On Trial Australia

The mushroom murder trial captured attention all over the world, but unlike most cases, people began travelling to court to see it for themselves. In this episode we’re joined by Tammy Egglestone, who’d never attended court and then spent months in Morwell watching this case unfold.  Erin Patterson has appealed against her convictions by a Supreme Court jury, maintains her innocence, and prosecutors have also appealed for a harsher sentence. The Victorian Court of Appeal has yet to hand down its decision in both appeals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the aftermath of the trial, Erin and Penny take listeners through their observations from the courtroom, things the jury didn’t see and just how big the global attention is.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 40 trial days, the jury retires to deliberate. With two jurors balloted off, the remaining 12 are now sequestered, unable to return home. The judge gives them a final warning to avoid discussing the case with anyone outside the secure jury room.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erin Patterson’s barrister finishes his final plea to the jury, telling them they must find his client not guilty. He points to four ‘ridiculous convoluted propositions’ from the prosecution and argues the accused never had any reason to harm the lunch guests. He urges the jurors to put themselves in her shoes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During the accused killer's final hours on the stand, more questions are raised around gastric bypass surgery and an 11th hour bid for a fresh police statement challenges her account. Erin Patterson also maintains she fed fatal lunch leftovers to her children, and answers three final accusations from the prosecution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During cross examination, Erin Patterson denies telling relatives she had cancer. She also denies ever thinking her cancer lie could remain a secret because her lunch guests would be dead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The accused killer tells the jury she loved mushrooms and developed an interest in foraging for them during covid lockdowns. She admits there must have been death cap mushrooms in the meal she served.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lead investigator is quizzed on exactly what CCTV from the evening of the fatal lunch shows. He also tells the jury, pulling all of the accused killer’s phone records was too expensive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.