It has been revealed that the woman under investigation for her potential involvement in the death of three individuals due to toxic death cap mushrooms was convicted of five charges in 2004.
The Australian exclusively reports that Erin Patterson, 49, faced the consequences of a high-speed drunken rampage behind the wheel of an unregistered vehicle.
Court records have revealed that in 2004, Patterson, who was then known as Erin Trudi Scutter and aged 29, faced legal consequences for her reckless actions, losing her license for 30 months after crashing her vehicle in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne while heavily intoxicated.
Erin Patterson, the homeowner of where the fatal lunch took place, arrived at her Leongatha property on Monday afternoon. Three people have died from eating mushrooms Picture: Brooke , Grebert-Craig.
The Australianreports she then proceeded to evade authorities by speeding away from the crash scene, reaching 95 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.
The convictions handed down by the Dandenong Magistrates Court on September 7, 2004, were for charges of failing to stop a vehicle after an accident, failing to provide identifying information after causing property damage, using an unregistered vehicle on a highway, failing to provide information after property damage, and driving at 95 km/h in a restricted 60 km/h zone.
Notably, a charge related to her blood alcohol level of 0.14 per cent was dropped, potentially due to overlapping elements in other charges.
After fleeing the scene in Glen Waverley, The Australianreports, Patterson underwent a breath test within the legally stipulated three-hour window.
Her blood alcohol reading of 0.14 per cent indicated significant impairment, as per health experts.
The number of drinks she had consumed before the crash remains unclear.
Still, even without considering the other charges, her blood alcohol level at the time would warrant a 14-month driving ban today under high-range drink driving laws.
Coinciding with preparations for a memorial service for her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, in the towns of Korumburra and Leongatha, Erin Patterson has refrained from discussing her past driving offences.
Her lawyer, Bill Doogue, communicated to The Australianher lack of willingness to comment on the matter.
Erin Patterson has issued a stern warning to the media camped outside her Leongatha property, threatening to report journalists should they trespass. Picture: Athos Siriranos
Patterson, who has denied any wrongdoing in relation to the mushroom incident, stated that her lawyer had advised against engaging with media inquiries.“My lawyer has told me not to talk to you,” she told the publication.
The memorial service for Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, who tragically lost their lives after consuming a meal containing death cap mushrooms, is slated for Thursday.
The couple had attended the meal with Baptist pastor Ian Wilkinson and his wife Heather.
Heather Wilkinson also tragically succumbed to the toxic poisoning, while Ian Wilkinson is still recovering.
Erin Patterson served lunch to four friends including Simon Patterson’s parents, at her Leongatha house. Picture: Ian Currie
According to police, they are investigating Patterson’s because she was the only adult among five who did not either die or suffer severe illness after ingesting the deadly mushrooms.
Police have also previously stressed that her involvement in the deaths may be completely innocent. Police did not comment on Tuesday and have maintained their silence since the first press conference.
Erin Patterson maintains her innocence, countering the accusations by claiming that the mushrooms consumed were ordinary button mushrooms purchased from a local supermarket and dried mushrooms from an unspecified Asian grocery.
Patterson remains steadfast in her denial of any wrongdoing.
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