By Kristian Silva, ABC
A handout sketch received from the Supreme Court of Victoria shows Erin Patterson. Photo: AFP / PAUL TYQUIN
Erin Patterson's phone connected to cell towers near where death cap mushrooms were growing in the months before the fatal lunch at her home, the Supreme Court has been told.
According to phone records, Patterson's mobile was detected during a potential visit to Outtrim on May 22, 2023, a day after a mushroom expert posted that death caps were growing in Neilson Street.
Patterson's phone also connected to towers near the town of Loch earlier on May 22, the court heard.
A death cap mushroom sighting was also reported in that area in April 2023.
Patterson, who lived in the nearby town of Leongatha, is accused of using death cap mushrooms to poison four relatives at a family lunch on July 29, 2023.
She has pleaded not guilty to three murder charges and one count of attempted murder.
On Monday, telecommunications expert Dr Matthew Sorell was called to the stand, having conducted analysis of Patterson's phone records.
Dr Sorell said Patterson's phone connected consistently to a Loch South base station for about 43 minutes on the morning of May 22, 2023 suggesting she remained in and around the township.
Later that morning, Dr Sorell said, Patterson's phone hooked in to the Outtrim base station almost exclusively for 25 minutes.
"It indicates at that point the phone is more likely to be relatively stationary," Dr Sorell said.
Patterson's phone was also detected in the Loch region on April 28, 2023, Dr Sorell said, although it was less likely to have been a lengthy visit.
Dr Sorell, who has given evidence in about 400 criminal cases, conceded his data analysis came with "quite significant limitations" in terms of pinpointing a person's exact location or their actions.
"The best that can be said is that a phone is in a general area," he said.
Ian Wilkinson (left) was the only guest to survive the lunch. His wife Heather Wilkinson, and Don and Gail Patterson all died from suspected mushroom poisoning. Photo: ABC / Supplied
Earlier on Monday, poisons expert Christine McKenzie told the court she documented death cap mushrooms on the iNaturalist website because she was worried others may mistake them for edible fungi.
She said she spotted the toxic mushrooms under an oak tree while out for a walk with her husband.
During the trial, several witnesses have testified that Patterson told them mushrooms used in the beef Wellington lunch were sourced from a local supermarket and an unspecified Asian grocer.
She denies deliberately poisoning her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, as well as extended relatives Ian and Heather Wilkinson.
All four lunch guests were admitted to hospital the day after the meal, with Wilkinson the only visitor to survive.
Patterson, who was also hospitalised after the lunch, was discharged within days.
The trial continues.
- ABC
