The dramatic courtroom battle over Erin Patterson’s alleged involvement in a deadly poisoning is gripping people across Victoria.
At the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court in Morwell, every detail is being carefully examined—from her movements at a local servo to complex phone records suggesting where she might have been on crucial days.
Let’s break down some of the latest evidence and arguments that have emerged in this intense trial.
The Curious Case of Patterson’s Quick Servo Stop
Detective Senior Constable Khuong Tran presented CCTV footage from the Caldermeade BP service station taken on July 30, 2023—just one day after the infamous lunch.
The footage showed Patterson arriving in her red MG around 3:20pm, dressed casually in a grey jumper and white pants, carrying a handbag.
She browsed the food aisles, grabbed some items, and even spent nine seconds inside the servo’s toilet before leaving. This seemingly ordinary visit might hold clues, as earlier in the trial Patterson told hospital staff she had been vomiting and suffering diarrhea in the days following the lunch—symptoms possibly connected to the poisoning.
Expert Explains How Phones Can Be Active Without User Knowing
Telecommunications expert Dr. Matthew Sorell shed light on how mobile phones behave behind the scenes.
He explained that phones often initiate data sessions automatically without the user even realizing it.
This means phone activity can sometimes appear confusing or misleading.
Dr. Sorell also discussed why someone might switch SIM cards or handsets frequently—whether due to damage, switching carriers, or simply reusing a spare phone.
This context is important since the prosecution suggested Patterson used two phones and two SIM cards around the time of the lunch.
Defence Proposes Patterson’s Phone Was Heading to Inverloch
The defence lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, questioned whether Patterson’s phone was actually near the death cap mushroom hotspot at Outtrim on May 22, 2023.
He suggested instead that her phone was traveling down Bass Highway towards Inverloch, a different area altogether.
Dr. Sorell admitted some parts of the phone data didn’t perfectly fit this theory, especially around the Kongwak base station, which showed no connection in the records.
Still, multiple possible locations and interpretations of the phone data exist, meaning the exact location is not definitively proven.
Phone Data Alone Can’t Pinpoint Patterson’s Exact Whereabouts
Dr. Sorell agreed with the defence that phone records have their limits.
Particularly in rural areas, a phone can connect to a cell tower that’s not the closest one, sometimes even one over 100 kilometers away, due to terrain and signal strength.
So, while phone data can suggest a phone was in a general area, it doesn’t provide absolute proof of a person’s exact location.
Corroborating evidence from other sources is needed to build a full picture.
Phone Records Show Possible Hospital Visit After Poisoning
The expert confirmed that on July 31, 2023, Patterson’s phone was detected moving between Leongatha and nearby Outtrim early in the morning.
This matches witness accounts that Patterson dropped her children at school, then visited Leongatha hospital.
She later left the hospital against medical advice, saying she needed to return home.
Multiple Possible Visits to Death Cap Hotspot in Loch Area
Dr. Sorell identified 57 potential occasions between March 2022 and May 2023 where Patterson’s phone connected to towers near Loch, where death cap mushrooms were known to grow.
These “possible visits” may or may not be significant, but they paint a picture of frequent presence in mushroom-prone areas.
The Shocking Accusation: Patterson Allegedly Poisoned Family With Deadly Mushrooms
Erin Patterson, 50, stands accused of murdering her in-laws—Don and Gail Patterson—and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson by serving them a meal contaminated with deadly death cap mushrooms.
The attempted murder of Heather’s husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, who survived after weeks in intensive care, is also part of the charges.
Witnesses recall Patterson eating from a smaller, differently colored plate than the rest of her family, who all used identical grey plates.
She claimed to have bought dried mushrooms from an Asian store in Melbourne, but health inspectors found no evidence of this.
Mushroom Expert Confirms Death Cap Mushrooms Found Near Patterson’s Phone Locations
Fungi expert Tom May told the court death cap mushrooms were spotted in Outtrim and Loch in April and May 2023, matching the phone data areas.
He had even made an online post about the Outtrim mushrooms a day before Patterson’s alleged visit.
Emotional Witnesses and Medical Staff Describe the Aftermath
Family members and medical staff have given heartfelt testimony describing the horror of the poisoning, detailing painful symptoms experienced by the victims.
The court also heard about Patterson’s sudden departure from hospital care shortly after seeking help.