Trial of Erin Patterson to begin over allegedly deadly mushroom lunch
The highly anticipated trial of accused triple-murderer Erin Patterson is set to begin in the country Victorian town of Morwell on Tuesday.
The 50-year-old mother of two is accused of murdering her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, after the trio fell ill and died following an allegedly poisoned meal at Ms Patterson’s home on July 29, 2023.
She is also accused of the attempted murder of Ms Wilkinson’s husband, Korumburra Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, who also fell ill but survived.
Prosecutors will allege the group consumed deadly death cap mushrooms in a beef wellington lunch prepared by Ms Patterson.
She has pleaded not guilty to the four charges and has always maintained her innocence.
Jurors from the Gippsland region are expected to be empanelled for the Supreme Court trial at the Latrobe Valley court precinct on Tuesday morning before the parties’ opening arguments are heard the following day.
The trial is being held in Victoria’s Gippsland region, about 45 minutes from Ms Patterson’s Korumburra home and about two hours east of Melbourne.
Her defence team is spearheaded by experienced barrister Colin Mandy SC while crown prosecutor Nannette Rogers SC will run the state’s case against Ms Patterson.
The trial, before Justice Christopher Beale, is expected to last for five to six weeks.