Facebook messages about estranged husband and his family from ‘Erin ErinErin’ aired in court

Messages allegedly sent from an account linked to Erin Patterson described her estranged husband, Simon, as a “deadbeat” dad and his parents as “a lost cause”, with one post declaring “I’m sick of this shit” and “f**k em”, a court has heard.

Facebook messages sent from an account linked to Erin Patterson described her estranged husband as a “deadbeat” dad and called his parents “a lost cause” seven months before the lethal lunch, a jury has heard.

The expletive-laden messages about Simon Patterson and his family – sent to friends in a group chat from an account with the name ‘Erin ErinErin’ – were aired in the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Ms Patterson is standing trial in Morwell, accused of murdering Simon’s parents Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66.

She served them individual beef wellingtons allegedly laced with death caps at her home on July 29, 2023.

Erin Patterson at her Leongatha home after three people died following a beef wellington lunch she hosted. Picture: Jason Edwards

Heather’s husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, 71, was the only guest to survive.

Ms Patterson, 50, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, claiming what happened was a “tragedy and a terrible accident”.

Senior digital forensics officer Shamen Fox-Henry, from the Victoria Police cybercrime squad, returned to the stand and spoke about the messages, which were extracted from a Samsung mobile phone seized from Ms Patterson’s house on August 5.

In its opening address to the jury, the prosecution said the accused spoke to her online friends under the account names Erin Patterson, ‘Erin Erin’ and ‘Erin ErinErin’.

In the messages from December 6, 2022, ‘Erin ErinErin’ wrote to her friends about Don’s response to the ongoing child support dispute with Simon.

“Don said they can’t adjudicate if they don’t know both sides and Simon won’t give his side (emoji) so he said all he can ask is that Simon and I get together to pray for the children (emoji) (emoji) this family I swear to f--king god,” she wrote.

Simon Patterson, the ex husband of Erin Patterson. Picture: David Geraghty

Surviving lunch guest Ian Wilkinson leaves court. Picture: David Crosling

“I said to him about fifty times yesterday that I didn’t want them to adjudicate (emoji) nobody bloody listens to me. At least I know they’re a lost cause.”

In a later message, ‘Erin ErinErin’ wrote: “Don said they tried to talk to him but he refused to talk about it so they’re staying out of it but want us to pray together. I’m sick of this shit I want nothing to do with them.

“I thought his parents would want him to do the right thing but it seems their concern about not wanting to feel uncomfortable and not wanting to get involved in their son’s personal matters are overriding that so f--k em.”

“I thought his parents would want him to do the right thing but it seems their concern about not wanting to feel uncomfortable and not wanting to get involved in their son’s personal matters are overriding that so f--k em.”

More messages from December 6 and 7 were shown to the jury, before a final message from December 9.

“His mum was horrified I had claimed child support. Why isn’t she horrified her son is such a deadbeat that I had no choice but to claim?” she wrote.

Mr Fox-Henry was also asked about a Samsung tablet seized from Ms Patterson’s house.

The jury were shown photos extracted from the device, including a photo of black dehydrator and two photos of mushrooms on the trays of the dehydrator.

The photos had a last modified date of April 30, 2023, and May 4, 2023, respectively.

Four screenshots from an internet browser were also extracted, with three referring to ovarian cancer.

Senior digital forensics officer Shamen Fox-Henry heads into court. Picture: Ian Currie

Mr Fox-Henry also confirmed he examined a second Samsung mobile phone, which was handed over by Ms Patterson during the search warrant on August 5.

The court heard four factory resets were conducted on the device on February 12, August 2, August 5 and August 8, including once remotely.

Earlier, Monash City Council environmental health officer Troy Schonknecht told the jury how an investigation was launched after Ms Patterson told officials she had used dried mushrooms from an Asian grocer in the beef wellington meal.

He visited 14 Asian grocers across Oakleigh, Clayton and Mount Waverley.

Mr Schonknecht was unable to find any product fitting the description Ms Patterson had provided of an unbranded 100g packet, with a white label.

Under cross-examination, he confirmed he was not asked to visit any Asian grocers in Glen Waverley, despite Ms Patterson telling officials the Asian grocer could have been located in that suburb.

The trial, before Justice Christopher Beale, continues.