The jury in the high-profile triple-murder trial of Erin Patterson is set to begin deliberations next week, following more than two months of court proceedings in Morwell, a regional town in Victoria. The 50-year-old Tracy is accused of intentionally poisoning her estranged husband’s family by serving them beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms.
As the trial heads into its tenth week, Patterson appeared in court wearing a polka-dot blouse on Thursday, underlining the sustained attention this case has garnered. Justice Christopher Beale reminded the jury that they would conclude their session at 1 PM the following day and would be able to return home for the weekend. He indicated that the jury’s summation would be completed by lunchtime on Monday, allowing them to start their deliberations thereafter.
Initially comprised of 14 jurors, the group will eventually be reduced to 12 for the deliberation process, where they will determine Patterson’s guilt or innocence regarding three murder charges and one attempted murder charge. The judge emphasised that the jury would be sequestered each night during this phase of the trial, ensuring they remain focused on the case.
Patterson, who has pleaded not guilty, asserts that the incident was a tragic accident rather than a deliberate act of malice. Her estranged husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died shortly after the meal on July 29, 2023. Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, survived the lunch but fell ill and has been a regular presence at the trial, having given evidence early on.
As the case twilight approach looms, Patterson’s plea of innocence is juxtaposed against the tragic outcomes for her family members, leading to widespread media coverage and public interest both in Australia and globally.
For further insights into the ongoing trial, the podcast “Say Grace” by Nine and The Age offers an in-depth exploration of the case.