Erin Patterson, a 50-year-old woman from Leongatha, Victoria, is currently on trial at the Supreme Court in Morwell, facing three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. The charges stem from a lunch she hosted on July 29, 2023, where she allegedly served a meal containing poisonous death cap mushrooms, resulting in the deaths of her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, aged 66. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, aged 68, also fell ill but survived after receiving a liver transplant.
The prosecution alleges that Patterson deliberately included the toxic mushrooms in a beef Wellington dish served to her guests. They argue that she fabricated a cancer diagnosis to prevent her children from attending the lunch, thereby ensuring they were not exposed to the poisoned meal. Evidence presented includes discrepancies in Patterson’s statements about the source of the mushrooms and her behavior following the incident, such as disposing of a food dehydrator that was later found to contain traces of death cap mushrooms and her fingerprints.
Patterson has pleaded not guilty, maintaining that the incident was a tragic accident and that she had no intention of harming anyone. Her defense contends that she did not knowingly serve poisonous mushrooms and that any inconsistencies in her statements were due to confusion and stress following the event.
The trial, which began with jury selection on April 29, 2025, is expected to last six weeks. Justice Christopher Beale has instructed the jury to focus solely on the evidence presented in court and to disregard any prior media coverage or dropped charges, including previous allegations of attempted murder against Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson, which have been withdrawn by the prosecution.
This case has garnered significant media attention both in Australia and internationally, highlighting the rare but deadly nature of death cap mushroom poisoning and raising questions about food safety and criminal intent. As the trial continues, the court will hear testimonies from over 100 witnesses, including Ian Wilkinson and Simon Patterson, to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
