Mushroom Cook: Adelaide University research claims new details in Erin Patterson’s death cap picking trip
Cutting-edge SA research has zeroed-in on Erin Patterson’s fateful trip to the death cap mushroom field where she picked the poison for her crimes.
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Convicted murderer Erin Patterson spent at least 10 minutes at or near the death cap mushroom field that supplied the toxin for her fatal beef wellingtons, a new analysis has suggested.
The University of Adelaide has used cutting-edge digital modelling to zero in on the Mushroom Cook’s movements prior to her infamous, deadly luncheon.
The study, conducted by PhD student Bailey Heading and top forensic expert Dr Matthew Sorell, seeks to improve upon the trial evidence that helped secure Patterson’s convictions.
Dr Sorell was a key witness in that trial, showing her phone travelled near the Gippsland towns of Outtrim and Loch where death caps were growing.
On Thursday, Mr Heading said a “reach map” showed “all the areas” Patterson “could reach when travelling from” her Leongatha home to the mushroom field “within a time limit”.
That was combined with all recorded connections between Patterson’s mobile phone and cell towers in the area – some as far as 30km away.
He said that eliminated all but one southwestern path and showed it was, in his view, “most likely” Patterson parked near the side road leading to the mushroom field “for at least 10 minutes”.
“We were able to estimate how long (Patterson) might have spent at the mushroom field by looking at when the cell tower connections started changing,” he said.
“(Her phone was) just going off the Outtrim tower at quite regular intervals, then we saw a change where it connected to different towers, which indicated she moved locations.”
Patterson was found guilty at trial of the murders of Don and Gail Patterson, and of Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.
She is understood to be filing an appeal against her conviction.
Dr Sorell is one of the world’s most renowned digital forensics expert – based in SA but in demand globally.
He authenticated the video of former Opposition leader David Speirs snorting white powder, and contested the alibi of the chief suspect in Rachelle Childs’ murder.
On Thursday, Dr Sorell said he had not known, when giving evidence at trial, the precise locations of Patterson’s home or the mushroom field itself.
Adding that data, he said, led to determining what he believes was Patterson’s “most viable path” to and from the site, including her homeward trip north rather than retracing her steps.
“She was there (at the mushroom field) for at least 10 minutes, conservatively … time to go up the hill, come back down, get in the car and continue north,” he said.
“This analysis is really useful in an investigative sense because it allows us to explore ‘what if?’ … it provides a useful insight into what might have happened.”
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Originally published as Mushroom Cook: Adelaide University research claims new details in Erin Patterson’s death cap picking trip
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