A poison specialist testified in the Victorian Supreme Court regarding the presence of deadly death cap mushrooms discovered near a sporting oval in Loch, Victoria, three months prior to a tragic beef Wellington lunch. Christine McKenzie, who has 17 years of experience at the Victorian Poisons Information Centre, recounted her encounter with the mushrooms while walking with her family on April 18, 2023. She removed the toxic fungi, identifying them correctly and documenting the find, but admitted she did not revisit the area to check for further growth.
Located approximately 30km northwest of Leongatha, the town of Loch is at the centre of a case involving Erin Patterson, who is accused of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, by serving them a meal containing the poisonous mushrooms on July 29, 2023. Heather’s husband, Ian, also consumed the meal but survived, leading to charges of attempted murder against Patterson.
McKenzie clarified her confidence in identifying toxic mushrooms, yet she expressed a general lack of knowledge about other types of fungi. Despite having removed the mushrooms, she acknowledged the possibility that more may have emerged after her visit, raising concerns about ongoing safety at the location. The trial, overseen by Justice Christopher Beale, is ongoing as further evidence is examined.