Erin Patterson’s mobile phone connected to cell towers near locations where death cap mushrooms were spotted in the months leading up to a fatal lunch at her home, the Supreme Court has heard.
Phone data presented in court revealed Ms Patterson’s device was detected near Outtrim on May 22, 2023—just one day after a mushroom expert reported death caps growing on Neilson Street. The analysis also showed her phone connected to towers near Loch earlier the same day, another area where the toxic mushrooms were sighted in April 2023.
Ms Patterson, a resident of Leongatha, stands accused of using death cap mushrooms to poison four family members during a lunch on July 29, 2023. She has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Telecommunications expert Dr Matthew Sorell testified that Ms Patterson’s phone remained connected to a Loch South tower for about 43 minutes on May 22, suggesting she was stationary in the area. Later that morning, her phone connected almost exclusively to the Outtrim base station for 25 minutes, indicating she was likely still and nearby.
Dr Sorell also noted that her phone was detected in the Loch region on April 28, though it appeared to be a brief visit. However, he acknowledged the limitations of such data, stating that phone tower records can only place a device in a general area, not determine precise locations or actions.
Earlier, poisons expert Christine McKenzie told the court she had documented death cap sightings on the iNaturalist platform to prevent others from confusing them with edible mushrooms. She had found the fungi under an oak tree while walking with her husband.
Witnesses have testified that Ms Patterson claimed the mushrooms used in the beef Wellington dish were bought from a local supermarket and an unspecified Asian grocer.
The incident resulted in the deaths of her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Heather Wilkinson. Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, survived. Ms Patterson was also hospitalised but was released within days.
