Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #7 *Arrest*

[MsMarple]

Most of the details from the Melbourne-based hearing, before judicial registrar Tim Freeman, cannot be reported for legal reasons.

Victoria's Judicial Proceedings Reports Act prevents media reporting of most events in the courtroom during the pre-trial phase of the case, when a jury has not yet been empanelled.

Media outlets will be allowed to report when a trial date has been selected. They will also be able to cover the trial itself and provide regular daily updates.

Accused mushroom killer Erin Patterson faces first Supreme Court hearing

Erin Patterson appeared via video link for the brief directions hearing, as the court prepares for her upcoming murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drsleuth]

This article states these dates:

The hearing follows at decision at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Tuesday, May 7 to “fast track” Ms Patterson’s case to trial, as elected by the accused, but without taking away the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses ahead of the trial proper.


At the end of Thursday’s Post Committal Directions hearing, dates were set for these pre-trial cross-examinations. starting on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 for eight days and continuing from Monday, October 7 for up to three weeks.

However, no date has yet been set for the Supreme Court trial to follow and there remains some doubt about the choice of venue, either Melbourne or the Latrobe Valley.

Patterson trial may still be held in the Latrobe Valley - South Gippsland Sentinel Times

Accused Leongatha murderer Erin Patterson appeared by video link in the Melbourne Supreme Court on Thursday this week. THE Leongatha woman charged with the murder of three Korumburra people, and the attempted murder of two others, Erin Patterson 49...

www.sgst.com.au

 

[Ellery84]

Most of the details from the Melbourne-based hearing, before judicial registrar Tim Freeman, cannot be reported for legal reasons.

Victoria's Judicial Proceedings Reports Act prevents media reporting of most events in the courtroom during the pre-trial phase of the case, when a jury has not yet been empanelled.

Media outlets will be allowed to report when a trial date has been selected. They will also be able to cover the trial itself and provide regular daily updates.

Accused mushroom killer Erin Patterson faces first Supreme Court hearing

Erin Patterson appeared via video link for the brief directions hearing, as the court prepares for her upcoming murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

Thanks @MsMarple . This podcast episode The Mushroom Cook: IN COURT: Erin Patterson's trial fast-tracked on Apple Podcasts
from “The Mushroom Cook” produced by Crime-X explains the legal restrictions quite around reporting quite well, also.

 

[Ellery84]

I’m just having a look at some images of EP since the alleged mushroom lunch incident occurred.
She just strikes me as a woman who looks so broken and lost.

 

[Rumination1]

Wonder where her kids are or how they are doing

 

[SouthAussie]

Most of the details from the Melbourne-based hearing, before judicial registrar Tim Freeman, cannot be reported for legal reasons.

Victoria's Judicial Proceedings Reports Act prevents media reporting of most events in the courtroom during the pre-trial phase of the case, when a jury has not yet been empanelled.

Media outlets will be allowed to report when a trial date has been selected. They will also be able to cover the trial itself and provide regular daily updates.

Accused mushroom killer Erin Patterson faces first Supreme Court hearing

Erin Patterson appeared via video link for the brief directions hearing, as the court prepares for her upcoming murder trial.

www.abc.net.au

Just listened to the podcast in your link. EP had 'at least 4 lawyers' present in the courtroom, including Colin Mandy.

The hearing was before a Judicial Registrar, Tim Freeman, not a judge. The registrar's job is to oversee this case, at the moment, get all the affairs in order for the trial to go ahead. A lot of admin work.

The journos heard everything that went on at the directions hearing, but (as you said) they are not allowed to report on it.
But, I think, they must have a lot of detail as the ABC podcasters explain it as "an important build up' to the trial.
The directions hearing works around things like how many witnesses there needs to be, what evidence will be called - and then setting a date and location for the trial (which, as we know, hasn't been done yet).

The ABC podcasters took an educated guess that the trial will take place sometime in 2025.

All of the reporters had received an email from the DPP (which is a bit unusual, they said) which seemed to indicate that there was a heightened concern about misreporting before the trial, publication of material which could potentially be damaging to EP's right to a fair trial.

Essentially, they can't say anything about the evidence shown at the directions hearing because they don't know what evidence the jury will hear - what will be allowed, what won't be allowed. The last thing that anyone wants is for information that may be excluded to end up in the minds of potential jurors.

