Erin Patterson Trial: Mushroom Cook describes estranged husband as “mandatory” and parents-in-law as “required”, Facebook friend tells court | Victoria
Erin describes her estranged husband as “mandatory”, court heard
Hunter said she hadn't met Erin in person, but met in the online community and spoke several times on the phone.
She recalled Erin (Erin)
“There are challenges. She doesn't like it… She gets upset whenever the kids are away.”
Hunter told juror Erin shared the challenge on having a different belief than Simon:
“She is an atheist, Simon comes from a very strong Baptist background and she finds it very challenging… she shares it with us.”
Hunter said she was on a “group call” with Erin after the mushroom lunch, but did not talk to her directly.
Key Events
Facebook friend says Erin Patterson loves mushrooms
After Mandy's cross-examination, Hay said Erin “looks like a mushroom.”
She said she gave Erin advice on making beef Wellington dishes, suggesting she wrap the pastry as close as possible to avoid it getting moist.
Hay's evidence has now concluded.
Facebook friend tells court Erin tells her mushrooms are from Asian grocers
Hay said Erin emailed her on Monday after the mushroom lunch and asked her to call her.
The court heard that they later spoke on the phone for about 10 minutes.
Hay said Erin told her that the mushrooms are from Asian grocery stores.
She remembers Erin saying that she was sick after lunch and had been to the hospital and her child was tested after eating some meals.
Facebook friends told court Erin Patterson never discussed foraging mushrooms
Next Witness Jenny hasThe court is also an online friend of Erin Patterson.
Hay said she first met Erin on a Facebook group that “derived from the ABC documentary about Keli Lane.”
Hay said she and Erin were also part of a separate, smaller Facebook group, and were also a private group chat with five.
Prosecutor Sarah Lenthall asked if the group chat had ever discussed mushrooms and hay and answered “yes”:
We do talk a lot about recipes and things we like.
In February 2023, she said Erin bought a dehydrator and used it for dry mushrooms, including the food she gave to her children.
When asked if Erin had ever discussed foraging mushrooms, she said “no.”
Erin Paterson told Facebook Group that she likes mushrooms, friends say
Colin Mandy SC is now cross-examined Barkley.
He said the July discussion on Beef Wellington was discussed “long before lunch”. Barkley said she doesn't remember.
She agreed that the dish was loved by other members of Facebook chat. Barkley said Erin told the group that she likes mushrooms.
Asked about her evidence that Erin asked questions about Simon's cleanliness, Barkley agreed that Erin told the group that she had to clean up her estranged husband's house at some point.
Barkley's evidence concludes.
Friends say Erin asks for advice on cooking beef Wellington
Two weeks before the deadly lunch, Barkley said Erin asked for advice on cooking beef Wellington during a chat.
She said she later sought further advice on choosing meat for the dish.
Barkley said Erin didn’t say why she cooked beef Wellington.
Facebook friend says Erin discusses dried mushrooms, mixing them in brownies
Barkley said Erin discussed the dehydrator in a Facebook chat.
The juror was screenshot to Facebook messages showing Barley said she received her receipt from Erin before lunch in 2023.
I've been hiding mushrooms in all the mushrooms. The chocolate brownies were mixed in yesterday, and the kids didn't know.
Another piece of news that Barkley said came from Erin reading:
So, it is interesting that the dehydrator reduces mushroom mass by 90%. Do you think Woolies would mind if I brought the dehydrator into their vegetable portion and dried the food before buying it. ”
The screenshots displayed are sent from “Facebook User”. Barkley said the messages were sent from Erin.
The juror also showed photos of a dehydrator with dried mushrooms.
Facebook friend: Erin Patterson says her husband is “hard to get along with”
Barkley said the panelists will share news articles and real crime podcasts related to the Keli Lane case.
Barkley said, then created another group with 18 members. In the first few years, she said, Erin was “very active” in this smaller group.
The court heard that she had barely posted there in the past year or so.
When asked if Erin talked about Simon, she said she did this with five members in a Facebook chat group.
Sometimes, about her sadness. About his religious beliefs and how difficult it is to get along with him…something is related to how he treats (their son).
She felt that for some reason he always liked (their daughter) and (their son) would feel very, very hurt.
Asked what she had also shared, Barkley said, “It’s just that he’s not a good person” and her questions about “his cleaning,” adding that Erin doesn’t want their kids to spend the night at Simon’s house.
The next witness is Daniela Barkley.
The court heard that Barkley met with Erin Patterson through Facebook’s True Crime Team in early 2019.
Barkley confirmed that the group had about 30 to 50 members.
Erin Patterson describes estranged husband as “control” by Facebook friends
Patterson's lawyer Colin Mandy SC is now questioning the hunt.
Hunter agrees that Erin appears to be a devout mother who often posts information about her two children on Facebook groups.
Mandy then characterizes Erin's characteristics in the group by Hunt.
Hunter said “compulsiveness” and “control” are words that Erin often uses to describe her estranged husband.
Hunt questioned her previous use of the word “abuse”, saying she used the word because compulsory control is a form of abuse.
Mandy then turns to Hunter's evidence that Erin is an atheist.
Simon hunts Erin to attend the church. Hunter replied, Erin shared that she “does not necessarily” believe in God:
“I know the kids went to a faith-based school and she was upset about it.”
Hunter's evidence came to the conclusion.
Erin describes her estranged husband as “mandatory”, court heard
Hunter said she hadn't met Erin in person, but met in the online community and spoke several times on the phone.
She recalled Erin (Erin)
“There are challenges. She doesn't like it… She gets upset whenever the kids are away.”
Hunter told juror Erin shared the challenge on having a different belief than Simon:
“She is an atheist, Simon comes from a very strong Baptist background and she finds it very challenging… she shares it with us.”
Hunter said she was on a “group call” with Erin after the mushroom lunch, but did not talk to her directly.
Erin Patterson
Hunter said Erin Patterson's Facebook name was originally “Erin Patterson” but changed to “Erin Erin” and then “Erin Erin Erin.”
Hunter said the people in the second group, with up to 30 members, know each other, share information about their personal lives and support each other.
Erin posted her child, Lego, and bought a home in Leongatha, she said.
“It's just the challenge she faces, it's a mother's difficulty.”
Erin, who was “highly rated” on the Facebook group, was called a good researcher and called her a “super detective.”
The court heard the organization was closed at the end of 2019.
Christine Hunt
Christine Hunt said she first met Erin Patterson about six years ago, part of Facebook’s “Real Crime” group focused on former water polo player Keli Lane, who was convicted of killing her newborn baby daughter.
It focused on Ryan's trial, and the first group consisted of about 2,000 people, she said.
“Although it’s big, there are a lot of differences and discord.”
The court heard that the Facebook team was subsequently narrowed to about 20 to 30 people.
Erin Patterson's trial after lunch break
The second witness to the trial is Christine Huntthe court heard. She appears through the video link.
Prosecutor Sarah Lenthall Hunting will be checked.