Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three people and attempting to murder a fourth following a fatal lunch in Victoria. The case involved allegations of poisoning with toxic mushrooms and included evidence of prior suspicions and digital documents.

Melbourne

Erin Patterson was formally interviewed by police after a fatal lunch in Victoria resulted in the deaths of Don and Gayle Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, with Ian Wilkinson left gravely ill. Investigators focused on the possibility of mushroom poisoning, with Patterson denying any involvement in foraging or using a food dehydrator, despite evidence to the contrary. The trial revealed that Patterson's former husband, Simon, had suspected attempts to poison him years earlier, but did not share his concerns until after the incident.

Three attempted murder charges were dropped before the trial, but Patterson was ultimately found guilty of three murders and one attempted murder. Evidence included a document about homicidal poisons and testimony about suspicious behavior. Patterson, who maintains she did not intentionally poison anyone, faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and intends to appeal the verdict. A pre-sentencing hearing is scheduled, with numerous victim impact statements expected.

Supreme Court ends mushroom murder media gag

One week after serving up a deadly meal, detectives sat Erin Patterson down for a formal interview, clearly suspicious the mother of two had committed murder. Erin, I intend to interview you today in relation to the death of two people, being Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson. Gail's husband Don, who had received a liver transplant the night before, lost his fight for life hours later, while the fourth guest, Ian Wilkinson, was also gravely ill. Heather and Gail passed away. In relation to Ian, I don't have a current prognosis in relation to where he's at. As of late yesterday, the diagnosis isn't great for him either. She told police she invited them for lunch because she had no other family. They've always been very good to me and I want to maintain those relationships with them, in spite of what's happened with Simon. I love them a lot. Patterson said she was desperate to find out what had happened to them, detailing her first encounter with doctors at Leongatha Hospital when she claimed she had gastro. He said to me, I can't say the exact word, but he said something along the lines of, we've got a concern they've eaten dead cat mushrooms. And I said, what? And he said, yeah, that's what we think they've eaten. And then he said, started asking me about what food I served them and I told him. The web of lies she'd eventually find herself tangled in built when she claimed she'd never foraged for mushrooms. Obviously, we've got concerns in relation to the mushrooms and where they've come from. Is that something you've done in the past, foraging for mushrooms? No, never. Never? Never. Do you preserve foods or anything like that? No. Have you ever dehydrated food or anything like that? Patterson also denied the existence of a dehydrator, which she had dumped at Coonwara Transfer Station three days earlier. Do you know anything about a dehydrator in your house? No. I haven't heard of one. Patterson's well-publicised trip to the tip was actually her second. She was captured stuffing cardboard into a bin on the day of the lunch, about 45 minutes after her guests had left her home. While the jury was shown the police interview, other evidence was excluded from the 11-week trial, including documents found on devices seized from Patterson's Leangatha home. One document was titled, Some Common Homicidal Poisons. It details the lethal doses of substances, including antifreeze, arsenic and cyanide. It can now also be revealed Simon Patterson suspected his wife was trying to poison him as far back as 2021, fearing she had sabotaged a series of dishes she had cooked for him, including penne bolognese, chicken korma and a vegetable curry wrap. He never shared those suspicions with his family until his mother, father, aunt and uncle were fighting for their lives. In a meeting in the hospital chapel, Simon told his cousins he'd stopped eating his wife's foods because of his suspicions and apologised for not telling them. He thought she would be his only target, but conceded he might have made a mistake. Three attempted murder charges were dropped by the Office of Public Prosecutions less than a week before the jury for her murder trial was impanelled. Patterson appeared via video link at a brief Supreme Court hearing this morning, where Justice Christopher Beale lifted the media gag order. Erin Patterson will make her plea for leniency at a two-day pre-sentencing hearing beginning on August 25th. Unlike her 11-week trial, it'll be held in Melbourne due to maintenance works in Morwell. Justice Christopher Beale asked the prosecution, do you have any idea how many victim impact statements there will be? To which Jane Warren replied, all I can say is a lot. Patterson faces a maximum penalty of life in prison after she was found guilty last month of murdering her in-laws Don and Gayle Patterson and Gayle's sister Heather Wilkinson and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson. She maintained she did not intentionally poison anyone. Her barrister, Colin Mandy SC, has indicated she intends to appeal. Sam Mills, 10 News.

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