Latest news with #Wellingtons
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Mushroom jury finishes first full day of deliberations
The mushroom trial jury has been sent back to their accommodation after completing their first full day of deliberations on whether Erin Patterson is guilty of a triple murder. Twelve jurors retired to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial at Morwell, in regional Victoria, reached its 10th week. They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning. The mushroom trial jury has been sent back to their accommodation after completing their first full day of deliberations on whether Erin Patterson is guilty of a triple murder. Twelve jurors retired to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial at Morwell, in regional Victoria, reached its 10th week. They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning. The mushroom trial jury has been sent back to their accommodation after completing their first full day of deliberations on whether Erin Patterson is guilty of a triple murder. Twelve jurors retired to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial at Morwell, in regional Victoria, reached its 10th week. They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning. The mushroom trial jury has been sent back to their accommodation after completing their first full day of deliberations on whether Erin Patterson is guilty of a triple murder. Twelve jurors retired to consider their verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial at Morwell, in regional Victoria, reached its 10th week. They returned to the court about 10.30am on Tuesday where they spent a full day deliberating before being sent home to their sequestered accommodation at 4.15pm. Black tarp has been placed across the front of Patterson's home, in Leongatha, since the jury retired to deliberate on Monday. After hearing more than two months of evidence, the jury must decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. He reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. They'll remain sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict but will not deliberate that day. The jury will return to the court to reconvene their deliberations on Wednesday morning.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Mushroom jury enters first full day of deliberation
Jurors deciding mushroom cook Erin Patterson's fate will start their first full day of deliberations on whether she is guilty of triple murder. The jury retired to consider its verdict on Monday afternoon as the Victorian Supreme Court trial reached its 10th week. It will be up to the 12 jurors to decide whether Patterson, 50, intentionally served her lunch guests beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, all died after consuming the lunch at Patterson's regional Victorian home on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson also ate the meal but survived after spending months in hospital. Patterson claims it was all an accident and has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one charge of attempted murder. The jury heard from more than 50 prosecution witnesses throughout the trial before Patterson entered the witness box for eight days. The prosecution and defence then spent a week delivering their closing arguments, before Justice Christopher Beale provided his directions to the jury. He said the jurors needed to consider whether the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt Patterson deliberately served death caps with the intention to kill her guests. Justice Beale reminded the jurors if they held any doubts about Patterson's guilt, they must acquit her. "You cannot be satisfied that the accused is guilty of an offence if you have a reasonable doubt if she is guilty of the offence," he told the jury on Monday. The jury is being sequestered during the deliberations and will have to remain together until unanimous verdicts are reached on all charges. Justice Beale reiterated that every juror must agree on the verdict, although it did not matter how each person reached their conclusion. The jury can deliver its verdicts any time from 10.30am to 4.15pm on Monday through to Saturday. The jurors will still be sequestered on Sunday if they have not reached a verdict, but they will not have to deliberate. Justice Beale reminded the jurors they cannot return home until their unanimous decision.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
What the mushroom jury has to consider before verdict
