liveErin Patterson murder trial live: Mushroom cook's son describes parents' 'negative' relationshipBy court reporter Kristian Silva, Tim Callanan, Joseph Dunstan and Mikaela OrtolanTopic:Law, Crime and Justice2h ago2 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:24amSkip to timelineabc.net.au/news/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-live-blog-court-hearing/105272402Link copiedShareShare articleErin Patterson's triple-murder trial continues at the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in the Victorian town of Morwell.She is accused of murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms.Follow the trial in our live blog.Key EventsSon says Erin did not use toilet during car trip1m ago1 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:30am'She was playing it down', son says of mother's illness5m ago5 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:26amErin tells son she was 'a bit sick' the day after lunch17m ago17 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:14amShow all key eventsLive updatesLatestOldestKey Event1m agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:30amSon says Erin did not use toilet during car tripTBy Tim CallananThe interview turns to the cancellation of Erin's son's flying lesson and he confirms his instructor called his mother when they were about ten minutes away from Tyabb.He says they turned around and drove back, stopping to get some dims sims and a hot dog while his mother got a coffee. He's not sure who ate what. They stopped for about ten minutes.He says there was no toilet where they stopped and his mother did not use a toilet. He remembers his mother "racing for the front door" when they got home and then using the toilet.Erin's son then explains they had a meal and watched TV that evening.Copy linkKey Event5m agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:26am'She was playing it down', son says of mother's illnessTBy Tim CallananErin's son says his mother was "a bit quieter" than usual that morning which he thinks was because she was sick.He confirms the drive to his flying lesson was about an hour and ten minutes and he thinks they left home around midday.He is asked to talk about what happened in the time between when he first saw her that morning and when they left. He says she told him she vomited a few times overnight."She was playing it down, that's what it sounded like," he says.He says she told him she didn't want to go to church in case "she spread it to people" but was happy to drive him to his flying lesson because there would not be many people there.Erin's son says he was in the computer room most of the morning but did not notice his mother going to the bathroom in that period. He says she told him she hoped they could make it to Tyabb before she needed to go to the toilet.He confirms they did not stop and she did not go to the toilet.Copy linkKey Event17m agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:14amErin tells son she was 'a bit sick' the day after lunchTBy Tim CallananPlayback of the police interview with Erin Patterson's son has resumed.He says he returned to their home with his mother about 6pm after dropping his friend home. His father dropped his sister to Erin's house later that night.He says his sister got home around 9pm but he is not sure whether his father came into the house.The police officer conducting the interview is now asking Erin's son about the day after the lunch. He says he saw his mother in the morning drinking coffee and she told him she was "feeling a bit sick" and had diarrhea.He says they were supposed to go to church but didn't end up going because his mother was unwell.He says Erin drove him to a flying lesson in Tyabb that morning but he "doesn't know why she did that" as she was unwell.Copy linkKey Event32m agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:59amErin appears emotional while hearing son's interviewKBy Kristian SilvaErin Patterson was going through a range of emotions during her son’s evidence. At times she nodded along as he recounted details about the times that certain things happened, or how the house was arranged.At other moments, she appeared upset, swallowing hard and dabbing her eyes with a tissue.Copy linkKey Event41m agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:50amErin's son can't recall speaking to his mother about the lunchTBy Tim CallananHe says he spent about 30 minutes with the lunch guests and he agrees that "everyone seems happy" when asked by the interviewing police officer.Erin's son says he can't remember his sister coming inside and his sister wasn't in the car when Erin drove his friend home.He says he didn't have any conversation with his mother about how the lunch went after the guests left.He says he presumes his mother was tidying up the kitchen and he remembers taking some lunch plates to the dishwasher. He says he can't remember if there was any leftovers on the plates.Erin's son says he and his friend played a game with headphones on for about two or two and a half hours and can't remember taking any toilet or drink breaks.He says he went upstairs around 5.30pm to tell his mother his friend had to go home soon. They left the home shortly after to take his friend home.Playback of the recording is then paused while the court takes a break.Copy linkKey Event1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:29amSon can't recall dinner on the day of the lunchTBy Tim CallananErin's son is asked about what he saw when he returned to the house after seeing the film and he says there was some small talk with Don Patterson about the flying lessons he was taking.He says he doesn't know what the guests were talking about and doesn't know what they were eating but saw a fruit platter and some other food.He says the guests stayed for about half an hour after he got home. After the guests left, he and his friend played computer games and then his friend was driven home around 5pm by Erin, with all of the children in the