Latest news with #BenitaKolovos
The Guardian
07-07-2025
- The Guardian
Australia mushroom trial verdicts live: Erin Patterson expressionless in court as jury finds her guilty of murders and attempted murder
Update: Date: 2025-07-07T05:45:45.000Z Title: Erin Patterson Content: Australian woman found guilty in trial over beef wellington lunch that contained death cap mushrooms – follow updates Who are and the other key figures in Australia's mushroom lunch trial? Five key moments in the murder trial of Australia's mushroom lunch cook Cait Kelly Mon 7 Jul 2025 07.45 CEST First published on Mon 7 Jul 2025 05.42 CEST From 6.21am CEST 06:21 The jury has found caused the death of her lunch guests. On the three charges of murder she has been found guilty. On the charge of attempted murder she has also been found guilty. Updated at 6.24am CEST 7.43am CEST 07:43 Benita Kolovos Judge thanks 'excellent' jurors for their work After the verdicts were delivered, Beale thanked the jurors for their work over more than 10 weeks. He described them as 'excellent' and praised them for remaining in high spirits – even after the trial ended up going weeks longer than expected. Beale said they would be exempt from appearing on another jury for 15 years. There were initially 15 people empanelled as potential jurors – three additional people than the usual 12, in case someone fell sick or was discharged. One juror was removed in May after the courts heard information they had discussed the case with family and friends. Two others were balloted off after the judge gave his final directions to the jury. In the end, seven men and five women were left to determine the verdict. Updated at 7.45am CEST 7.33am CEST 07:33 Five key moments from murder trial Adeshola Ore was one of our key reporters covering this case, blogging live for several weeks, including from Morwell. Now, she writes about five key moments she saw during the trial. You can read it here: Updated at 7.40am CEST 7.23am CEST 07:23 Victoria police has released a statement relation to the guilty verdict. It reads: Victoria Police acknowledges the decision of the jury today. Our thoughts are with the respective families at this time and we acknowledge how difficult these past two years have been for them. We will continue to support them in every way possible following this decision. We would also like to acknowledge the work of homicide squad detectives over the course of this complex investigation, as well as the significant support received from a number of other areas across Victoria Police. The Patterson and Wilkinson families would not be supplying a statement via Victoria police and have asked for privacy, the police said. Updated at 7.28am CEST 7.08am CEST 07:08 's barrister, Colin Mandy SC, left the court without making comment. Det Leading Sen Const Stephen Eppingstall, the informant or officer in charge of the investigation, also left now without commenting. Police have also left but have said they will return to make a brief statement to media in about an hour. Updated at 7.21am CEST 7.04am CEST 07:04 Benita Kolovos As we wait for the prosecutor, Nanette Rogers SC, and Patterson's barrister, Colin Mandy SC, to leave the court, I'm reflecting on the moment we heard the verdict. Justice Christopher Beale had asked everyone in the court to remain quiet throughout the short hearing but he didn't really have to – you could hear a pin drop in courtroom four. Media, members of the public and a sole friend of Patterson's all sat in silence as the charges were individually read. After each, the jury's foreperson said guilty. Patterson, who was seated at the back of the court, stared at the jury. The public gallery all turned her heads to see how she would respond. She was expressionless. After weeks of evidence, dozens of witnesses, days of deliberations, it was all over within a few minutes. Updated at 7.20am CEST 6.56am CEST 06:56 We are waiting to see if 's legal team addresses the large media presence outside. Earlier, a spokesperson for the Patterson family left court without giving a statement. Updated at 7.07am CEST 6.47am CEST 06:47 Sentencing hearing to come We don't yet have a sentencing date, but that will be the next step in the process. There will be a sentencing hearing, with submissions and arguments from the prosecution and defence about what they think the sentence should be. Updated at 6.49am CEST 6.46am CEST 06:46 Patterson's friend says she is 'saddened' by verdict One of Patterson's friends was surrounded by media as she left the court. She did not say much as reporters chased her to her car, but did tell them she was 'saddened' by the verdict: I'm saddened. It is what it is. She said Patterson had told her she would 'see her soon' before she left the court. I'm her friend. I will visit her. Updated at 6.50am CEST 6.40am CEST 06:40 Benita Kolovos Patterson speaks to lawyers privately as hearing concludes No members of the Patterson or Wilkinson families attended court for the verdict. The gallery has been asked to leave the court so Patterson can speak to her lawyers privately, which concludes today's hearing. I've headed outside to a huge press pack of journalists from across Australia and the world. A friend of Patterson's has left the court in tears. She says she is upset by the verdict. Updated at 6.43am CEST 6.38am CEST 06:38 After a trial lasting more than two months, has been found guilty on four charges. For a full recap of the verdict, you can read this piece from my colleagues Nino Bucci and Adeshola Ore: Follow along as our coverage continues. Updated at 6.39am CEST 6.25am CEST 06:25 The jury has now been discharged. Our reporter