liveErin Patterson murder trial live: Fungi expert gives evidence on death cap mushroomsTopic:Law, Crime and Justice2h ago2 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:20amSkip to timelineabc.net.au/news/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-jury-hears-court-evidence/105285362Link copiedShareShare articleThe triple-murder trial of Erin Patterson continues for a third week at the Latrobe Valley Law Court in Morwell.She's charged with three counts of murder after three relatives died from death cap mushroom poisoning from a beef Wellington meal she prepared.Follow the trial in our live blog.Key EventsCourt hears no evidence of death cap mushrooms in China2m ago2 minutes agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:34amDatabases of where death cap mushrooms are found9m ago9 minutes agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:27amFungi expert explains the amanita phalloides mushroom26m ago26 minutes agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:10amShow all key eventsLive updatesLatestOldestKey Event2m agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:34amCourt hears no evidence of death cap mushrooms in ChinaMBy Melissa BrownDr May and the prosecutor are now discussing the distribution of death cap mushrooms around the world.Using data from organisations that dedicate resources to mapping the spread of death caps, he agrees that they had first been reported in Australia from 1960s.He says the data did not show them being recorded in China. He said there was doubt about whether they were recorded South Korea, Japan and far eastern Asia.Dr May says a study of the death cap from China in 2010 concluded "that currently there is no evidence that amanita phalloides occurs in China".He agrees DNA analysis carried out by researchers last year did not identify any death cap DNA sequences showing up from ChinaCopy link6m agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:30amiNaturalist website further explained to courtJBy Judd BoazDr May says a user can find the exact location of each observation of death cap mushrooms."You can get the GPS point for each location ... by clicking on the red point," Dr May says.The iNaturalist website is one of the biggest platforms for logging fungi observations (iNaturalist)He tells the court iNaturalist is incredibly precise, and can pinpoint locations of mushrooms to a particular suburban park.The site shows the time and date of the observation, as well as who made the observation.Copy linkKey Event9m agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:27amDatabases of where death cap mushrooms are foundJBy Judd BoazDr May says the distribution and location of death cap mushrooms is determined by a mixture of specimens collected and "citizen science portals".These are then are brought together by data aggregators such as the Atlas of Living Australia, a publicly accessible online database.Prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC asks about citizen science portals, and names the website iNaturalist.“For fungi, [iNaturalist] is the largest citizen science platform,” Dr May says.He tells the court more than 440,000 images of fungi in Australia have been posted to the site.Slides are shown of screenshots from the iNaturalist website, showing records of where fungi is found on a map of Australia.A map of south-eastern Australia with red dots pinpointing the location of death cap mushroom observations is shown to the court.Copy link17m agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:19amDeath cap mushrooms can be refrigerated, expert saysTBy Tim CallananThe court is being shown pictures of death cap mushrooms, which Dr May is being asked about.He says when the sporing body emerges, there is a cap and a stem, as well as a skirt or gills underneath the cap. A cup sits at the base of the stem.Dr May is now describing the colour of the parts of the death cap mushroom.It's quite a technical description by Dr May of the mushroom.He says the visible sporing body of the mushroom last for a couple of weeks depending on conditions and insect infestation.Dr May says it may last a few weeks in a refrigerator.He says commercial mushrooms tends to last longer.Copy linkKey Event26m agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:10amFungi expert explains the amanita phalloides mushroomTBy Tim CallananDr May confirms he is an internationally recognised fungi expert.Prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC is asking Dr May about his relationship with the Victorian Poisons Information Centre, and he confirms his decades-long links with the centre.Dr May says there are many hundreds of species of amanita mushrooms, of which death cap mushrooms (amanita phalloides) is one.He says this particular species of mushroom grows near oak trees and the "sporing bodies" of the mushroom appears at particular times of year for a few weeks.He says death cap mushrooms originated in Europe but was accidentally introduced to Australia, but it's not clear when. It was first reported in Canberra in the 1960s and Melbourne in the 1970s.Dr May says there is a symbiotic relationship between the amanita phalloides and oak trees.Copy linkKey Event37m agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:59amJury to hear evidence from leading fungi expertTBy Tim CallananThe court hearing has resumed, and the next witness to give evidence will be Tom May, who is a mycologist at the National Herbarium of Victoria.He's one of the state's foremost experts in fungi.Copy link1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:35amErin's vitals measured three days after lunchJBy Judd BoazMedical paperwork from August 1 is raised by prosecutor Sarah Lenthall, recorded by a nurse at Monash Health.Erin Patterson's respiratory rate, peripheral pulse rate, blood pressure, temperature