car.He can't remember what they had for dinner that night.Copy link1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:23amSon saw his mother preparing a saladTBy Tim CallananErin's son is now talking about the day of the lunch.He says his friend stayed at his house on the Friday night before the lunch. He says Erin told him about the lunch on the Saturday morning.He tells the officer interviewing him that he and his sister and a friend went to see a movie in Leongatha on the day of the lunch.All three were then picked up from the cinema by his father and driven back to Erin's house. He says he said hello to the lunch guests.Erin's son says she told him she wanted to talk to the guests about something and the children didn't need to be there. He says he saw her preparing a salad but didn't see any other food.Copy linkKey Event1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:14amErin's son is asked about family relationshipsTBy Tim CallananThe conversation now turns to the lunch and Erin's son says her mother organised the lunch but didn't tell them why and there was no mention of Simon Patterson being invited.He says Erin had had Don and Gail Patterson over for dinner before but never Ian and Heather Wilkinson.The police officer asks Erin's son about Erin's relationship with Don and Gail Patterson and he says they sometimes went to their place for events.He doesn't recall "a whole lot" about the family's relationship with Ian and Heather Wilkinson and he says "it's not a negative one but it's not strong".Copy linkKey Event1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:09amSimon and Erin Patterson's relationship 'very negative'TBy Tim CallananHe is asked about his parents' relationship and says when he was about seven years of age they "had a few arguments" and his mother moved house but they were never divorced.He says neither his mother nor his father had another relationship. He explains he goes to stay with his father over weekends and he drops them off at school on Monday morning.Erin's son says his mother used to come to his father's house on Friday nights and they would all have dinner together. He estimates this was when he was about 8 or 9 years old.He describes the relationship between his parents as "very negative". He says they wouldn't talk to each other about getting joint access to the app which contains school reports.He says his father kept trying to convince his children to keep staying with him over weekends but "they never did anything" when they stayed with him so he didn't want to.Copy linkKey Event1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:05amPolice interview with Erin Patterson's son played to the courtTBy Tim CallananThe police interview with Erin Patterson's son is now being played to the court. The court room is told the recording will go for about one hour and 40 minutes.Erin's son gives his name and confirms his age.He is asked what he thinks it means to tell the truth and he replies "something that's right". He confirms he is going to tell the officer what really happened.He says he knows he is there to talk about the lunch which led to the deaths of three people.Erin's son names the four guests at the lunch and explains his relationship to the four people.He says the lunch happened at his mother's house and says his father was invited but didn't come. He doesn't know why his father didn't come.Copy linkKey Event1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:00amPolice recording of interview with Erin's son is now being playedKBy Kristian SilvaAs the video interview of Erin Patterson’s daughter comes to an end, Ms Patterson appears to become emotional, slightly rocking back and forth in her seatThe jury is now shown the second interview, conducted with her then-14-year-old son. It was conducted on the same day as the daughter’s interview, August, 16, 2023, about two weeks after the fatal lunch.The footage depicts the teenager sitting in a green armchair, across from a police officer.Copy linkKey Event1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:53amDaughter's police interview recording endsTBy Tim CallananErin's daughter is asked if she has been told anything else since the lunch or whether she has been told not to say anything.She says her father said she didn't have to talk to police if she didn't want to but she confirms she was fine to talk to the officer.That is the end of the police interview.Copy linkKey Event1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:52amDaughter says she has never been mushroom pickingTBy Tim CallananThe police officer asks Erin's daughter what her favourite food is and she replies "ice cream".She is asked if, when she cooks with her mother, they ever used mushrooms and she says no.Erin's daughter says she has never been mushroom picking with her mother and has never seen any wild mushrooms while out with her mother.She says they sometimes buy mushrooms from the supermarket in Korumburra and she sometimes eats them.She can't remember the last time they bought mushrooms.She says she has never been to an Asian grocer with her mother.Erin's daughter explains they have a house in Glen Waverley and last went there in the school holidays.She says she didn't go to any supermarkets with her mother on that trip.Copy link1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:45am'Mum told me' dinner was beef Wellington leftoversTBy Tim CallananThe questions now turn to the meal. Erin's daughter is asked about her mother's cooking and she says her mother is a good cook and they sometimes help her with cooking.She is asked where she was when her mother was making dinner on the day of the lunch and she says she was on the computer."How did you know it was leftovers from the lunch?" she is asked."Mum told me," she replies.Erin's daughter is asked if she noticed her mother preparing any food on the day before the lunch and she says that she didn't see her making anything.Copy linkKey Event1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:41amTestimony