In the ongoing triple-murder trial of Erin Patterson, significant testimony has emerged from her teenage son regarding the strained relationship between Patterson and her estranged husband, Simon. During a recorded police interview played to the Victorian Supreme Court, the 14-year-old described the dynamic as “very negative” leading up to a fatal lunch involving a beef Wellington that allegedly killed his grandparents, Don and Gail, as well as Gail’s sister, Heather.
On 29 July 2023, following the lunch, Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived the meal and subsequently, Patterson has been charged with his attempted murder. While she has pleaded not guilty to all allegations, her son’s account sheds light on the domestic tensions within the household. He revealed that his mother had moved out approximately seven years prior due to arguments, yet the couple remained married. The initial custody arrangements changed about a year before the incident, and the boy expressed a lack of desire to spend weekends with his father, stating he felt Simon was not actively involved in their lives during those times.
The son noted various measures taken by Simon to undermine Erin, such as interfering with school billing matters, indicating ongoing conflict between the parents. Despite these issues, the boy has primarily resided with his mother in the lead-up to the tragic lunch.
Following the meal, which Patterson prepared featuring the lethal mushrooms, the boy recounted how his mother felt unwell the next day but insisted on taking him for a long drive to a flying lesson. Interestingly, he mentioned their return home, during which his mother reportedly rushed to the bathroom, although he did not recall her needing to stop on the way back.
The food provided for dinner that following Sunday was the same steak and vegetables from the controversial lunch. While the child acknowledged usually disliking leftovers, he remarked that the leftover steak was exceptional, suggesting a quality preparation by his mother. He also relayed a fond memory of a past encounter with wild mushrooms with Erin, affirming that they had only taken pictures instead of foraging for them.
His sister, aged nine, corroborated some of the boy’s testimony, expressing her admiration for their mother’s cooking and denying any shared foraging experiences. As the trial continues before Justice Christopher Beale in Morwell, the courtroom is keenly focused on these familial accounts and their implications for the case at hand.