An Australian woman accused of murdering her estranged husband’s relatives by lacing their food with toxic mushrooms staged the meal as a ‘sinister deception’, a court has heard.
Erin Patterson is accused of killing her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, in July 2023.
She is also charged with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, who was hospitalised along with the other victims after eating a beef Wellington at Patterson’s home in Leongatha, Victoria.
Prosecuors say Patterson foraged poisonous death cap mushrooms some time before, dehydrated them, and used them in the mushroom ‘duxelle’ that sits between the beef and the pastry.
She denies the charges, with her defence saying the poisonings were a ‘terrible accident’.
Jurors today heard the start of the closing arguments in the ongoing trial, which is now in its eighth week.
Nanette Rogers, for the prosecution, accused Patterson of cooking up four lies leading to her guests’ demise.
First, Rogers said, Patterson fabricated a cancer diagnosis as a prexext to get them to have lunch with her.
Second, she allegedly served them poisonous meals while eating a portion in front of them that had no traces of the mushroom.
The court was previously told Patterson cooked individual beef Wellingtons instead of a single large dish.
She claimed this was only because she couldn’t source a single ‘log’ of fillet, while prosecutors argued it was a deliberate ploy to ensure she controlled who was eating what.
It was said that Ms Wilkinson noticed her host eating from a ‘noticeably different’ plate to the rest of the table, relaying her concern to Patterson’s estranged husband after she started falling unwell.
Third, Rogers said, Patterson allegedly lied that the food also made her sick in order to avoid suspicion.
The court heard she went to hospital the day after her guests were admitted and said she felt unwell but discharged herself without treatment.
Finally, prosecutors say Patterson attempted a cover-up of the incident by sending police on a ‘wild goose chase’ to find the source of the poisonous mushrooms.
She allegedly told health authorities she used dried mushrooms bought from an Asian grocer, telling police she had been ‘very helpful’ in doing so.
The court also heard that a week after the meal she dumped a food dehydrator allegedly used to dry the death caps used in the dish.
Patterson admitted dumping the appliance but claimed she ‘panicked’ after her estranged husband allegedly accused her of using it to poison his parents.
The court will next hear closing arguments from her defence before the jury retires to deliberate.
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