Warren asks Ian Wilkinson about Don and Gail Patterson, who lived about a kilometre from the Wilkinsons’ home in Korumburra.
Wilkinson said the two couples were close and would see each other about three times a week.
He described his relationship with Erin Patterson as friendly and amicable.
“It didn’t have much depth. We were more like acquaintances. We didn’t see a great deal of each other,” Wilkinson said.
He said Patterson attended Korumburra Baptist Church, where he has been a pastor for 26 years. He said there would be periods when she wouldn’t attend for a while, and others when she would attend services more frequently.
“Maybe monthly or something like that, on the average,” he said.
“We would have some casual conversation. We would talk about the family, how you’re going, or that sort of conversation.”
When the pandemic hit, Wilkinson said Patterson helped set up a YouTube broadcast of the services.
He said Heather’s relationship with Patterson was fairly similar. Heather would see her more than Ian, but she didn’t consider their relationship as close, the jury heard.
Wilkinson said Patterson “seemed like a normal person”.
“As I said, when we met, things were friendly,” he said.
Wilkinson said they never had any arguments or disputes.
“Seemed like an ordinary person. I don’t know how to describe it,” he said.
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