Benita Kolovos is in the court and says was stoic as the charges were read. There were no tears. Updated at 6.41am CEST 6.24am CEST 06:24 Benita Kolovos As the verdict was read out, Patterson did not drop her gaze from the jury. She looked ahead calmly. Updated at 6.24am CEST 6.21am CEST 06:21 The jury has found caused the death of her lunch guests. On the three charges of murder she has been found guilty. On the charge of attempted murder she has also been found guilty. Updated at 6.24am CEST 6.17am CEST 06:17 Benita Kolovos Patterson has arrived in court for the verdict. She's currently speaking to her lawyers, led by Colin Mandy SC, before court begins any minute. Patterson is wearing a black blouse with a paisley print and has worn her hair out and straight. She appears calm. Patterson, flanked by two security guards, now has her eyes closed and is taking deep breaths as we await the arrival of Justice Christopher Beale. Updated at 6.28am CEST 6.04am CEST 06:04 Benita Kolovos Lunchtime rush at Morwell court I'm at Latrobe Valley law courts in Morwell, where the jury are have indicated they've reached their verdict after seven days of deliberations in the triple murder trial of . The court was on a lunch break when the jury made their decision. Many of the dozens of journalists who have been camped in Morwell for the entire 11-week trial were out for lunch, sparking a literal dash through the city to get back to court. Now, we're all waiting outside court room 4 to get one of the limited seats inside to watch the verdict. Members of the public are also queueing up, with some having left their handbags out the front of the court to save their place in the line. I'll continue to provide updates throughout the afternoon. Updated at 6.17am CEST 6.04am CEST 06:04 The court is expected to reconvene at 2.15 and we will bring you updates as we have them. , 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to a beef wellington lunch she served at her house in Leongatha, in regional Victoria, on 29 July 2023. She is accused of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and her estranged husband's aunt, Heather Wilkinson. The attempted murder charge relates to Heather's husband, Ian. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution alleges Patterson deliberately poisoned her lunch guests with 'murderous intent', but her lawyers say the poisoning was a tragic accident. 5.42am CEST 05:42 Welcome to our live blog of 's triple murder trial. The jury has indicated it has reached verdicts in the case of the mushroom lunch cook. The court is expected to reconvene shortly. We'll bring you live updates. Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to a beef wellington lunch she served at her house in Leongatha, in regional Victoria, on 29 July 2023. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Guardian
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Eight storeys beneath Melbourne: first look inside the city's new metro stations
Melbourne's Metro Tunnel is expected to open in late 2025. Described as the most significant overhaul of the city's transport network since the City Loop opened in the 1980s, the tunnel has been taking shape beneath the city for the past eight years – with the bill ballooning to $14bn. With an eye on the 2026 state election, the long-serving Victorian Labor government – with its soaring debt of nearly $200bn – is banking on the project to turn its fortunes around. Guardian Australia's Victoria state correspondent, Benita Kolovos, gets a look at the city's newest train stations
The Guardian
09-02-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Australia news live: Allan admits ‘more to do' after byelection collapse in Labor vote; lightning strike kills woman in NSW town
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Benita Kolovos First questions of the bat are about the Werribee byelection – where Labor's once-comfortable margin has gone from 10.9% at the 2022 state election to a razor-thin 0.6%. Asked whether she is the right person to lead the Labor party after the result, Allan says: We know byelections are tough for governments. We know that's particularly so for governments when we're in the midst of a global cost-of-living crisis. My focus is on supporting those working people and families who need the government working for them. And working people and families across the state – across the world – are looking to their governments to listen to them and do more to support them, and that's exactly what I will do. I know that there is more to do, to build on the work we've already been doing to support working people and families, but we've heard very clearly that people are looking to governments to do more, and we are listening to that, and we will. Asked what she means by doing more, she says: In a global cost-of-living crisis, we know working people and families are hurting. I also know, and I know this from talking to people in my own community and also in communities right across the state, that quite rightly, they're wanting their voice to be heard. And byelections are an opportunity for people to make sure their voice is being heard. It's so important that the listening that we have already been undertaking, the listening we do every single day, is that we take that into action, meaningful support for working people and families. Allan begins spruiking the government's $400 vouchers for schoolchildren and her 'fair fuel plan'. A reporter points out Labor campaigned on the vouchers but still saw the party's primary vote go back a whopping 17%. She replies: We know that there is more to do, and I will always listen to working