THE judge in the marathon mushroom murder trial in the Supreme Court in Morwell has told the jury in the case that they won’t commence their deliberations until after lunch on Monday next week, June 30, 2025.
Justice Beale announced to the jury on Thursday morning this week, after discussions with the parties that he had adjusted the timetable for his charge, the directions he provides to the jury to assist them in reaching a verdict, that he would be continuing into next week.
“I will be continuing my charge today and through to Friday at 1pm as we normally do and then you can go home for the weekend,” said Justice Beale.
“I will be completing my charge prior to lunch on Monday, we can then have the ballot, and you can go away (to conduct your deliberations),” he said.
The jury of 14 is reduced to 12 by ballot prior to the start of their deliberations. Their verdict must be unanimous.
Justice Beale reminded the jury that they would be sequestered at the end of each day, that is accommodated together at a local venue, coming back each day to continue their consideration of the evidence in the case.
“You will then have a clear run next week,” said Justice Beale.
It will be the 10th week of Erin Patterson’s murder trial as it slowly moves towards a conclusion.
After providing those details to the jury, Justice Beale continued with his review of the evidence in the case, starting with the exchange between the medicos at the Leongatha hospital and Erin Patterson on the morning of Monday, July 31, 2023 when doctors allegedly told Mrs Patterson for the first time that it was suspected that the family meal she served two days earlier contained death cap mushrooms.
Fifty-year-old Leongatha mother of two, Erin Paterson has been charged with three counts of murder and one of attempted murder, in relation to her lunch guests on Saturday, July 29, 2023; Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, who subsequently died of organ failure associated with amatoxin poisoning from the mushrooms included in the meal, and Ian Wilkinson who survived after 54 days in hospital.
Mrs Patterson has pleaded not guilty maintaining that what happened on the day was a tragedy and a terrible accident. Justice Beale will be continuing his charge through to Monday morning next week, June 30.