Trial Begins for Erin Patterson in Fatal Mushroom Lunch Case
Erin Patterson, 50, stands trial for the murder of three relatives and the attempted murder of another, stemming from a disastrous lunch she hosted in South Gippsland in July 2023. The court heard that Patterson served a beef wellington lunch laced with deadly death cap mushrooms, leading to the deaths of her estranged husband Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail, and his aunt, Heather Wilkinson. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Her lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, argued that Patterson panicked after learning about the grave illnesses of her guests, leading her to mislead police regarding her history with mushrooms. Mandy contended that Patterson did not intentionally serve harmful food and described the incident as a tragic accident.
The prosecution alleges that Patterson’s actions may have been premeditated, pointing to her phone records suggesting visits to locations where the deadly mushrooms were found. Prosecutor Nanette Rogers emphasized that, while motive does not need to be established, the evidence suggests deceit, including Patterson’s claim of having cancer to distract from the lunch.
Evidence presented includes Patterson’s disposal of a dehydrator used for mushrooms that was found to contain traces of the fatal fungi, and inconsistencies in her statements about where she sourced the mushrooms. Rogers highlighted that Patterson had previously shared her usage of the dehydrator on social media, contradicting her claims made to investigators.
In a poignant moment, Patterson reportedly broke down while discussing her close ties with her children, who are now without their grandparents. The trial, which continues in Morwell, focuses on the nature of Patterson’s actions following the lunch and the circumstances surrounding the tragic events that unfolded.
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