were all within a normal range."Did you deem her fit for discharge?" Ms Lenthall asks."I did," Dr Ruggoo says.That concludes her evidence, with the defence offering no questions.The next witness, Tom May, is due up but apparently has gone for a short walk according the prosecution."Then so will the jury," Justice Beale says to a peal of laughter.Court takes a break.Copy link1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:31amThe next witness is called for testimonyJBy Judd BoazDr Varuna Ruggoo, another medical practitioner working at Monash Health, is the next witness in the box.She was an emergency physician at the emergency department in the days following the lunch, and was involved in the care of Erin Patterson on August 1.Dr Ruggoo says Erin had received IV fluids throughout the night, as well as the drug NAC for perceived liver issues.A liver function test found Erin's liver health to be "all within normal limits", she says.At 10:14am, a review found her blood tests and vital signs showed no sign of liver toxicity, and that Erin was able to be discharged.Dr Ruggoo tells the court that notes from Dr Muldoon had indicated that Erin was not suffering from amanita phalloides — death cap mushroom — poisoning."She wrote in her notes that there was no concern about that type of poisoning," Dr Ruggoo says.She tells the court Erin indicated she had not vomited or experienced diarrhoea at all in the time before she was handed over to Dr Ruggoo earlier in the morning, and had eaten lunch before seeing the doctor.Copy link1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:23amA short breakJBy Judd BoazThe jury is now being led out the room for a short break, as Justice Beale says there's a matter he wants to raise with lawyers in the case.It's quickly resolved and the jury is back in.Copy linkKey Event1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:21amDefence zeroes in on Erin's symptoms at hospitalTBy Tim CallananMr Mandy focuses in on the symptoms Erin Patterson claimed she was suffering, including nausea and diarrhoea."At no stage did Erin Patterson tell you there had been vomiting," Mr Mandy asks."Yes that's correct," Dr Muldoon says."In relation to the diarrhoea, did she tell you that it initially had been brown in colour and it had then become watery on the Sunday," Mr Mandy says."Yes, initially explosive ... and then becoming watery and clear," Dr Muldoon says.Mr Mandy concludes his cross-examination and Dr Muldoon is excused.Copy linkKey Event1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:20amLeftovers were sent to Royal Botanic Gardens by taxi, court hearsJBy Judd BoazThe court hears Dr Muldoon then went on to email the photo to a mycologist, an expert in mushrooms and fungi.The email stated the photo was of "finely chopped and cooked mushrooms as discussed" and states the remains of the lunch were to be delivered to Monash Health, and then eventually to the Royal Botanic Gardens by taxi on the same day.Now, Colin Mandy SC is up to cross-examine Dr Muldoon.Copy link1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:18amA photo of the beef Wellington leftovers is shown to the juryKBy Kristian SilvaThe court is shown a photo that was sent to Dr Muldoon from doctor Veronica Foote at the Leongatha Hospital, where Erin Patterson first presented.The picture is of beef Wellington leftovers which were retrieved from Erin Patterson’s bin.The image shows a piece of hollowed-out pastry placed on a white piece of paper, with a teaspoon-sized substance which appears to the beef Wellington filling next to it.Copy linkKey Event1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:11amErin Patterson 'looked well', doctor saysTBy Tim CallananDr Muldoon says Erin told her she'd bought mushrooms for the dish from an Asian grocery in Oakleigh or Glen Waverley and said she didn't have the packet anymore.Dr Muldoon is asked if she made observations about Erin's health during that meeting and she says yes."She had some chapped lips but otherwise looked well," she says.She confirms blood test results were all normal and remained that way the following day.Dr Muldoon says there was no evidence of amanita mushroom poisoning and no sign of any other toxic substance being consumed.She says she delivered leftovers from the meal, which had been recovered by police, to an expert for identification.Copy link1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:08amMonash emergency doctor now giving evidenceTBy Tim CallananThe next witness is Laura Muldoon, who is an emergency registrar at Monash Health.She's being questioned on the stand by chief prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC.Dr Muldoon confirms she saw Erin Patterson on July 31, 2023. and took information from her about how she had become unwell and the symptoms she had reported.She says there had been a concern Erin may be suffering from death cap mushroom poisoning and she'd been transferred from Leongatha Hospital.She says Erin was being given an infusion for suspected liver damage due to toxicity as a preventative measure.Dr Muldoon says Erin reported vomiting and nausea and she was under the impression she was sick due to food poisoning at the lunch she organised.Copy link1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:02amErin told doctor she'd brought lunch leftovers to hospital, court hearsJBy Judd BoazProfessor Stuart says she then asked about any remains from the lunch."Did you ask her specifically about any leftovers of the meal?" prosecutor Sarah Lenthall says."Yes I did ask her that ... she did say there were some leftovers she put in a bag in the rubbish bin," Professor Stuart says."She also mentioned that she'd brought some leftovers into the emergency department, but there was no evidence to me that there were leftovers in the emergency department."She