1 of 2 Erin Patterson pictured November 3, 2023 Photo: AAP/Nine News/Via Portal Erin Patterson pictured November 3, 2023 Photo: AAP/Nine News/Via Portal
A 49yearold woman was formally charged in court in Australia on Thursday (2) for inviting her exhusband’s parents and an aunt to lunch and serving poisonous mushrooms. On Friday (3) the defendant Erin Patterson went to court in the town of Morwell to hear the charges
The story began on July 29th. On this occasion, Erin hosted five people for lunch at her home in Leongatha town:
- Simon Patterson, 48, Erin’s exhusband.
- Gail and Don Patterson, Simon’s parents.
- Heather and Ian Wilkison, Simon’s uncle.
She claims to have served beef Wellington, a dish in which the meat is wrapped in a thin dough (see photo below), and mushrooms.
Three people present at the lunch died: Simon’s parents and aunt. Heather’s husband Ian also became ill but survived after about two months in hospital.
Simon Patterson, Erin’s exhusband, appears in court as the victim of attempted murder. According to the documents, Erin had already tried to kill Simon three times, in 2021 and 2022.
In August, police said the victims’ symptoms were consistent with mushroom poisoning.
Months before these deaths, the government of Victoria state, where the deaths occurred, issued a warning to people not to collect and eat wild mushrooms.
The text said that this put one at risk of poisoning and that one of the mushrooms could kill an adult man.
Erin was evaluated because she and her two children had no symptoms after lunch.
She claims she never intended to poison her guests
2 of 2 pieces of Wellington beef — Photo: flickr.com/photos/72939801@N00/2140307512 Wellington beef — Photo: flickr.com/photos/72939801@N00/2140307512