Mushroom Murder Trial: Erin Patterson's Cancer Lie - Court Hears

Today's testimony from the lead investigator reveals Erin Patterson allegedly fabricated a cancer diagnosis to lure her estranged husband's family to a fatal lunch that left three people dead. Detective Stephen Eppingstall testified that police found no medical records supporting Patterson's claims about cancer tests in 2023, while text messages show her discussing medical appointments before the deadly meal.

• Police found no records of cancer diagnosis, biopsy, or MRI that Patterson claimed to have undergone
• Text messages show Patterson telling in-laws she had cancer tests weeks before the fatal lunch
• Defence presented medical records showing Ms Patterson had previously expressed cancer concerns to doctors
• Messages between Ms Patterson and her husband reveal she researched heart failure symptoms in 2022
• Detective testified Ms Patterson expressed surprise when told Heather Wilkinson had died during police search
• Prosecution alleges the cancer story was allegedly fabricated to ensure victims would attend the lunch

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Mushroom Murder Trial
podcast.
My name is Lisa.
Most weekdays I deliverdetailed coverage of one of
Australia's most closely watchedlegal cases Erin Patterson's
murder trial.
Quick reminder make sure you goto my website,
mushroommurdertrialcom tosubscribe for my newsletter and,

(00:23):
if you haven't yet, pleasesubscribe to this podcast on
your preferred platform so younever miss an episode.
Now the case background is thedefendant is Erin Trudy
Patterson, age 50, of Leangatha,victoria.
The charges are three counts ofmurder and one count of
attempted murder, and the pleais not guilty to all, and one

(00:46):
count of attempted murder andthe plea is not guilty to all.
So the triple murder trial ofMs Patterson heard today.
She allegedly told her in-lawsshe was undergoing medical tests
for ovarian cancer just weeksbefore the fatal lunch that left
three people dead.
Ms Patterson allegedly informedGail and Don Patterson in early
2023, july 2023, that she hadundergone a needle biopsy and

(01:11):
was scheduled for an MRI.
In a message dated July 7, shewrote quote there's a bit to
digest with everything that'scome out of it all.
I might talk more about it withboth of you when I see you in
person.
Love Erin.
Homicide detective.
Leading senior constable StephenEppingstall, the lead

(01:33):
investigator in this casereturned to the stand so he was
the prostitution's final witnessand he was outlining evidence
collected from before and afterthe tragic incident.
He told the court that policeexamined Ms Patterson's medical
history across several clinics,including those in Landgather,

(01:55):
corrumburra and Mount Waverleyin Melbourne.
He said there were no medicalrecords showing she had
undergone a biopsy, an MRI orreceived a cancer diagnosis.
In the lead up to the lunch,prosecutor Jane Warren asked
Detective Eppingstall quotethere's no record of the accused
ever having been diagnosed withcancer, correct?

(02:18):
He replied.
Prosecutors allege that MsPatterson fabricated the illness
to draw members of herestranged husband's family, gail
and Don Patterson, as well asHeather and Ian Wilkinson, to
her home in Langatha, claimingshe needed help sharing the
difficult news with her children.
The detective said he was awareearly in the investigation that

(02:42):
she had shared the cancerdiagnosis with her lunch guests.
Police later secured textmessages between Ms Patterson
and her in-laws from late Juneand early July.
On the 28th of June GailPatterson texted her Hi, erin,
just wondering how you got on atyour appointment today.

(03:03):
Love, gail and Don.
Ms Patterson replied the nextday saying the appointment went
okay.
Thanks for asking.
I had a needle biopsy taken outof the lump and I'm returning
for an MRI next week and willknow more after those results.
Gail responded with a messageoffering prayers and support.

(03:23):
A follow-up message from Gailon July 6 inquired about the
test results.
Ms Patterson again said shepreferred to discuss the matter
in person.
Her barrister, Colin Mandy, sc,presented the mother of two's
medical records to the courtfrom the period of around
October 2021 and August 2023.

(03:45):
In the notes a doctor describedMs Patterson as worried about
ovarian cancer.
Quote Erin has been Googlingher symptoms.
Thinks her symptoms may besuggestive of ovary cancer.
The note says Tests werescheduled to investigate, with
some early results quote allfine, but further tests were

(04:07):
ordered by doctors.
The doctor back then said MsPatterson believed she had a
family history of ovarian cancerin her aunts, on both her dad
and her mum's sides of herfamily as well.
The court was shown messagesbetween Ms Patterson and husband
Simon from January 4 and 5,2022.

(04:30):
In the first, simon asks how'syour back today?
She replies it's getting bettereach day.
It's my heart that's troublingme.
I'm struggling with the energyto do basic things like get in
and out of the car and after Ihave a shower.
I need to lie down and restbecause the whole ordeal
exhausts me.

(04:50):
I think we need to upgrade ourhealth insurance so I can start
chewing through the waitingperiod.
Ms Patterson wrote quote it's alot of things combined.
She was doing quote a lot ofresearch on right-sided heart
failure and the symptoms all fitwhat I've been experiencing.

(05:11):
Later, when discussing healthservices, mr Patterson allegedly
said we actually do okay forhealth services where we live,
compared to backwaters such asTassie and WA.
Now I have that update Ipromised you yesterday.
So, ms Patterson, when herhouse was getting raided by the

(05:33):
police and searched, sheexpressed surprise, according to
a detective, when told HeatherWilkinson had died During
cross-examination.
Colin Mandy, sc asked DetectiveLuke Farrell if Ms Patterson
was aware, during the firstpolice search of her home on the
5th of August 2023, that someof her lunch guests had died.

(05:56):
He said Ms Patterson was toldHeather Wilkinson had died and
she expressed surprise who died?
That was a quote.
Anyway, thanks for listeningtoday.
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(06:18):
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(06:41):
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(07:05):
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Have a great day.
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Thanks again, bye.