The mushroom poisoning in Vic.... I am gripped - Part 2

[ImustLearn2Cook]

Hi everyone, Aussie Mumsnetter here. As some have requested a new thread be started by an Aussie I decided to do it.

I am still gripped by this case and like many, I am awaiting updates of new information.

Will a matching donor for a liver for Ian be found soon? I hope he makes a full recovery.

Will he be able to shed new light on the lunch they all shared?

And of course is she guilty of deliberately poisoning them or was it an innocent mistake?

On the news, he is recovering at home and is now well enough to speak to the police, and his account will be crucial as he is the only survivor of that meal (aside from the main suspect in the case who prepared and served it).

As one of his parishioners said, "The truth will out."

Wow that’s amazing news. I hope he will continue to recover. I imagine it is a lengthy process. Let’s hope that he can tell the police the crucial information they’ve been waiting for.

''The truth will out''...Let's hope so.

That’s remarkable that he survived. I hope his lengthy spell in ITU hasn’t affected his memory. Surely the police have already interviewed him in hospital?

Oak your whippet is gorgeous!

IW has been seen looking frail, but well enough to attend the memorial service for his wife:

www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mushroom-poisoning-survivor-farewells-wife-at-community-service-20230928-p5e892.html

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I did expect an update on the case by now. I wonder what is taking so long

@KatherineJaneway me too. But, there have been other instances in the past where something has been newsworthy (including death, kidnapping etc.) and there has never been a conclusion or update in the news. Not sure why that is.

Because this has had international interest, I thought that this time it would be different.

I’m giving it till January next year and if there isn’t an update by then, then I am going to assume that there has been no conviction or arrest and it will be unlikely to be any conclusion or update forthcoming.

Yes, I guess they still don't have any evidence they are happy to make public that proves innocence or guilt at this stage. As you say, they may never do.

It's so frustrating to think that if she IS guilty, and the circumstantial evidence is pretty overwhelming, that she might never be punished.

Baffles me that the police clearly haven't been able to put a strong enough case together. What could they be missing? Urrgh!

Not sure how accurate this is, but in the television news coverage of Ian Wilkinson attending his late wife's memorial service, they said that the police were still waiting on toxicology reports.

I agree completely @Dustyblue

I think they are taking their time gathering evidence and building a strong case that will stand up in court. It has now been established via toxicology that the mushrooms in the meal that cause the deaths of three and severe injury to the fourth lunch guest were death cap mushrooms. So now they need to prove if there was intent, which is not something to be done haphazardly or quickly.

Yes, it seems they've absolutely established that the death cap mushrooms were the cause of death/illness. Intent is trickier to prove, I guess.

Still, the consensus around our local towns is that she is lying, and when are the cops going to get off their arses and arrest her 😂

That's rural close-knit towns for you.

Yes, I can imagine your community thinks she’s lying. Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck etc.

What about her ex husband? Have you heard anything if it can be ascertained whether or not his hospitalisation was caused by mushroom poisoning?

(Edited the question as the first one didn’t make sense)… it’s the middle of the night here!

What!??? Can you link??

No, the ex-husband is staying quiet. As would I!

He hired Public Relations assistance to deal with the international media inquiries (as would I).

It is brilliant that Ian survived. However, a liver transplant at any age is a terrible medical event. He will be on anti-rejection drugs (which take their own toll on your system) for the rest of his life. It's tragic any way you slice it.

Thanks for responding and I get he may not want to say anything, which could jeopardise his case. I thought they were going to test him too. Has nothing more been discussed in the media about this?

I don't agree that it's that tricky to prove intent. The circumstantial evidence against her is staggering!
She lied about the dehydrator she disposed of, lied about the shop (else other customers would have been affected similarly and what's the probability a shop will sell death caps by mistake, 0.00001%?). She and the children were the only ones unscathed whilst everyone else is dead (apart from Ian obs, who barely survived). Literally Impossible if they all ate the same. Blatant lies, what the hell more do they need to arrest this mass killer?

They'd want evidence that will stand up in court, and paint a clear picture of intent. They would need death cap spores to be found on her dehydrator, for one. They can't just charge her to satisfy the public's curiosity.

It's not about satisfying anyone's curiosity. There are many, many cases of folks being convicted purely on (very strong) circumstantial evidence, which we have plenty of here. She murdered these people.

So, you'd rather they rushed their investigation...

The family of Heather Wilkinson thanked the police who also attended her recent memorial service. That would suggest they are happy with the degree of attention and thoroughness being brought to the investigation into her death.

I really can't see any court case going ahead based on your assertions. They need proof that will stand up in court.

Yes, I tend to agree with you. Also, it just occurred to me that we have a 'Double Jeopardy' law, meaning you can't be prosecuted more than once for an offence you've previously been convicted or acquitted of.

You'd want to get it right the 1st time.

Right to justice | Liberty Victoria

Erin Patterson has just been arrested!!!!

Here it is:

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mushroom-cook-erin-patterson-arrested-over-fatal-lunch-20231102-p5egxu.html

😳