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Prosecution calls Lisa Shannon, a registered nurse, as next witness
In July 2023, Lisa Shannon was working as an after-hours coordinator at Korumburra hospital and urgent care centre.
She says Don was “considerably sicker” than Gail when the pair arrived. Gail was not vomiting when they arrived, she says.
Don and Gail said they had taken an anti-nausea medication earlier that morning, Shannon says.
Shannon administered a cannula to deliver IV fluids to Don and Gail and ran a blood test using a portable device to measure their electrolyte levels, the court hears.
While in the urgent clinic, Shannon accompanied Don to the bathroom every 10 minutes, the court hears.
Don and Gail were then admitted to the ward at the Korumburra hospital to be observed:
“They were requiring one-on-one care. They were very unwell,” Shannon says.
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What you need to know: day six
Our reporter, Nino Bucci, has filed his report about Tuesday’s proceedings in the murder trial of Victorian woman Erin Patterson. Have a read here:
Don Patterson returned abnormal liver function tests, doctor says
Nanette Rogers SC, the prosecutor, asks Morgan about tests conducted on Don.
Morgan says a venous blood gas test on Don found his pH level was low which meant the “blood was very acidic”.
A full blood examination showed the hemoglobin - attached to red cells to carry oxygen - was “quite high” at 200, the court hears.
Morgan says this was due to Don being dehydrated.
Don also returned abnormal liver function tests, the court hears.
Don Patterson had ‘borderline high’ pulse, doctor says
Morgan says Don was exhibiting mild abdominal pain on his right pain as well as nausea and diarrhoea when the pair arrived at Dandenong hospital.
Doctors were told about the beef wellington lunch, the court hears.
Morgan says testing showed Don’s vital signs were “relatively stable” and he did not have a fever. He had a pulse rate of 100 beats per minute which is “borderline high”, the court hears.
His respiratory rate was 23 breaths per minute which was “quite normal”, Morgan says. His oxygen levels were also normal.
The prosecution’s next witness is Dr Beth Morgan
Dr Beth Morgan was involved in the care of Don and Gail Patterson at Dandenong hospital as medical registrar when they arrived on 30 July 2023 via ambulance transfer.
Nurse recalls Don’s condition deteriorating
Shannon says Simon Patterson’s father was lethargic, had lowered blood pressure and describes his symptoms as “quite unusual” for “typical vomiting and diarrhoea.”
Shannon says Don’s blood test results were “abnormal” and a transfer to a tertiary hospital with a larger ICU was arranged.
There is no cross-examination.
Prosecution calls Lisa Shannon, a registered nurse, as next witness
In July 2023, Lisa Shannon was working as an after-hours coordinator at Korumburra hospital and urgent care centre.
She says Don was “considerably sicker” than Gail when the pair arrived. Gail was not vomiting when they arrived, she says.
Don and Gail said they had taken an anti-nausea medication earlier that morning, Shannon says.
Shannon administered a cannula to deliver IV fluids to Don and Gail and ran a blood test using a portable device to measure their electrolyte levels, the court hears.
While in the urgent clinic, Shannon accompanied Don to the bathroom every 10 minutes, the court hears.
Don and Gail were then admitted to the ward at the Korumburra hospital to be observed:
“They were requiring one-on-one care. They were very unwell,” Shannon says.
Prosecution's next witness is ambulance responder Cindy Hyde
In July 2023 she was working as a patient transport officer for the Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria, the court hears. The service was contracted by Ambulance Victoria.
Hyde responded to an ambulance callout for Don and Gail Patterson, Erin’s parents-in-law, on 30 July 2023.
The pair told them they had attended a lunch the previous day and had been vomiting from about midnight.
She says her partner asked what they had eaten and Don replied “beef stroganoff.”
Hyde and her partner then transported the pair to Korumburra hospital, the court hears.
There is no cross-examination.
Ian Wilkinson cross-examined on Erin’s health revelation
Erin Patterson’s lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, presses Ian about his evidence that Erin told the four lunch guests – Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Ian and his wife Heather Wilkinson – she had cancer.
Mandy says:
Let me suggest that what you told police when you made your statement is that Erin said she had a suspected cancer.
Ian agrees this is what he told police when making his statement.
When pressed by Mandy about this, Ian says “I think she was saying she had cancer” because she brought up a diagnostic scan which showed a tumor.
Ian says he was “probably understating things” when he made his police statement.
Ian says Erin was “fairly clear that the [cancer] diagnosis was given.”
Mandy says Ian’s police statement did not include references to Erin’s diagnostic test for cancer. Ian says he accepts this.
Mandy has concluded his cross-examination of Ian Wilkinson.
Ian Wilkinson says he remembers four plates that were the same and one that was not
The trial has recommenced and Ian Wilkinson is back in the witness stand.
Under cross-examination, Wilkinson agrees that Erin did not give directions on where the plates should be placed on the table at the fateful beef wellington lunch.
He also agrees the four guests could have sat in any of the seats at the table.
Mandy says there were “not four plates that were the same.” Ian rejects this and says he remembers four grey plates and one smaller plate of a different colour.
Court adjourns for lunch break
The trial will recommence at 2.15pm when Ian Wilkinson’s cross-examination will continue.
Erin Patterson is accused of murdering her estranged husband Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister and Simon’s aunt, Heather Wilkinson, by feeding them a meal of beef wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023. She has pleaded not guilty.
Here is a reminder of the key figures involved.
A quick amendment, readers. Today’s crown prosecutor is Jane Warren, not Sarah Lenthall as previously stated.
Ian Wilkinson says he saw meal served at fatal lunch come from an oven tray
Mandy turns to Ian’s evidence about how Erin placed the beef wellington lunch on plates.
He asks Ian if he remembers each beef wellington being served from a tray.
“Can I suggest to you, you saw them come from a tray, possibly an oven tray,” Mandy says.
Ian says he cannot recall this.
After some back and forth, Mandy takes Ian to his evidence to police on 5 September 2023 while at Austin hospital where he said the beef wellingtons were served on a tray.
Ian agrees this is what he told the police officers. He says this has jogged his memory and believes he can picture it.
Ian Wilkinson says lunch guests 'didn’t have a house tour'
Erin Patterson’s lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, has begun his cross-examination of Ian.
He takes Ian to the point in time when the four lunch guests arrived at Erin’s house in Leongatha, which had been recently built.
Mandy puts to Ian that Erin was “proud of the house” she had invited the group to. Ian replies:
I don’t think it was that clear.
Mandy takes Ian to his previous evidence given in pre-trial hearings where he agreed that Erin was proud of her house:
On reflection, I felt those answers were not satisfactory …. I hadn’t thought a great deal about the house and Erin being proud of the house before you asked me those questions …. On reflection, I felt those answers weren’t … a fair representation of the events.
But he says the guests “didn’t have a house tour” and Erin was not driving the conversation about her house.