A jury has begun deciding whether mushroom cook Erin Patterson is guilty of triple-murder after she served her lunch guests a meal laced with death cap mushrooms. Her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, Gail's sister Heather all died after the beef Wellington lunch on July 29, 2023, while Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson survived. KEY POINTS PROSECUTORS WANT THE JURY TO CONSIDER * Patterson used a fake medical issue as a reason for the lunch and then lied to her guests about having cancer * She intentionally poisoned the beef Wellingtons with death cap mushrooms she had foraged months earlier * Patterson served the beef Wellingtons in individual parcels so she could appear to eat the same meal without consuming any death caps * She served her meal on a different coloured plate because she knew the other servings were poisoned * Patterson pretended to be sick after the meal to try to avoid suspicion * She carried out a sustained cover-up after the lunch, including lying about foraging for mushrooms, wiping her mobile phone and dumping her food dehydrator * Patterson lied about throwing up after the lunch and seeking out gastric bypass surgery * She was not a credible witness so jurors should disregard her evidence KEY POINTS THE DEFENCE WANTS JURORS TO WEIGH UP * The fatal meal was an accident and Patterson never intended to serve her lunch guests death cap mushrooms * The case against Patterson is flawed and prosecutors have been selective in their evidence * There is no evidence of a motive - in fact, there is evidence she had good reasons not to kill her lunch guests * Patterson had strong relationships with her former in-laws and they were close to her children - why would she want to ruin that? * If she intentionally poisoned some of the beef Wellingtons, then she would have marked the pastry instead of serving her 'safe' meal on a different plate * Patterson lied about having cancer because she was embarrassed about her plans to undergo weight-loss procedures * She was unwell after the lunch, as evidenced by her blood test results and diarrhoea. She was just less sick than her lunch guests * Patterson told some lies because she panicked and was worried she would be falsely blamed DIRECTIONS FROM THE JUDGE * They can use Patterson's admitted lies to assess her credibility but the lies alone are not evidence of guilt * The jurors are the judges of the facts and do not have to accept the opinions of experts who gave evidence * Disregard prosecution claims Patterson's children would have been sick if they ate the lunch leftovers - there was no evidence to test this theory * Prosecutors do not have to prove a motive although the lack of motive could be considered when assessing whether Patterson had intention to kill * Resist bias or sympathy for Ian Wilkinson or the family of the victims
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Black tarp put up around Erin Patterson's Leongatha home in Victoria as jury starts deliberations
Black plastic sheets have been put up around Erin Patterson's Victorian home, where the fatal lunch was held almost two years ago. 7NEWS can exclusively reveal that supporters of Patterson erected the tarps in the past couple of days. The plastic blocks any eye access from the road to the car port, the verandah and the front door. There's only one gap left for a car to park in. On Monday, 12 jurors started deliberating whether Patterson intended to murder her lunch guests when she served them death cap mushroom laced-beef Wellingtons. The Victorian Supreme Court jury was sent out about 1pm after hearing nine weeks of evidence, lawyers' arguments and judge's directions. Patterson denies intentionally poisoning her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, Gail's sister Heather and Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson. Don, Gail and Heather all died after consuming the beef Wellington lunch on July 29, 2023, while Ian survived. During his five days of directions, known as a charge, Justice Christopher Beale outlined evidence in the case and the arguments from both sides. On Monday, he told jurors that prosecutors did not have to prove Patterson had a motive to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt. But Justice Beale said they could consider the lack of motive in Patterson's favour when assessing whether she had an intention to kill. Intention was one element of the murder charges that was in dispute, so jurors needed to consider whether the lunch host wanted to kill or cause really serious injury to her guests, the judge said.
The Advertiser
7 days ago
- The Advertiser
Mushroom jury told to 'disregard' kids leftovers claims
A judge has urged jurors to "disregard" prosecution claims that Erin Patterson's children would have become sick from eating meat leftover from toxic beef Wellingtons. Patterson, 50, has claimed she scraped off the mushroom paste and pastry from individual beef Wellington leftovers and served the meat to her two kids the next day. But prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC argued in her closing address that the accused triple-murderer had lied about this "to help cover her tracks". "The only reason the accused would tell such a lie was because she knew she had included death cap mushrooms in the beef Wellingtons, eaten by the lunch guests," she said. "And thought that if she said she had also fed it to her children, it would deflect any suspicion that she deliberately did so. "People would more readily believe that this was all a shocking accident if she'd given the same food to her beloved children." The two Patterson children were assessed at hospital after eating the leftovers but did not become sick or suffer any poisoning symptoms. Dr Rogers argued the evidence "strongly suggests" that if the children had eaten the leftover meat they would have "at least experienced some symptoms". However, Justice Christopher Beale on Thursday told the jury there was no expert evidence during the trial to test whether the children would have suffered any symptoms. "You