The trial of Erin Patterson, a 50-year-old woman accused of murdering three family members by allegedly poisoning them with death cap mushrooms in a beef Wellington dish, has commenced in Morwell, Victoria. Patterson faces three charges of murder and one of attempted murder regarding her mother-in-law, Gail Patterson, father-in-law, Don Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson. Additionally, she is charged with the attempted murder of Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson.
Erin Patterson maintains her innocence and pleads not guilty. The court heard that on 29 July, she hosted a lunch for her former in-laws and their family. The meal included individual servings of beef Wellington accompanied by mashed potatoes and green beans. During the gathering, Patterson shared with her guests her recent cancer diagnosis, seeking their advice on how to discuss it with her children.
Within hours of the meal, all four guests began experiencing symptoms such as nausea and vomiting and were hospitalised the following morning. Tragically, Heather and Gail passed away from mushroom poisoning, followed by Don two days later. Ian, who also fell ill, eventually recovered and was discharged weeks later.
Following the lunch, Erin and her children had the same meal as leftovers. She sought medical help two days later, citing diarrhoea, but did not display signs of mushroom poisoning during her hospital assessment. The prosecution argues that she deliberately poisoned the meal, highlighting her avoidance of consuming any of the alleged toxic mushrooms and her attempts to mislead authorities about her actions.
While the defence concedes that the guests did suffer from mushroom poisoning, they argue that it was an unfortunate accident and not a premeditated act of murder. They also contend that Patterson reacted in a confused and panicked manner following the incident due to the intense scrutiny surrounding the case.
The trial is expected to last between five to six weeks at the La Trobe Valley courthouse. Erin Patterson is represented by Colin Mandy SC and Sophie Stafford, while the prosecution team includes Dr Nanette Rogers SC, Jane Warren, and Sarah Lenthall, with Justice Christopher Beale presiding.
This case has captured not only local but global attention, becoming a contentious topic in discussions around food safety and familial trust. Further insights into the trial can be explored in the podcast “Say Grace,” which covers developments in depth.