people and families across the state, but also, importantly, I will fight hard and work hard for them every single day. Share Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Benita Kolovos Allan: What's clear to me, is that communities are looking for their governments and their members of parliament to be focused on them, understanding, in a cost of living crisis, a global cost of living crisis, that they need. It's also clear in Werribee that they looked at the Liberal party and didn't like their division, didn't like their program of cuts and didn't like their program of hurting vulnerable people in our community. It's clear the Victorians know that they can't trust the Liberal party, that what I'm focused on will be supporting those working people and families who need a Labor government that is focused on them, working hard for them and fighting for them. Share Benita Kolovos A reporter notes despite the huge swing away from Labor, it didn't reflect in a huge bump in first preference voters to the Liberals. Asked what she makes of that, the premier said 'Victorians can't trust them'. They're divided. They have a program of, what will they cut next, and what vulnerable members in our community will they hurt next? And it is absolutely clear that the Victorian community do not trust the Liberal party, because they are divided and all they want to do is hurt communities. Share Benita Kolovos Asked whether she will reconsider going ahead with the Suburban Rail Loop project, which is set to benefit the eastern suburbs well before it makes its way to Werribee. Allan says: The Suburban Rail Loop is part of our program of transport projects that is supporting working people by supporting jobs. Maybe some of us have been around a little longer but we all remember a time when a Liberal government, aided and abetted by a federal Liberal government, didn't invest in infrastructure projects in Victoria. That hurts working people because they don't have a pipeline of jobs, good secure jobs. It's also working people who need those transport connections so they can get to work, they can make their medical appointments, they can go to university or TAFE and pursue the career they want. That is why transport connections are just so important. They provide an equality of opportunity for working people. It is why in that pipeline we have the Metro Tunnel, the West Gate Tunnel, the Suburban Rail Loop, the North East Link, removing level crossings. This is all about making sure that we are supporting the transport connections our community needs. Share Benita Kolovos Places like Werribee 'looking for governments to do more', Allan concedes Has the Victorian Labor government lost sight of the voters it's meant to represent? Allan makes somewhat of a concession: Places like Werribee, some of the fastest growing places in the country, are looking to governments to do more. Now we have made meaningful investments in more schools, seven more schools, in road investments in the local community, but it is absolutely clear that there is more to do. That's a responsibility I take very, very seriously, to work hard every day, because I've never lost sight of what it means to have the privilege of being in government and to be in a Labor government to make a difference for working people. For people who need a Labor government, fighting for them against the big multinationals – like we saw recently – multinational companies who wanted to take penalty rights away from retail workers. Working people need Labor governments to fight for them, and that is what I will continue to do. Share Benita Kolovos Premier says federal Labor will hear 'message' of Werribee byelection Does she think the result will translate in the upcoming federal election? Allan replies: We know that the global cost-of-living crisis, governments around the world are being sent a message. Governments around the country are being sent a message. People want their governments and their members of parliament focused on them, and they're looking for support from their governments. Now, federal Labor, they've rolled out a range of important initiatives that focus on working people and their families. I think we all know that there is more to do. Share Benita Kolovos Asked whether Labor handed Prahran to the Liberals by not running a candidate in the seat, Allan repeats the same line: Again, I'm focused on working hard for all Victorians, and we know that the cost of living crisis is hurting families right across the state, which is why the school saving bonus, the fair fuel plan is so important. And where there is more to do, we will do it. Share Benita Kolovos First questions of the bat are about the Werribee byelection – where Labor's once-comfortable margin has gone from 10.9% at the 2022 state election to a razor-thin 0.6%. Asked whether she is the right person to lead the Labor party after the result, Allan says: We know byelections are tough for governments. We know that's particularly so for governments when we're in the midst of a global cost-of-living crisis. My focus is on supporting those working people and families who need the government working for them. And working people and families across the state – across the world – are looking to their governments to listen to them and do more to support them, and that's exactly what I will do. I know that there is more to do, to build on the work we've already been doing to support working people and families, but we've heard very clearly that people are looking to governments to do more, and we are listening to that, and we will. Asked what she means by doing more, she says: In a global cost-of-living