Accused killer ‘content’ to spend year in jail for local hearing
The accused murderer at the centre of the Leongatha mushroom poisoning case has told a court she’s “content” to spend more than a year behind bars on remand to have her hearing in her local community.
Erin Trudi Patterson, 49, made her first public appearance in more than five months on Monday morning, via videolink in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court from a secure wing at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.
She appeared relaxed as she waited for the hearing to get under way shortly after 10am.
The case faced an immediate hiccup as both prosecutors and defence lawyers joined the wrong courtroom link, leading magistrate Tim Walsh to briefly stand down.
He returned to the bench shortly after, as barrister Colin Mandy SC and prosecutor Sarah Lenthall appeared on the screen.
Ms Patterson had previously engaged prominent silk Phillip Dunn KC to defend her, but the court was told she is now represented by Mr Mandy.
Mr Walsh said Mr Mandy had proposed dates for a threeweek committal hearing this year, but the regional court could not accommodate those dates. He flagged the case could be heard in Melbourne or fast-tracked to the Supreme Court sooner, but Mr Mandy opposed the idea.
“She would like to have her committal heard at her local court in the local community,” he said. “If it has to be next year, Ms Patterson is content to wait for that.”
He suggested the majority of witnesses who would give evidence were from the South Gippsland region, arguing it was the “proper venue” for the hearing. Ms Lenthall said it was the crown’s position the committal should proceed “as soon as possible”. The case was adjourned for two weeks to allow both parties to settle on a proposed witness list and for Mr Walsh to consider whether to move the case.
Ms Patterson garnered international attention in the second half of last year following the deaths of three family members who fell ill after a lunch at her Leongatha home in July. She will next appear on May 7.