety, the terror, the fear parents are laying awake with every night, wondering where they sit in the unfolding scenario," Ms Mitchell said. "In the absence of communication, fear grows, mistrust grows, and anxiety grows that there's something going on." Families of the children recommended for STI testing are anxiously awaiting results, with several told to get their infants checked twice. They were first told to get their child checked for two diseases and then days later were warned about the need to test for a third. State, territory and federal education ministers are due to meet in August and they will discuss tighter safety measures, including the introduction of CCTV in centres and a national register of childcare workers. NSW has flagged a trial of CCTV cameras in centres, as an urgent Victorian review examines making the technology mandatory. South Australia is considering cameras and fast-tracking mobile phone bans in childcare centres while Western Australia is conducting a child safety review into facilities there. The Albanese government also plans to fast-track legislation to allow funding to be stripped from centres that don't meet standards, while spot checks will be introduced to limit fraud. But a former royal commissioner has slammed governments for dragging their feet on creating a national regime for working with children checks after an inquiry in 2015 issued the recommendation. Brown had a valid working with children check and was not known to police or subject to any complaints before his arrest in May. Robert Fitzgerald, one of five members of the royal commission, said it was shameful the recommendation remained unfulfilled. "Ten years on, that job should have been completed and the fact that it isn't means there are gaps in our child safeguarding regime," the now-age discrimination commissioner said. Every state and territory maintains separate working with children schemes with different rules and requirements. Victoria, Queensland and NSW have all committed to reviewing or tightening up their regimes. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