crisis, we know working people and families are hurting. I also know, and I know this from talking to people in my own community and also in communities right across the state, that quite rightly, they're wanting their voice to be heard. And byelections are an opportunity for people to make sure their voice is being heard. It's so important that the listening that we have already been undertaking, the listening we do every single day, is that we take that into action, meaningful support for working people and families. Allan begins spruiking the government's $400 vouchers for schoolchildren and her 'fair fuel plan'. A reporter points out Labor campaigned on the vouchers but still saw the party's primary vote go back a whopping 17%. She replies: We know that there is more to do, and I will always listen to working people and families across the state, but also, importantly, I will fight hard and work hard for them every single day. Share Benita Kolovos Jacinta Allan speaking in Melbourne The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has just held a press conference in North Melbourne as the byelection in Werribee remains too close to call. She's at Arden station, on the yet-to-open Metro Tunnel train line, which she says will 'transform the way people move around our city and state'. She goes on: This is a project that's opening later this year, a full year ahead of schedule. But of course, this was a project that the Victorian Liberal party described as would be 'disastrous' for our city. It's a project that Peter Dutton's Liberal party ripped billions of dollars from. When they had the opportunity to make a choice, to invest in infrastructure in Victoria or not, they took billions of dollars out of this project. Our Labor government, we were determined to get on and deliver the Metro Tunnel, and that's exactly what's happening. Share Kate Lyons Queensland premier says flood recovery will focus on making state more 'resilient' David Crisafulli, premier of Queensland, has vowed the state will rebuild to be 'more resilient', in an update on the Queensland floods. 'My team remains focused on the recovery, and we will be there and will be there for the long haul,' he said, adding that government ministers were on the ground in flood-affected areas and he would be returning to the area soon. 'I want Queenslanders to know the things that we have said will be delivered, will be delivered to every resident,' said Crisafulli. To every resident of north and far north Queensland, we want to say we acknowledge how tough things have been. Lives have been lost, livelihoods have been destroyed. People have seen water in places they never thought possible. Crisafulli warned of highway closures across the state, including on the Bruce Highway. The road out of Townsville, both to the north and south, is closed to all forms of traffic, though controlled and limited access south of Townsville to larger vehicles is beginning to be arranged. David Crisafulli. Photograph: Scott Radford-Chisholm/EPA Crisafulli praised the efforts of defence force and volunteers from the SES, saying: 'It's been a long time in this country since we've seen the mobilisation of the defence force the way that they have done.' 'To be able to thank 100 SES volunteers from almost every state and territory who have come and helped Queenslanders in their hour of need was one of the most fulfilling and humbling experiences of my life,' he said. 'It's been amazing, and to see the way that the emergency services personnel have rallied, I think give Queenslanders hope about the way this recovery can unfold.' Crisafulli said it was crucial that in the recovery phase recovery from the floods was a crucial time, making sure that infrastructure was built back in a more resilient way. Some good has to come through this heartache … and that some good has to be in the form of: can we replace the infrastructure when it needs to be replaced, to a more resilient standard, and build in a greater ability to deal with what Mother Nature has to throw north and far north Queensland. Share Natasha May One in 10 federal electorates have no bulk-billing GPs for standard consultations, survey finds An adult without concessions would not be able to find a bulk-billing GP in 10% of electorates, according to a new report. The online healthcare directory Cleanbill on Sunday released an electorate breakdown of its third annual Blue Report, based on a survey of 6,925 general practices carried out in October 2024. The Blue Report, published in January, found that for new adult patients without a concession card, four out of five GPs will charge a gap fee. Cleanbill collects its information, according to its founder, James Gillespie, by compiling a list of GP clinics nationally, which they call to ensure they are operating, ask if they bulk bill adult patients and, if not, what out-of-pocket fees they charge. Data managers then check that information against what is stated on clinics' websites and repeat calls until they can ensure consistent information. Across the 151 commonwealth electoral divisions, Cleanbill was unable to find any available bulk-billing clinics for adult patients in 15 electorates, compared with four in its first report in 2023. Those 15 electorates were Bass (Tasmania), Boothby (South Australia), Braddon (Tasmania), Brisbane (Queensland), Clark (Tasmania), Fairfax (Queensland), Franklin (Tasmania), Jagajaga (Victoria), Kingston (SA), Lyne (New South Wales), Lyons (Tasmania), Mayo (SA), Newcastle (NSW), Shortland (NSW) and Swan (Western Australia). Read the full story here: Share Victoria byelections: Liberals projected to win Prahran off Greens, Labor holds narrow lead in Werribee The Liberal party expects to win the Prahran byelection, taking the Victorian state seat off the Greens for the first time since 2010. It comes as Victorian Labor struggles to retain its previously safe seat of Werribee in the other weekend byelection. As of 10am this morning, Labor have 50.6% of the Werribee vote, leading by 441 votes. The Liberal party are polling 53.0% of the postal votes counted so far, leading that count by 199. 