The secrecy gets serious as Erin Patterson appears in the Supreme Court

 

[TootsieFootsie]

DBM

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Family of mushroom victims make a major move after their deaths

The family of Don and Gail Patterson have officially applied to the Supreme Court for probate as their former daughter-in-law prepares to face trial.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The grieving family of two of the victims in the alleged death cap mushroom poisoning case have moved to settle their estates almost a year on from the tragedy.

The family of Don and Gail Patterson have officially applied to the Supreme Court for probate as their former daughter-in-law prepares to face trial.

Erin Patterson remains behind bars and will reappear in court for an administrative hearing in August.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Victoria's top Prosecutor steps in - ABC listen

The Director of Public Prosecutions stands up in the Supreme Court and we meet a new Judge.

www.abc.net.au

Victoria's top Prosecutor steps in​

12 Minute Audio. Says it was broadcast yesterday at 6.30pm

 

[TootsieFootsie]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/hyperlocal/everybody-appearing-in-victoria-supreme-court-matters-on-monday-july-15/news-story/994d142b874f38338a53fbc483203c70?amp

Everybody appearing in Victoria Supreme Court matters on Monday, July 15​

Erin Patterson is listed.

Behind a paywall, I think. Posting it here for those who subscribe.

 

[Marg944]

Found the listing for Monday 15 July 2025

CRIMINAL DIVISION - TRIAL DIVISION​

Daily Hearing List

The Daily Hearing List includes all matters scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court of Victoria each day with times and courtrooms. It is available from 3:40pm, Monday to Friday, for the next sitting day with updates every 15 minutes until 6:30pm. It is updated again at 8:30am, 9:00am and...

www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au

 

[SouthAussie]

Victoria's top Prosecutor steps in - ABC listen

The Director of Public Prosecutions stands up in the Supreme Court and we meet a new Judge.

www.abc.net.au

Victoria's top Prosecutor steps in​

12 Minute Audio. Says it was broadcast yesterday at 6.30pm

Legal arguments (suppressed), with all the powerful people there.

Supreme Court judge.
Director of Public Prosecutions.
EP's top lawyer.

Still no trial date. Still no trial location.

The podcasters said that for the DPP (Kerri Judd) to participate in the hearing, she is very invested in the case. She has only shown up in the courtroom a handful of times over the past years.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I "think" there may have been a comment about this case on the US soapie Days of Our Lives.
A character is cooking up a meal and saying to the at that moment unseen person they're serving it to.

The cook of the meal says oh I think you're thinking of that Australian podcast about death cap mushrooms that we just listened to. I can assure you that these mushrooms are straight out of the can.

 

[JBowie]

"I can assure you that these mushrooms are straight out of the can."

... and presumably not bought an Asian grocery store in Mount Waverley at least three months beforehand.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Re where the mushrooms came from. I still prefer to keep my mind open to all possibilities.
I have not ruled anything in or out.

 

[wallyworld]

Accused mushroom cook murderer Erin Patterson not included in Don Patterson’s will Erin Patterson was shunned in the multimillion dollar estate of her former father in law, who died after allegedly eating poisonous mushrooms during a lunch at her Leongatha home.

Behind a paywall for some

 

[JBowie]

Accused mushroom cook murderer Erin Patterson not included in Don Patterson’s will Erin Patterson was shunned in the multimillion dollar estate of her former father in law, who died after allegedly eating poisonous mushrooms during a lunch at her Leongatha home.

Behind a paywall for some

(paraphrased)

As Don's death has been referred to the Coroner, the official cause has yet to be finalized.

 

[Salah11]

Accused mushroom cook murderer Erin Patterson not included in Don Patterson’s will Erin Patterson was shunned in the multimillion dollar estate of her former father in law, who died after allegedly eating poisonous mushrooms during a lunch at her Leongatha home.

Behind a paywall for some

That’s a blessing that she won’t get a penny.

 

[SouthAussie]

That’s a blessing that she won’t get a penny.

It does seem to negate one potential motive. That if Don died only his 4 children would benefit. Though, if Simon had gone to the lunch and also died, I wonder if Simon's will leaves everything to his children ... so his portion of his father's estate might have passed to his children.

Don's estate is valued at about $2.6M.

The application for probate of Gail Patterson's will is still under a request for further information, so her will's details don't seem to be available.

I think it is possible the $2.6M actually encompasses both Don & Gail's assets, as it includes their home, another property, cash, Don's superannuation, and a camper van.

(as per the article linked by @wallyworld)

 

[Kemug]

Her life is pretty much ruined whatever the result of her trial.