Mushroom chef Erin Patterson: Police seize computers in police raid on her Leongatha home – as murder accused makes first court appearance

Computers and other electronic equipment seized from Erin Patterson’s home will be used by the prosecution, a court has heard.

After a night in police cells, Patterson appeared at the LaTrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where she heard she will be held behind bars until at least May next year.

Patterson, 48, was arrested at her home in Leongatha, in eastern Victoria, on Thursday and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

The court heard that much of the case will focus on the alleged killer’s computer records, with specialist dogs used in a search of her property this week.

Patterson did not attempt bail, with Magistrate Tim Walsh telling the alleged killer he had no power to grant that bail even if she had applied.

Her attorney, Bill Doogue, approached his client shortly before the hearing began to explain her immediate fate.

The veteran lawyer is expected to file a bail application in the coming weeks.

Patterson appeared disheveled when she appeared in court for the very first time.

Dressed in a beige sweater and wearing tortoiseshell glasses, Patterson’s hair looked dull and untidy as she sat behind bulletproof glass in prison.

Flanked by two burly security guards wearing body armor and goggles, Patterson looked uncomfortable as she watched the brief hearing.

Patterson spoke softly when addressed by the magistrate, nodding and forcing an awkward smile.

Detectives from the homicide unit have asked the court for no less than 20 weeks to compile their evidence against the alleged triple murderer.

A prosecutor said the time was needed to allow police to forensically analyze new evidence recovered from her home on Thursday.

A specialist police team of investigators on Thursday searched Ms Patterson’s home, where the fatal family lunch took place on July 29.

Forensic experts were spotted rummaging through a busy garage at the home and searching the interior of her red MG ZS SUV in the property’s driveway.

Detectives also used specially trained ‘technology sniffer dogs’ that can detect USB memory keys and SIM cards to search the property.

Prosecutors’ request concerned Mr Walsh, who questioned the length of time required.

“Twenty weeks to analyze computer equipment in a triple homicide?” he asked.

“Where the informant (the lead police officer) is confident he had enough evidence to accuse this lady yesterday?”

The court heard that detectives planned to present a ‘voluminous’ body of evidence against Patterson.

Mr Doogue told the court his client was aware the case against her was likely to contain a wealth of material.

Much of it, he revealed, had not even been presented to him because it had not yet been analyzed by police.

Mr. Walsh took a moment to explain the situation to Patterson. She smiled and thanked him.

“The most important thing is that this matter is processed through the system as quickly as reasonably possible,” he said.

Mr Doogue said it was “unfortunate” he could not make an application for bail.

There were no supporters of the accused killer in sight in the packed courtroom, as dozens of other observers watched the five-minute proceedings via video link.

It is understood Patterson will be kept behind bars until her next court appearance on May 3, where she is expected to appear in court via video link.

However, a bail application can be made at any time, requiring Patterson to prove to the court why she did not pose a risk to the community while awaiting trial.

Her next appearance in court will likely revolve around the question of which witnesses can be called at a preliminary hearing.

The end of that hearing will determine when and if her case goes to the Supreme Court of Victoria, where she will stand trial.

The trial is not expected to go ahead until late next year at best due to Victoria’s clogged court dockets.

Patterson also faces five attempted murder charges, including two over lunch.

They involve Ian Wilkinson and her ex-husband Simon Patterson, who were believed to have pulled out of the deadly meeting at the last minute.

Three other attempted murder charges also relate to Simon, 48, after he fell ill after meals three times between 2021 and 2022.

Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only survivor of the deadly lunch, which killed his wife Heather Wilkinson, 66.

Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson, both 70, also died.