Jury to hear case against accused poison mushroom cook
Emily Woods |
The case against alleged death cap mushroom cook Erin Patterson will be outlined to a jury as her triple-murder trial opens.
A jury of 10 men and five women was selected at Latrobe Valley Courts in Morwell on Tuesday as Justice Christopher Beale laid out some of the allegations against the 50-year-old mother.
Patterson is accused of hosting a lunch at her Leongatha home, on July 29, 2023, where she served up individual beef wellingtons to her guests.
Justice Beale told jurors three of her guests – her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson – died in hospital after the lunch.
She is charged with the attempted murder of Ms Wilkinson’s husband Ian, who became sick but was the only lunch guest who survived.
Patterson has pleaded not guilty to that charge and the three charges of murder, and denies she deliberately poisoned any of her guests.
Her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, had been invited to the lunch but did not attend.
Three attempted murder charges brought against Patterson regarding her husband have been dropped by prosecutors, Justice Beale told the jury.
Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC will open her case against Patterson on Wednesday.
Patterson’s barrister Colin Mandy SC will then give a reply on behalf of the defence.
The first witness in the trial is expected to be called on Thursday.
Justice Beale told the jury witnesses will include Simon Patterson and Ian Wilkinson, as well as a number of medical experts, doctors and police.
AAP