have no evidence as to whether that would be the case and so I direct you to disregard that argument," he said. "You would be speculating if you were to go down that path." The triple-murder trial, which began at the end of April, has reached week nine in the regional Victorian town of Morwell. Patterson, 50 has pleaded not guilty to three murders and one attempted murder over serving her estranged husband's family death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellingtons. Her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died in hospital days after eating the lunch prepared by Patterson on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson became unwell but was the only lunch guest to survive. Patterson claims the lunch was a terrible accident and she did not intend to poison her guests. Earlier, the judge informed jurors they would not be sent away to deliberate until Monday, bringing the trial into week 10. "We will be stopping, as we normally do, at one-o'clock tomorrow," Justice Beale said on Thursday morning. "You'll be able to go home for the weekend. "I'll be completing my charge prior to lunchtime on Monday, at which point we'll have the ballot and away you go, so to speak." Fourteen jurors will be balloted down to 12, who will be tasked with deciding whether Patterson is guilty or not guilty of each of the charges. The judge reminded the jury that they will be sequestered at the end of each day during their deliberations. The trial will resume on Friday, when Justice Beale will continue to summarise the case and explain legal directions, known as the charge. A judge has urged jurors to "disregard" prosecution claims that Erin Patterson's children would have become sick from eating meat leftover from toxic beef Wellingtons. Patterson, 50, has claimed she scraped off the mushroom paste and pastry from individual beef Wellington leftovers and served the meat to her two kids the next day. But prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC argued in her closing address that the accused triple-murderer had lied about this "to help cover her tracks". "The only reason the accused would tell such a lie was because she knew she had included death cap mushrooms in the beef Wellingtons, eaten by the lunch guests," she said. "And thought that if she said she had also fed it to her children, it would deflect any suspicion that she deliberately did so. "People would more readily believe that this was all a shocking accident if she'd given the same food to her beloved children." The two Patterson children were assessed at hospital after eating the leftovers but did not become sick or suffer any poisoning symptoms. Dr Rogers argued the evidence "strongly suggests" that if the children had eaten the leftover meat they would have "at least experienced some symptoms". However, Justice Christopher Beale on Thursday told the jury there was no expert evidence during the trial to test whether the children would have suffered any symptoms. "You have no evidence as to whether that would be the case and so I direct you to disregard that argument," he said. "You would be speculating if you were to go down that path." The triple-murder trial, which began at the end of April, has reached week nine in the regional Victorian town of Morwell. Patterson, 50 has pleaded not guilty to three murders and one attempted murder over serving her estranged husband's family death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellingtons. Her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died in hospital days after eating the lunch prepared by Patterson on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson became unwell but was the only lunch guest to survive. Patterson claims the lunch was a terrible accident and she did not intend to poison her guests. Earlier, the judge informed jurors they would not be sent away to deliberate until Monday, bringing the trial into week 10. "We will be stopping, as we normally do, at one-o'clock tomorrow," Justice Beale said on Thursday morning. "You'll be able to go home for the weekend. "I'll be completing my charge prior to lunchtime on Monday, at which point we'll have the ballot and away you go, so to speak." Fourteen jurors will be balloted down to 12, who will be tasked with deciding whether Patterson is guilty or not guilty of each of the charges. The judge reminded the jury that they will be sequestered at the end of each day during their deliberations. The trial will resume on Friday, when Justice Beale will continue to summarise the case and explain legal directions, known as the charge. A judge has urged jurors to "disregard" prosecution claims that Erin Patterson's children would have become sick from eating meat leftover from toxic beef Wellingtons. Patterson, 50, has claimed she scraped off the mushroom paste and pastry from individual beef Wellington leftovers and served the meat to her two kids the next day. But prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC argued in her closing address that the accused triple-murderer had lied about this "to help cover her tracks". "The only reason the accused would tell such a lie was because she knew she had included death cap mushrooms in the beef Wellingtons, eaten by the lunch guests," she said. "And thought that if she said