Erin Patterson "looks not uncomfortable" compared to her two seriously ill lunch guests and has been repeatedly angry, panic and tears at her hospital treatment while repeatedly saying "I don't want any of this."
Cindy Munro, who worked at Leongatha Hospital on July 31, 2023, provided evidence at the triple murder trial in Patterson, which will be held in Latrob Valley Court in Morwell.
Patterson, 50, faces three counts of murder and one count of murder in connection with lunch she delivered at Leongatha’s home on July 29, 2023.
She pleaded not guilty to relatives of her estranged husband, Simon Patterson.
Erin Patterson hosts lunch for the parents of Don and Gail Patterson of her estranged husband Simon, as well as his aunt and Uncle Heather and Ian Wilkinson. Patterson serves Beef Wellington.
All four lunch guests were taken to the hospital with stomach-like symptoms.
Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died in the hospital.
Don Patterson died in hospital. Victoria police searched Erin Patterson's home and interviewed her.
Ian Wilkinson was taken to the hospital a few weeks after intensive care.
Police searched Erin Patterson's home again, and she was arrested and interviewed. She is charged with three counts of murder with Don, Gale Patterson and Heather Wilkinson's death and Ian Wilkinson's attempted murder.
The murder trial begins. The jury learned that the allegations of attempting to murder her estranged husband Simon were discarded.
Patterson is accused of murdering Simon's parents Don and Gail Patterson, his aunt Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Simon's uncle and Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson.
Patterson’s defense attorney Colin Mandy SC said in court last week that she was accidentally poisoned by lunch guests serving in Beef Wellington.
Prosecutors said Patterson deliberately poisoned them but told the jury that it would not--not-provided a motive for alleged murder or attempted murder.
Registered Nurse Munro told the court that it was her observation that Patterson was not as uncomfortable as the Wilkinsons, who were in the hospital the morning before but have since been transferred to a larger hospital in Melbourne.
“She doesn’t look as uncomfortable as Heather and Ian,” Munro said.
“Ian looked very uncomfortable and he could hardly raise his head.
"She doesn't feel uncomfortable with me."
Munro was asked to insert into Patterson because she was expected to receive fluids to assist with diarrhea, but also needed to receive N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a liver treatment, a liver treatment commonly used in suspected cases of poisoning.
Munro said Patterson had said many times “I don’t want this treatment.”
Munro agrees that Patterson also becomes panicked, angry and tears.
At about noon, Munro said she learned that Patterson's kid had leftovers from the same meal but the mushrooms were scraped off.
Munro said she told Patterson that the risk of death cap mushroom toxin “infiltrates the meat” and that her children also need emergency treatment.
"She doesn't want to cause any trouble, she doesn't want to take them out of school," Patterson said.
“That’s when she gets so much crying, so worried… say ‘I don’t want the kids to be involved’.”
The court also heard other medical professionals talking to Patterson earlier that morning. The court heard on Wednesday that she left five minutes later despite warning of the severity of the alleged poisoning.
The “Self-risk discharge” form signed by Patterson has been signed to the court, which also noted that she wrote: “I” section read the “Capability” section.
Kylie Ashton, director of nursing and midwife at Gippsland Southern Health Service, told the court she told Patterson in a short time that she had been introducing the hospital to her "risk high" heart rate, which and her blood pressure could be a sign of poisoning.
She said she also emphasized the critical nature of NAC treatment.
Patterson arrived at the hospital about the early hours of 8.05 and was discharged at 8.10 a.m., and the court heard Ashton and two doctors talk to her during this time to see how important it is for her to stay there.
The first police witness in the case was Senator Adrian Martinez-Villalobis of the Mirbu North Police Department, and also provided evidence that Patterson tried to restore the remaining time of the beef from the wheel bin outside during a conversation he had with her on the phone.
Martinez-Villalobis was summoned by the hospital to attend Patterson's house after Patterson was discharged.
Tanya Patterson, who married Simon's younger brother Matthew, also provided evidence on Thursday.
She said that despite Simon and Patterson's separation in 2015, they had a good relationship within the 12 months before lunch, the relationship worsened.
She said it was because of the controversy about child support and because Patterson moved the children's school without telling Simon.
Tanya also talked about visiting Patterson at Monash Hospital on August 1, 2023. She was transferred there on the afternoon of July 31, 2023 by ambulance.
“Eileen asked me how everyone was doing and I told her things were going downhill soon, but I didn’t have the latest information,” Tanya told the court.
Tanya said three guests were in a coma at the time.
Tanya told the court that after leaving Patterson, she visited Patterson's children at the same hospital and texted Patterson.
“She is very grateful, thank you for your visit,” Tanya said.
Judge Christopher Beale's trial continues.