A juror has been dismissed from the ongoing triple murder trial of Erin Patterson after it was revealed they had discussed the case with family and friends, breaching the court’s directives. Justice Christopher Beale announced the discharge of one of the 15 jurors in a regional Victoria court on Thursday, noting that credible information indicated the juror had failed to adhere to instructions regarding case confidentiality.
The judge stated he could not confirm definitively that the juror had shared information, but he acknowledged it as a plausible scenario. He cautioned the remaining 14 jurors, who will eventually be reduced to 12 for the trial’s conclusion, against contacting the discharged juror. “You should only discuss the case with your fellow jurors in the privacy of the jury room,” he instructed.
The trial, taking place in Morwell, approximately two hours from Melbourne, is entering its third week. Patterson faces three charges of murder and one of attempted murder related to an alleged incident involving a poisonous beef Wellington served to her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, along with Heather and Ian Wilkinson. While Don and Gail Patterson succumbed after the meal in July 2023, Ian Wilkinson was the only guest to survive.
During the proceedings, chief toxicologist Dimitri Gerostamoulos provided testimony about his examination of the suspect meal, confirming the presence of beta-amanitin, a toxic compound associated with certain wild mushrooms, in the leftovers. However, scientist Camille Truong reported earlier that her microscopic analysis found no evidence of death cap mushrooms in the dish.
Furthermore, Gerostamoulos indicated that toxins had been discovered in a food dehydrator confiscated by police shortly after the incident. Blood and urine samples from all four guests, including Patterson, were tested, and while some nine samples from Patterson showed no toxic substances, the ongoing trial continues to reveal complex evidence surrounding this significant case.