“Similarly, the fact that, on her own admission, Erin Patterson told lies and disposed of evidence must not cause you to be prejudiced against [her]. This is a court of law, not a court of morals.”
He also told the jury the accused woman’s inconsistent testimony, and that of other witnesses, might not be deliberate.
“You should keep in mind the fact that a witness who gives inconsistent accounts is not necessarily lying. While dishonest witnesses are more likely to introduce inconsistencies in their stories, truthful witnesses may make mistakes about details,” Beale said.
The judge also warned the jury about hearsay, such as Simon Patterson’s evidence that Heather Wilkinson spoke to him about Erin Patterson eating from a different coloured plate, and that his parents, Don and Gail Patterson, said the accused told them about having cancer, possibly ovarian, at the lunch.