May 7, 2025

What Really Happened After That Fatal Mushroom Lunch?

What Really Happened After That Fatal Mushroom Lunch?
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What Really Happened After That Fatal Mushroom Lunch?
What Really Happened After That Fatal Mushroom Lunch?

Day seven of the Mushroom Murder Trial revealed Erin Patterson left Leongatha Urgent Care against medical advice just two days after the fatal mushroom lunch. Medical professionals testified about their encounters with Erin Patterson, who is pleading not guilty of three charges of murder and one of attempted murder. • Erin Patterson left hospital against medical advice on July 31, just two days after the fatal lunch • Dr. Chris Webster made an emergency call with concerns about Erin Pattersi...

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Season 1

Day seven of the Mushroom Murder Trial revealed Erin Patterson left Leongatha Urgent Care against medical advice just two days after the fatal mushroom lunch. Medical professionals testified about their encounters with Erin Patterson, who is pleading not guilty of three charges of murder and one of attempted murder.

• Erin Patterson left hospital against medical advice on July 31, just two days after the fatal lunch
• Dr. Chris Webster made an emergency call with concerns about Erin Pattersion’s wellbeing after she left
• When Erin Patterson expressed concern her children might be frightened by testing, Dr. Webster responded they can "be scared and alive or dead"
• Erin claimed the beef Wellington mushrooms came from Woolworths and an Asian grocery store
• The state's cancer registry showed no record of Erin ever having cancer, contradicting what she told mushroom lunch attendees
• Security footage showed Erin Patterson signing a form confirming she was leaving the hospital against medical advice
• Dr. Veronica Foote testified that Erin Patterson promised to return within 30 minutes but didn't come back until much later.

Visit mushroommurdertrialcom for updates and information about the trial. Follow the podcast on Instagram, YouTube , Facebook , Blue Sky, and Twitter. Support the production through Buy Me A Coffee membership for exclusive content – just $5 helps cover editing, studio hire, liability insurance, equipment, and production costs.




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Erin Patterson Mushrooms

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Erin Patterson Mushrooms

Here it is in summary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

00:00 - Introduction and Newsletter Signup

00:39 - Case Background and Charges

01:43 - Erin's Hospital Visit Against Advice

03:06 - Testimony and Cancer Registry Records

04:34 - Dr. Foote's Evidence on Hospital Departure

06:27 - Episode Closing and Support Options

WEBVTT

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Hello and welcome to the Mushroom Murder Trial podcast, your source for coverage of this fascinating criminal trial.

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Today is Wednesday and my name is Lisa.

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I'm a podcaster and a true crime reporter, and I've followed this story since 2023.

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And now, as always, have you signed up for the newsletter?

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If you'd like it?

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It's on mushroommurdertrialcom.

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It's absolutely full of updates about the trial and if you sign up this week, you'll get the second edition of the newsletter straight away.

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Now let's get the important technicalities out of the way when it comes to this trial and then we'll discuss yesterday's development in the Supreme Court of Victoria at Morwell.

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Ms Erin Trudy Patterson, age 50, from Leongatha, is pleading not guilty to three charges of murder and one of attempted murder.

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She's accused but denies deliberately serving a meal containing death cat mushrooms to her former in-laws and their relatives during a lunch at her home in Leongatha on July 29, 2023.

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Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, aged 66, later died.

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Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, became critically ill but survived, and there was an episode of his testimony, probably one or two episodes back, so you can listen to that too.

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On the seventh day of Erin Patterson's murder trial, the jury heard the following On July 31, just two days after the fatal lunch, Ms Patterson arrived at Leongatha Urgent Care and she left after only five minutes against medical advice.

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The jury listened to a triple O call, or an emergency call, made by Dr Chris Webster, who contacted police with concerns about her well-being after she left.

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When she returned to the hospital later that morning, Dr Webster emphasised the need for her to test her two children.

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Ms Patterson had claimed they had eaten leftover beef but it did not contain mushrooms because they didn't like them, According to the testimony.

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When she said her children might be frightened, Dr Webster responded they can be scared and alive or dead.

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At approximately 10.30am on July 31, Erin told her brother-in-law, Matthew Peterson sorry, Matthew Patterson during a phone call that the mushrooms used in the beef had come from a Woolworths supermarket and an Asian grocery store.

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Dr Chris Webster also said Ms Patterson had told him they were from Woolworths.

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The jury also saw a written statement by Danielle Romaine, a representative from the state health department.

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She confirmed a search of the state's cancer registry revealed no record of Erin Patterson ever having been diagnosed with cancer, despite the fact she told the lunch attendees she had that disease.

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Don and Gail Patterson testified that her mother told her the lunch at Erin's home had gone quote well, when they spoke over the phone at around 5pm on the day of the mushroom lunch.

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Back to the hospital, Dr Veronica Foote, a procedural general practitioner, also gave evidence in the trial.

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She was working a 24-hour shift at the Leangatha Hospital.

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The doctor told the court she began her shift at 8am on July 31 when fellow doctor, Chris Webster, informed her that two patients, that was, Ian and Heather, were being treated for suspected mushroom poisoning.

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Shortly after the hospital's director of nursing, Kylie Ashton, informed Dr Foote that Erin Patterson had arrived at the hospital at approximately 8.05am.

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Nurse Ashton had asked Erin to enter a cubicle for a medical assessment, but she had declined, according to Dr Foote's testimony.

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Ashton then requested the doctor speak with Erin directly.

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The doctor recalled encountering Erin near the entrance to the urgent care clinic.

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She was on her way out, Foote said.

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The doctor testified that she expressed concerns about Erin's condition and advised her to remain at the hospital.

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I spoke to Ms Patterson and relayed our concerns for her health and the potential she could become very unwell and that was our medical advice that she stayed.

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She told the court.

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Erin responded saying she couldn't, that she needed to make arrangements for her animals and her children, but added she would return later.

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In a two-minute video time stamped at 9.55am, but actually at 8.10am.

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It showed Ms Patterson dressed in a pink jumper, white pants and black sandals, and wearing both a black handbag and a black backpack.

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She also had a face mask on.

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In the footage, Erin is seen near the hospital entrance speaking to the two staff members, Dr Foote and Nurse Ashton.

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The nurse hands her a document which Erin signs.

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According to Dr Foote, the form confirmed that Erin was leaving the hospital against medical advice.

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She told the court that Ms Patterson had informed staff she'd return within 30 minutes.

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However, it was revealed that she did not come back, as stated until later.

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And that's all I have for you today, Until next time.

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I'm Lisa.

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This is the Mushroom Murder Trial Podcast.

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Thank you for listening.

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For more information, go to my website and subscribe to my newsletter, mushroommurdertrialcom Plus.

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I on Instagram, Facebook and X and YouTube.

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I'll put the links in the show notes there for you and if you feel like rewarding me for all these hours I've spent on this work and the travel and I don't know everything I would be so honoured if you would buy me a coffee membership which allows you to pay me $5 as thanks and I get a coffee.

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This goes towards editing, studio hire, liability insurance, equipment, accommodation, travel.

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Plus, I've got two cats that, quite frankly, have to be kept in the style that they're acquainted with.

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Plus, there's exclusive membership material on the site coming just for you.

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So have a great day.

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Thank you so much, and I will be back with you soon.

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Bye.