ON DAY four of the triple murder trial of Erin Patterson, one of the witnesses in the case, Christine Hunt, a member of a true crime Facebook group of which Erin was a member, described Mrs Patterson as "a bit of a super sleuth" within the group.
Appearing by video link, Ms Hunt said the initial Facebook group was set up to discuss the Keli Lane murder trial of 2010 in NSW, breaking away later to form smaller chat groups.
Asked what her reputation was in terms of her contribution to the group, Ms Hunt said Erin was highly regarded within the group and regarded as a good researcher.
The witness said she had four or five one-on-one conversations with Erin Patterson during which time her relationship with husband Simon Patterson was also discussed.
The couple had married on June 2, 2007, living together in Oakleigh East for a month before travelling and settling in Perth prior to the arrival of their first child in January 2009. They separated in 2015.
“I understood they had grown apart that they were going in different directions,” said Ms Hunt.
“She was self-sufficient, but she had concerns about him paying his fair share and that he was very controlling. She also used the word 'coercive' at times also that his family were very demanding and that she was challenged by their demands and particularly around the kids attending a faith-based school. She didn't like it.”
Ms Hunt said she understood that Erin was unsettled whenever her children were away, concerned about the demands put on them.
She said she also heard from Erin that as an atheist, she found her husband’s religious involvement challenging, including with regard to where their children should be going to school.
Ms Hunt’s testimony was the first from a witness other than Simon Patterson, whose presence in the witness box had dominated three of the first four days of the trail in the Supreme Court, starting at Morwell on Wednesday, April 30.
Erin Patterson is on trial for the murder of her estranged husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, all guests of a family lunch at the accused’s Leongatha home on Saturday, July 29, 2023.
Another guest at the lunch, where is has been alleged a meal of poisoned mushrooms was served inside individual beef Wellingtons, was Simon Patterson’s uncle, Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, who was the only person other than Erin to survive the lunch.
Erin Patterson, 50, of Leongatha has pleaded not guilty to the three murder charges and one of attempted murder involving Mr Wilkinson.
Also appearing as a witness on Monday this week was another of the true crime Facebook group friends, Daniela Barkley, who recalled Erin Patterson posting a photo online of a new dehydrator she had purchased.
“She was a bit excited that she'd purchased a food dehydrator,” she told the court by video link, saying that Erin had shared photos online of mushrooms she had dehydrated, some months before the lunch was her recollection, certainly in 2023, she said.
Cooking was one of the regular topics discussed.
Ms Barkley said it was her understanding that the dehydrator was used exclusively for mushrooms.
The court was shown a Facebook post to the group made by Erin Patterson. It read: “I’ve been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything. Mixed into chocolate brownies yesterday, the kids had no idea.”
Ms Barkley also told the court that there had been some discussion within the group about how to make beef Wellington, Erin indicating she was going to attempt to make the meal.
“I think she was struggling to find a big piece of meat for the beef Wellington at the butchers and she said it was expensive,” said Ms Barkley, saying it was probably the last time the group heard about the beef Wellington.
Asked when she thought the discussion had taken place, Ms Barkley said towards the end of July.
Ms Barkley was also asked about Erin Patterson’s relationship with her husband, his religious commitments and the children.
“She said there were a lot of times when he went to the church to set up the videos rather than wanting to do something with the kids,” said Ms Barkley.
Colin Mandy SC, defence counsel for Erin Patterson, cross-examined Ms Barkley, asking her to explain the size and nature of the chat groups, and if they were primarily support groups for the women involved.
He asked what she thought of Erin Patterson as a mother.
Ms Barkley said her life revolved around her kids.
“I thought she was a wonderful mother,” she said.
Mr Mandy also queried the timing of the discussion about the beef Wellington, Ms Barkley saying she couldn’t recall there being any earlier discussion.
Mr Mandy asked her if she was aware that Erin Patterson liked mushrooms.
“I always knew that about Erin,” said Ms Barkley.
The court also heard from another chat group member Jenny Hay who said she got to know Erin originally through the large Keli Lane Facebook group, then a breakaway group of 20 and finally a private chat group of five.
Asked about the purpose of the group, Ms Hay said during COVID there was talk about that, but it was predominantly a chance to talk about day-to-day life, families, friends, work and current events.
Ms Hay said the group also talked about recipes and around February to March 2023, she recalled Erin had bought a dehydrator which she was using to dehydrate mushrooms to make soup and in the preparation of other food.
“She talked about blitzing it into powder so the kids would eat it in food.”
Asked if Erin Patterson ever discuss foraging for mushrooms, Ms Hay said no.
The trial is continuing in the Latrobe Valley Court and is expected to run for five or six weeks.
