After a short morning break, prosecutor Nanette Rogers, SC has resumed her cross-examination of Erin Patterson, now speaking a bit slower than during her earlier period of questioning.
To begin, Rogers takes Patterson back to the images of mushrooms she was shown earlier, which mycologist Tom May said were consistent with death cap mushrooms during his evidence earlier in the trial.
“You deny that there are death cap mushrooms,” Rogers said.
“That’s correct. I don’t think they are,” Patterson responded.
Erin Patterson, her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson (bottom right), and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson (top right).Credit: Matthew Absalom-Wong
Rogers suggested to Patterson that she saw Christine McKenzie’s post on iNaturalist about death cap mushrooms growing in Loch.
“I disagree,” Patterson said.
Rogers suggested to Patterson that she went to Loch on April 28, 2023.
“I don’t know if I did go to Loch that day or not,” Patterson said.
Rogers suggested to Patterson that she went to Loch that day to find death cap mushrooms.
“Disagree,” Patterson said.
Rogers suggested the mushrooms in the image were the death cap mushrooms that Patterson found in Loch on April 28, 2023.
“Disagree,” Patterson said.
Next, Rogers suggested that Patterson weighed the mushrooms so she could calculate the weight required for the administration of a fatal dose for one person, and for five fatal doses for five people.
“Disagree,” Patterson said.
Rogers asked Patterson if she took a photo of mushrooms atop a dehydrator tray placed on electronic scales. Patterson said she did not recall taking the photo, but it was possible she could have.
When questioned by Rogers whether she was suggesting that one of her children could have taken that image, Patterson said: “I’m not suggesting anything.”
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