An analysis of Erin Patterson’s cell phone records indicated that she possibly visited two locations shortly after reports of death cap mushrooms emerged, as discussed in court.
Patterson, who is 50 years old, entered a not-guilty plea to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder concerning a lunch served at her residence in Leongatha, Victoria, which is situated about 135 kilometers southeast of Melbourne.
She faces allegations of killing her estranged husband Simon’s parents, Don and Gale Patterson, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson. Additionally, she is accused of attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband and Simon’s uncle.
The Victorian Supreme Court in Morwell has previously heard that the guests died due to poisoning by death cap mushrooms. Prosecutors allege that Patterson deliberately prepared lunch with harmful intent, while her legal representative argues that the poisoning was accidental.
During the prosecution’s opening statements, Nanette Rogers SC highlighted that Patterson’s phone records suggested she visited the lake and other locations a few months before the lunch incident.
The court was informed that posts on the “Citizen Science” website reported sightings of death cap mushrooms in those areas earlier in 2023.
On the recent Monday, Dr. Matthew Sorrell, a digital forensic expert, provided testimony regarding Patterson’s cell phone records during her trial.
Dr. Sorrell explained that the analysis of her phone indicated that it remained largely stationary for a period, based on the connection to local cell towers.
The records, spanning from 2019 to August 2023, suggested that Patterson might have visited a location on May 22, 2023, between 11:24 AM and 11:49 AM, indicating she was active in that timeframe.
A fungal expert, Dr. Thomas May, testified last week about identifying death cap mushrooms he documented outside on May 21, 2023, providing photographs and specific coordinates from Neilson Street. Dr. Sorrell validated that Neilson Street falls within the analyzed area.
He also noted the phone was stationary for approximately 45 minutes on the morning of April 28, 2023, hinting at a possible visit to the lake during that time.
Dr. Sorrell acknowledged that a similar visit could have occurred on the morning of May 22, 2023, although some records from that morning were missing.
The court also heard from Christine Mackenzie, a retired pharmacist and former poison information specialist at the Victorian Poison Information Center. She described a local outing where she and her grandchild removed two mushrooms from under an oak tree, ensuring they were not misidentifying them due to local safety concerns.
When asked by Patterson’s lawyer, Christine Stafford, if she feared misidentifying them, Mackenzie confirmed her concern.
She posted her findings on Inaturalist under the username Chrismck around 1 PM that same day. The trial, overseen by Judge Christopher Beale, is ongoing.