she had also fed it to her children, it would deflect any suspicion that she deliberately did so. "People would more readily believe that this was all a shocking accident if she'd given the same food to her beloved children." The two Patterson children were assessed at hospital after eating the leftovers but did not become sick or suffer any poisoning symptoms. Dr Rogers argued the evidence "strongly suggests" that if the children had eaten the leftover meat they would have "at least experienced some symptoms". However, Justice Christopher Beale on Thursday told the jury there was no expert evidence during the trial to test whether the children would have suffered any symptoms. "You have no evidence as to whether that would be the case and so I direct you to disregard that argument," he said. "You would be speculating if you were to go down that path." The triple-murder trial, which began at the end of April, has reached week nine in the regional Victorian town of Morwell. Patterson, 50 has pleaded not guilty to three murders and one attempted murder over serving her estranged husband's family death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellingtons. Her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died in hospital days after eating the lunch prepared by Patterson on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson became unwell but was the only lunch guest to survive. Patterson claims the lunch was a terrible accident and she did not intend to poison her guests. Earlier, the judge informed jurors they would not be sent away to deliberate until Monday, bringing the trial into week 10. "We will be stopping, as we normally do, at one-o'clock tomorrow," Justice Beale said on Thursday morning. "You'll be able to go home for the weekend. "I'll be completing my charge prior to lunchtime on Monday, at which point we'll have the ballot and away you go, so to speak." Fourteen jurors will be balloted down to 12, who will be tasked with deciding whether Patterson is guilty or not guilty of each of the charges. The judge reminded the jury that they will be sequestered at the end of each day during their deliberations. The trial will resume on Friday, when Justice Beale will continue to summarise the case and explain legal directions, known as the charge. A judge has urged jurors to "disregard" prosecution claims that Erin Patterson's children would have become sick from eating meat leftover from toxic beef Wellingtons. Patterson, 50, has claimed she scraped off the mushroom paste and pastry from individual beef Wellington leftovers and served the meat to her two kids the next day. But prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC argued in her closing address that the accused triple-murderer had lied about this "to help cover her tracks". "The only reason the accused would tell such a lie was because she knew she had included death cap mushrooms in the beef Wellingtons, eaten by the lunch guests," she said. "And thought that if she said she had also fed it to her children, it would deflect any suspicion that she deliberately did so. "People would more readily believe that this was all a shocking accident if she'd given the same food to her beloved children." The two Patterson children were assessed at hospital after eating the leftovers but did not become sick or suffer any poisoning symptoms. Dr Rogers argued the evidence "strongly suggests" that if the children had eaten the leftover meat they would have "at least experienced some symptoms". However, Justice Christopher Beale on Thursday told the jury there was no expert evidence during the trial to test whether the children would have suffered any symptoms. "You have no evidence as to whether that would be the case and so I direct you to disregard that argument," he said. "You would be speculating if you were to go down that path." The triple-murder trial, which began at the end of April, has reached week nine in the regional Victorian town of Morwell. Patterson, 50 has pleaded not guilty to three murders and one attempted murder over serving her estranged husband's family death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellingtons. Her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died in hospital days after eating the lunch prepared by Patterson on July 29, 2023. Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson became unwell but was the only lunch guest to survive. Patterson claims the lunch was a terrible accident and she did not intend to poison her guests. Earlier, the judge informed jurors they would not be sent away to deliberate until Monday, bringing the trial into week 10. "We will be stopping, as we normally do, at one-o'clock tomorrow," Justice Beale said on Thursday morning. "You'll be able to go home for the weekend. "I'll be completing my charge prior to lunchtime on Monday, at which point we'll have the ballot and away you go, so to speak." Fourteen jurors will be balloted down to 12, who will be tasked with deciding whether Patterson is guilty or not guilty of each of the charges. The judge reminded the jury that they will be sequestered at the end of each day during their deliberations. The trial will resume on Friday, when Justice Beale will continue to summarise the case and explain legal directions, known as the charge.