says after the interview, she checked with medical staff and learned Erin's blood work had come back looking fine and showing no ill health.Copy linkKey Event1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:59amErin blanked on Asian grocer, court hearsJBy Judd BoazAs we've heard several times during the trial, Erin Patterson could not recall to Professor Stuart where she allegedly bought the dried mushrooms.She also could not tell Professor Stuart the suburb in which she had bought them, and denied foraging for mushrooms."She told me she was having lunch with her ex-husband's relatives," Professor Stuart says.Professor Stuart says when she commented that it was a nice thing to do despite the separation, Erin told her it was common."She said that was not unusual and that she still had a good relationship with them," Professor Stuart says.Copy linkKey Event1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:55amDoctor interviews Erin about beef Wellington lunchJBy Judd BoazProfessor Stuart says she asked Erin what happened at the lunch and how the meal was prepared."She told me that she came because her children needed to be checked out, because there had been a lunch and there was a concern they may also be affected," she says.She tells the court Erin said she had scraped off the mushrooms from the meal she served to the children.Erin also said she had been sick with gastro symptoms, Professor Stuart says."I asked her about the mushrooms because that was the concern at the time," Professor Stuart says."The other pack she said she got from an Asian food shop several weeks prior."She says Erin claimed the original packet holding the dried mushrooms from an Asian store was now gone."When I asked her about the dried mushrooms, she said she'd used the entire lot."Copy linkKey Event1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:52amSenior Monash Health doctor called to the witness boxJBy Judd BoazRhonda Stuart is the next witness and is present in the courtroom. She is a doctor and the director of infection prevention and epidemiology at Monash Health.She tells the court she was asked to interview Erin Patterson regarding a public health issue in the days after the lunch.Professor Stuart says she met Erin face-to-face in the emergency department, alongside Simon Patterson and their children.Erin asked if the family could be excused while she was interviewed.Copy link1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:47amFlying instructor's statement heard in courtTBy Tim CallananThe court is now hearing the statement of Erin Patterson's son's flight instructor, Ulysses Villalobos.In his statement he confirms he only gave one lesson to Erin's son and two others needed to be cancelled due to poor weather.He describes Erin as "a typical mum taking her son to his flying lesson" and was proud of her son's progress.The instructor says on the day after the lunch he rang Erin to first postpone and then cancel her son's lesson due to the weather.He says she "got grumpy" with him and asked why he didn't cancel the lesson earlier and he says he explained the circumstances behind the cancellation.That is the end of his statement.Copy link1h agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:46amTestimony of friend finishedJBy Judd BoazAccording to the friend's testimony, Erin's son and his friend helped themselves some of the dessert brought by the lunch guests.He recalls in his statement seeing the guests leave, and describes the mood of the host as ordinary."Erin just seemed like her normal self to me," he said of the day after the lunch. The testimony concludes, and the statement of Erin's son's flying instructor is up next.Copy linkShow more postsPosted 2h ago2 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:20am, updated 3m ago3 minutes agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:33amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)TimelineRead nextTimelineKey EventsLatestCourt hears no evidence of death cap mushrooms in China2m ago2 minutes agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:34amDatabases of where death cap mushrooms are found9m ago9 minutes agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:27amFungi expert explains the amanita phalloides mushroom26m ago26 minutes agoTue 13 May 2025 at 2:10amJury to hear evidence from leading fungi expert37m ago37 minutes agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:59amDefence zeroes in on Erin's symptoms at hospital1h ago1 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:21amLeftovers were sent to Royal Botanic Gardens by taxi, court hears1h ago1 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:20amErin Patterson 'looked well', doctor says1h ago1 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 1:11amErin blanked on Asian grocer, court hears1h ago1 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:59amDoctor interviews Erin about beef Wellington lunch1h ago1 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:55amSenior Monash Health doctor called to the witness box1h ago1 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:52amGood morning from Courtroom 41h ago1 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:44amThe trial continues1h ago1 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:39amA refresher on the mushroom murder case2h ago2 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:27amWhat happened last week?2h ago2 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:20amWelcome to our blog coverage of the mushroom murder trial2h ago2 hours agoTue 13 May 2025 at 12:16amTop StoriesSussan Ley is the new leader of the Liberal Party, Ted O'Brien is deputy Topic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows Susan Ley talks while standing behind a lectern. 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