'If the Liberal percentage continued at this rate with outstanding postal votes, it would narrow Labor's lead but would not be enough to overturn it,' the ABC's election analyst, Antony Green, said on Sunday. A maximum of about 3,000 postal votes can still make it into the count, which will resume tomorrow. Read more on the Victoria byelections from Benita Kolovos here: Share Climate simmers in background of hip-pocket election The climate crisis may be struggling for airtime as voters suffer acute hip-pocket pain, but support for action isn't waning. Tax, geopolitics and other issues dominated the first week of parliament for 2025, potentially the second-last before the upcoming federal election were the prime minister to call it early. Yet pressure to keep the ball rolling on climate and net zero policy was not entirely absent. A politics-proof net zero pathway and national carbon market strategy featured on the Business Council of Australia's pre-election wishlist unveiled on Tuesday. Zoe Daniel, who became the MP for Goldstein in 2022 amid the 'teal' wave in which independents secured formerly blue-ribbon city Liberal seats campaigning on climate and integrity issues, used a national address to link global warming to financial strain. 'If you think climate policy is a 'woke' issue, wait until you see the spike in your insurance premiums after the LA fires,' she said during her pre-election pitch at the National Press Club on Wednesday. Zoe Daniel addresses the National Press Club. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Polling shows a tight race between Anthony Albanese's Labor government and the Coalition led by Peter Dutton, with neither likely to win an outright majority and the door open to minority leadership with crossbench support. Redbridge's director of strategy and analytics, Kos Samaras, expected to see a few more contests over climate issues involving independents, including in the regions, in part reflecting an ongoing shift away from the major party duopoly. The electorates of Wannon in Victoria and Forrest in Western Australia were flagged as seats where independents campaigning on climate issues could help garner support. – Australian Associated Press Share Call to end 'tech bro' era to bolster national security The cyber security industry has been told to change its 'bro culture' to attract the next line of digital defenders. Speaking at an elite cyber security summit at Parliament House, Australia's National Cyber Security Coordinator Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness issued a clarion call for more women to become the nation's digital defenders. The three-star general, one of only three women to hold that rank in Australia, says she has navigated a significant gender gap for most of her career. 'There is nothing particularly masculine about cyber security,' she said. One of the biggest misconceptions about cyber security is that that it's all about coding or sitting in isolation behind a computer screen. It's a field that requires teamwork, innovation and creativity, it requires risk analysis, it requires leadership. On current estimates, the cyber workforce is short by 30,000 employees and women make up 17 per cent of the sector. 'That's not just an imbalance, it's a security risk,' special envoy for cyber security and digital resilience Andrew Charlton told the Australian Information Security Association event. The digital world is tied to every aspect of national security and economic prosperity for Australia and its immediate region, the nation's ambassador for cyber affairs and critical technology Brendan Dowling said. The 'bro culture' of a male-dominated sector where others are made to feel uncomfortable must change, he said. 'Unless you have the diversity and imagination to recognise how bad actors misuse technology, then we actually let all of ourselves down.' - Australian Associated Press Share A woman has died after a lightning strike yesterday south-west of Sydney. Emergency services were called to a home in Cawdor, near Camden, about 5.30pm after reports of two women in their 40s hit by fragments of a tree after a lightning strike. One woman was treated at the scene but could not be revived. The second woman remains in a serious but stable condition at Liverpool hospital. A report will be prepared for the coroner. Share 'One of the big changes we have made is greater access to medical terminations' Katy Gallagher said a response to Senate reports into reproductive choice, perimenopause and menopause was coming this week. She told ABC Insiders: Part of our finalising our response have been linked obviously with us making some decisions about the investments we want to put in women's health. On the issue of termination of pregnancy, I mean, one of the big changes we have made is greater access to medical terminations and we have seen improvements and increases in access, so better access to medical terminations. We have also done that as I referred to earlier that big $1.7bn investment into public hospitals. They're run by the states and territories. So, you know, that really is a decision for them about access to surgical terminations in those facilities. Share