of Erin Patterson's daughter continuesTBy Tim CallananThe playback to the court of video recording of the police interview with Erin Patterson's daughter was paused at the end of yesterday, but is now resuming.Her daughter is explaining that she and her brother were taken to hospital in Melbourne on the Monday after the lunch and had a blood test and another test the following day.She is asked if she felt sick at all and she says no.The police officer interviewing her asks what happened at the hospital and she says she saw her mother and spoke to her but can't remember what they spoke about."We just got told we were getting a check to make sure we weren't sick," she says.She says she and her brother stayed with their mother on Tuesday and went back to school on Wednesday.Copy linkKey Event1h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:37amThe jury has enteredKBy Kristian SilvaGood morning from inside Courtroom 4, as we begin the final day of week two of this trial. Court is only sitting until about 1pm today.As always, Erin Patterson stands as the jury enters the room. Today she is wearing a brown-coloured cardigan over a green shirt.The video evidence of Erin Patterson’s kids is going to be played to the jury today. They saw some of her daughter’s evidence yesterday.Copy linkKey Event2h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:30amA look back at yesterday's live blogTBy Tim CallananIf you missed what happened in court yesterday and want to catch up on the day's events, you can look back at yesterday's blog to see how everything unfolded.Erin Patterson visibly upset as daughter gives evidence at murder trial — as it happenedCopy linkKey Event2h agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:26amHigh emotions yesterday as Erin Patterson's daughter gave evidenceTBy Tim CallananErin Patterson broke down and was visibly upset on Thursday as the court was shown her daughter's police interview, filmed weeks after the deadly lunch at her home.Ms Patterson stood in the court dock with tears in her eyes, looking up and quietly saying a few words to herself as the jury was led out of the room.You can read court reporter Kristian Silva's piece on the day's events here:Accused killer Erin Patterson breaks down in court at daughter's testimonyCopy linkKey Event2h agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:53pmWelcome to today's blogTBy Tim CallananErin Patterson's murder trial continues with a half-day sitting at the Latrobe Valley Law Courts.Kristian Silva will again give us updates from inside the courtroom in Morwell.Copy linkPosted 2h ago2 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:24am, updated 4m ago4 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:27amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)TimelineRead nextTimelineKey EventsLatestSon says Erin did not use toilet during car trip1m ago1 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:30am'She was playing it down', son says of mother's illness5m ago5 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:26amErin tells son she was 'a bit sick' the day after lunch17m ago17 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:14amErin appears emotional while hearing son's interview32m ago32 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:59amErin's son can't recall speaking to his mother about the lunch41m ago41 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:50amSon can't recall dinner on the day of the lunch1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:29amErin's son is asked about family relationships1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:14amSimon and Erin Patterson's relationship 'very negative'1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:09amPolice interview with Erin Patterson's son played to the court1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:05amPolice recording of interview with Erin's son is now being played1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:00amDaughter's police interview recording ends1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:53amDaughter says she has never been mushroom picking1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:52amTestimony of Erin Patterson's daughter continues1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:41amThe jury has entered1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:37amA look back at yesterday's live blog2h ago2 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:30amHigh emotions yesterday as Erin Patterson's daughter gave evidence2h ago2 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 12:26amWelcome to today's blog2h ago2 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:53pmTop StoriesPM tells caucus to maintain 'laser-like' focus on voters, as dumped minister Ed Husic a no-showTopic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows Anthony Albanese with two fists in the air.Australia's political conclave theatrics feel blokey, but the future is femaleAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbAn energy giant 'drained' this householder's batteryTopic:Energy IndustryIn 10 minutes, Pope Leo XIV told us a lot about himself, and his agendaTopic:Religious LeadersAustralian Catholics celebrate election of Pope Leo XIVTopic:Religious LeadersJust InChina criticises Australia over joint exercises in South China SeaTopic:Defence and National Security7m ago7 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:24amHow this understated Aussie's 'unreal' level could upset the Giro favouritesTopic:Road Cycle Racing13m ago13 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:18amDiddy sex trafficking trial closes in on jury selectionTopic:Arts, Culture and Entertainment19m ago19 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 2:12amGetting through Mother's Day if you're struggling with infertilityTopic:Fertility and Infertility34m ago34 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 1:57amMore Just InBack to top