Overview

• In court, Patterson agreed that images showed sliced death cap mushrooms on scales in her home and a mycologist testified they matched specimens she had collected.
• She admitted lying to detectives about never owning a food dehydrator after disposing of it at a local tip in a ‘kneejerk reaction’ driven by fear of blame.
• Victoria police evidence confirmed the retrieved dehydrator bore Patterson’s fingerprints and traces of poisonous fungi when recovered from a waste facility.
• Patterson maintained she believed she used only store-bought dried mushrooms, arguing any deadly fungi entered the meal through an accidental mix-up with her foraged stock.
• Justice Beale told jurors the trial will extend by at least two more weeks as the prosecution’s cross-examination of Patterson continues.