Overview

• Detective Stephen Eppingstall testified that phone records show a SIM card was swapped between devices during the August 5, 2023 search, indicating Patterson may have hidden a primary phone.
• Forensic analysis revealed May 2022 visits to iNaturalist pages listing death cap mushrooms, demonstrating Patterson’s prior research into the lethal fungus.
• Prosecutors introduced Woolworths and bank statements tracing Patterson’s purchases of puff pastry, beef fillet and mushrooms and her trips to a local tip after the July 29, 2023 lunch.
• Checks of Victorian cancer and hospital databases found no record of Patterson’s alleged biopsy or MRI, corroborating claims she fabricated a cancer diagnosis to lure her in-laws.
• During cross-examination, defense lawyers highlighted Patterson’s full cooperation with authorities and pointed to her documented history of researching health symptoms.