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Erin Patterson once worked as an air traffic controller and was considered very intelligent by her peers, it has been revealed.
Patterson, who is charged with three counts of murder following the deadly mushroom lunch hosted at her home earlier this year, took an air traffic control course in 2001, according to the Sun Herald reported.
She started working at Tullamarine Airport before leaving the job in 2002, a former colleague said.
Erin Patterson once worked as an air traffic controller and was considered very intelligent by her peers.
“She was skilled in this area and was actually responsible for airspace management for a period of time,” he said.
The former colleague said Patterson – who was then called Erin Scutter – was considered some sort of genius.
“She is very bright and much brighter than people might think. She managed to wrap men around her little finger even though she was very sloppy,” he added.
The ex-colleague said that when news of the deaths at Leongatha, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, broke, fellow air traffic controllers thought the woman at the center of the beef Wellington meal was him. seemed familiar.
“She had gained a little weight but she looked so familiar, and she had the same first name and we were 90 to 95 percent convinced at that point that it was the same person, but when we saw in the papers that his mother’s name was Scutter, we were completely sure of it,” he said.
Airservices Australia confirmed that Patterson worked for them between February 2001 and November 2002.
Patterson started working at Tullamarine Airport (ATC Tower pictured) before leaving the job in 2002, a former colleague said.
Patterson, 48, appeared in court Friday charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
Court documents revealed that Patterson is accused of attempting to kill her husband Simon on four occasions: between November 16 and 17, 2021, between May 25 and 27, 2022, on September 6, 2022 and during the mushroom lunch in July 2023.
The court heard that much of the case would center on the alleged killer’s computer data, with specialist dogs having been used in a search of his property this week.
Patterson made no attempt at bail, with Magistrate Tim Walsh telling the alleged killer he did not have the power to grant it even if she had requested it.
“Hello, Ms. Patterson,” Magistrate Tim Walsh said as he entered the courtroom.
“Hello,” she replied in a calm voice.
Prosecutors requested a 20-week delay before his next appearance, citing time needed to “analyze certain computer equipment seized yesterday.”
This was questioned by Magistrate Walsh, who asked why they needed a delay when the informant, Acting Detective Sergeant Stephen Eppingstall, was “confident enough to charge this woman yesterday”.
“It’s a triple murder!” he exclaimed before agreeing to a delay.
Ms Patterson’s lawyer Ben Doogue told the court his law firm had been involved “for some time” and suggested the case could “go on for a very long time”.
He is expected to apply for bail in the coming weeks.
As Mr Walsh explained he did not have the power to grant her bail, Ms Patterson could be seen nodding repeatedly.
Patterson appeared disheveled as she appeared in court for the very first time.
Dressed in a beige sweater and wearing tortoiseshell glasses, Patterson’s hair appeared tangled and messy as she sat behind bulletproof glass on the prison dock.
Flanked by two burly guards, who wore bulletproof vests and goggles, Patterson looked uncomfortable as she watched the brief deposition hearing.
Patterson spoke softly as the magistrate addressed him, nodding and forcing an uncomfortable smile.
Homicide squad detectives have asked the court for 20 weeks to gather their evidence against the suspected triple murderer.
A police prosecutor said time was needed to allow police to forensically analyze new evidence they recovered from his home on Thursday.
A team of specialist police investigators raided Ms Patterson’s home on Thursday, where the fatal family lunch took place on July 29.
Forensic experts were seen searching a crowded garage attached to the house and searching the interior of his red MG ZS SUV in the driveway of the property.
Detectives also employed specially trained “technology detection dogs” capable of detecting USB sticks and SIM cards to help scour the property.
Homicide squad detectives enter court Friday
Patterson’s attorney, Bill Doogue, in court Friday
Erin Patterson enters Wonthaggi police station where she was charged with three murders on Thursday
The prosecutors’ request sparked some concern among Mr. Walsh, who questioned the length of time needed.
“20 weeks to analyze computer equipment in triple murder? ” He asked.
“Where is the informant (the police chief) sure that he had enough evidence to accuse this lady yesterday? »
The court heard detectives planned to file a “voluminous” brief of evidence against Patterson.
Mr Doogue told the court his client was aware the charge against her was likely to include a wealth of documents.
Much of it, he revealed, had not even been presented to him because it had not yet been analyzed by the police.
Mr. Walsh took a moment to explain the situation to Patterson. She smiled and thanked him.
“The important thing is that this case moves through the system as quickly as reasonably possible,” he said.
Mr Doogue said he was “unfortunate” not to be able to apply for bail.
No supporters of the accused killer could be seen in the packed courtroom, as dozens of other observers watched the five-minute proceedings via video link.
Media converged on the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on Friday.
TV crews prepare for live center outside the field
It is understood Patterson will be held 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 could be filed at any time, which would require Patterson to prove to the court why she was not a risk to the community while awaiting trial.
His next court appearance will likely focus on what witnesses might be called at a preliminary hearing.
The conclusion of this hearing will determine when and if her case will go to the Supreme Court of Victoria, where she will be tried.
That trial is not expected to take place until late next year, at best, due to Victoria’s congested court lists.
Patterson also faces five attempted murder charges, including two over lunch.
They concern Ian Wilkinson and her ex-husband Simon Patterson, who is said to have pulled out of the deadly gathering at the last minute.
Three other attempted murder charges also relate to Simon, 48, after he fell ill after eating on three occasions between 2021 and 2022.
Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only one to survive the deadly lunch, which claimed the life of his wife Heather Wilkinson, 66.
Gail Patterson and her brother-in-law Don Patterson, both in their 70s, also died.