Erin Patterson found GUILTY in triple murder mushroom trial

Erin Patterson’s trial jury has reached verdicts in her triple murder case over a fatal mushroom lunch.

Erin Patterson has been found guilty for triple murder and attempted murder related to a beef Wellington lunch served to her in-laws in regional Australia. The charges stem from a gathering held on 29 July 2023, where a beef Wellington meal allegedly contained death cap mushrooms.

Patterson, 50, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

A jury of 12 has found her guilty of murdering the three people who attended the lunch.

Ms Patterson is now a convicted triple murderer and attempted murderer. She wore her signature paisley.shirt and sat stony faced as the jury entered the court room.

She remained expressionless as the forewoman softly said “guilty” in response to each charge. Ms Patterson watched and blinked heavily as the jury left the courtroom.

About 50 people sat in the gallery as the jury foreperson announced the verdicts about 2.18pm, but no members of the Patterson or Wilkinson families were present.

Justice Beale thanked the jurors for their time.

“You’ve been an exceptional jury,” he said. “The way you’ve conducted yourself throughout this trial has caught my attention.”

This trial draws significant attention as the circumstances surrounding the mushroom lunch have raised questions about intent and accountability.

Latrobe Valley Law Court where the court case was heard.

Court case

Erin Patterson, 50, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one of attempted murder, stemming from a beef Wellington lunch she hosted at her Leongatha home in regional Victoria in July 2023.

The prosecution alleges Patterson laced the meal with deadly death cap mushrooms, knowingly poisoning her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, all of whom died. Heather’s husband, local pastor Ian Wilkinson, was the only survivor, spending weeks in an induced coma. Patterson’s estranged husband Simon, who had been invited to the lunch, did not attend.

During the trial, Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC painted Patterson as deceitful and manipulative, accusing her of lying to police, doctors, and even family members — including faking a cancer diagnosis — to orchestrate the fatal lunch. “She has told lies upon lies because she knew the truth would implicate her,” Rogers told the court, dismissing Patterson’s claim it was all a terrible accident.

Defence case

The defence urged the jury to focus on the lack of motive. Patterson, they argued, had no reason to harm people she loved. Taking the stand as the sole defence witness, Patterson said she may have accidentally used a mix of store-bought and foraged mushrooms from her pantry.

She admitted to making false statements, including the cancer lie, but said they stemmed from personal shame and panic – not a murderous intent.

Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC told jurors the case was being built on assumptions, with prosecutors trying to “stretch” evidence to fit a preconceived narrative. “This is not a court of moral judgment,” he said.

Justice Christopher Beale, in his final instructions to the jury last Monday, reminded the panel that while Patterson had told lies, that alone was not proof of guilt.

“There are all sorts of reasons why a person might behave in a way that makes them look guilty,” he said, urging jurors to keep emotion out of their deliberations despite the tragic outcome for both the Patterson and Wilkinson families.