Mushroom poisoning accused Erin Patterson used totally different plate for herself throughout lethal lunch | EUROtoday

Erin Patterson, an Australian girl accused of murdering three of her estranged husband’s aged family by poisoning their meals, used 4 giant similar gray plates for her company however a smaller, tan colored one for herself, prosecutors claimed on Wednesday.

On 29 July 2023, Ms Patterson, 50, hosted a lunch at her house in Leongatha, a small rural city in Victoria about 136km (85 miles) southeast of Melbourne. She invited her former in-laws, Donald and Gail Patterson, each 70, together with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, and Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, 68.

In the times that adopted, all 4 company fell sick after the lunch of beef Wellington, mashed potatoes and inexperienced beans, the courtroom was instructed, with signs later confirmed to be attributable to dying cap mushroom poisoning. Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died on 4 August, Don Patterson the following day, whereas Ian Wilkinson survived after being critically sick.

Ms Patterson is charged with the murders of Gail and Donald Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, together with the tried homicide of Ian Wilkinson. Ms Patterson denies the fees.

The prosecution, led by senior counsel Nanette Rogers, instructed the jury on Wednesday: “Donald, Gail, Ian and Heather each ate from the large, grey-coloured dinner plate, the accused ate from the smaller plate.”

Guests later questioned why she used a unique plate. When Ms Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon, arrived at his aunt and uncle’s home on 30 July 2025, Heather Wilkinson allegedly talked about the bizarre plate alternative.

“I noticed Erin put her food on a different plate to us. It had colours on it, I wondered why that was,” Dr Rogers instructed the jury, referring to the dialog Heather Wilkinson had with Simon.

Later, whereas heading to the hospital, Heather Wilkinson once more questioned Simon about Ms Patterson’s alternative of plates, Dr Rogers stated. “Is Erin short of crockery? I was wondering why she served herself on a different plate,” Heather stated, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Ms Rogers instructed the jury Simon responded that Ms Patterson “didn’t have a lot of plates and might have run out”.

Ms Rogers stated that regardless of Ms Patterson and Simon separating in 2015, they remained “friendly, amicable and affable” whereas persevering with to co-parent.

“Simon remained hopeful that he and the accused would reconcile,” she stated.

Ms Rogers instructed the courtroom that Simon first noticed a “change” in Ms Patterson’s behaviour in 2022, after he submitted a tax return noting their separation.

“Their communication started to decline,” she stated.

On Wednesday, the jury additionally heard that Ms Patterson instructed hospital employees her two kids ate leftovers from the identical meal however weren’t sick as a result of she had scraped off the mushrooms, claiming they had been choosy eaters.

“She said the children had eaten a portion but she had scraped off the mushrooms from the beef because they were fussy and did not like them,” the prosecutor stated.

In the opening arguments, Ms Rogers stated the accused had fabricated a most cancers analysis and hosted the lunch on the pretence of discussing one of the best ways to inform her two kids concerning the sickness, as a way to guarantee they didn’t attend.

“She wanted it to be a special lunch,” Ms Rogers stated, quoting a message Ms Patterson despatched to her estranged husband Simon, who declined the invitation. “Erin told us she had tests … they’d found ovarian cancer. She would probably need surgery and chemo and wasn’t sure how to tell the kids,” Simon instructed the police his father had knowledgeable him whereas in hospital.

Ms Rogers instructed the courtroom that police had examined Ms Patterson’s medical information and located no proof that she had ever been identified with most cancers. “It is the prosecution case that she had not been diagnosed with cancer,” she stated.

“It is the prosecution case, the accused used the false claim of cancer to ensure and explain why the children would not be present at that lunch on July 29.”

Prosecutors allege Ms Patterson intentionally served them dying cap mushrooms, which she could have sourced from places beforehand flagged for sightings on-line, whereas consuming a separate portion herself on a unique colored plate. The accused went to hospital two days later, the place she initially discharged herself towards medical recommendation, the courtroom was instructed. She had gentle signs of sickness, however additional exams revealed no proof of poisons in step with dying cap poisoning, the prosecution stated.

Defending Ms Patterson, barrister Colin Mandy instructed the courtroom the deaths had been a “terrible accident”, and that the accused had no intention of killing her lunch company. “The defence case is that Erin Patterson did not deliberately serve poisoned food to her guests,” he stated.

The defendant denied ever proudly owning a meals dehydrator, however police traced one owned by her to a close-by rubbish dump, that was later discovered to include dying cap mushrooms, Ms Rogers stated – one of many world’s deadliest strains of mushrooms. Mr Mandy stated his consumer had lied repeatedly throughout the investigation, however had “panicked” because of the intense scrutiny surrounding the case.

Ms Patterson married Simon in 2007 and had two kids collectively, the courtroom heard. They separated briefly a number of instances, earlier than splitting completely in 2015. They remained amicable, sharing custody of the youngsters and happening household holidays collectively.

The trial has seen intense curiosity from native and worldwide media, with podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers descending in town of Morwell, round two hours east of Melbourne, the place the trial is being heard. The courtroom is anticipated to listen to the primary of dozens of witnesses and scientific consultants on Thursday. The trial, scheduled to run till early June, continues.