Erin Patterson triple-murder trial concludes its second weekBy court reporter Kristian SilvaTopic:Courts1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 9:07pm Erin Patterson is accused of murdering three people by serving a poisoned lunch at her home in 2023. (ABC News: Paul Tyquin)abc.net.au/news/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial/105276452Link copiedShareShare articleIn a grey-walled interview room, a bearded police officer leans across a table to meet the eyes of a nine-year-old girl.He introduces himself as Jason. She sits in a green armchair, swinging her legs playfully — they don't reach the floor, her peach-coloured sneakers dangling mid-air. On the table between them sit a box of tissues, a tub of coloured pencils, and Jason's thick folder of notes.Mushroom murder trial timelinePhoto shows A woman standing in front of her car.The six-week murder trial of Erin Patterson is underway in the regional Victorian town of Morwell. Here's what we know so far about the case, based on material put to the jury."We're going to talk about what it means to tell the truth," the officer begins gently.The girl pauses, before explaining that the truth is "what has happened".Jason is satisfied. He continues, "It's important to tell me only what really happened."Why do you think you're here?" he asks."The lunch," the girl answers softly.It's August 16, 2023.The lunch the girl referred to took place nearly three weeks earlier.She tells the officer she wasn't there when the food was served, but knows her grandmother, grandfather, great-aunt, and great-uncle had been invited by her mother, Erin Patterson.Ian and Heather Wilkinson, and Don and Gail Patterson, all of whom were hospitalised following the July 29 lunch. (Supplied)Now, three of them were dead. One had survived. Police were investigating how the quiet family gathering in Leongatha, a small country town, had turned fatal.Mushroom murder trial enters second weekThe girl's police interview was played in court during the second week of Erin Patterson's trial in the Supreme Court in Morwell.Erin Patterson, 50, stands accused of intentionally poisoning her four lunch guests — Don and Gail Patterson, Heather Wilkinson, and her husband, Ian — by serving them beef Wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms.Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty, with her legal team insisting the incident was a "terrible accident".So far, each witness in the trial has taken an oath or affirmation to tell the truth — just like the girl in the green chair.Ian Wilkinson, a church pastor and the only guest who survived, told the court that Erin Patterson had invited the group to lunch at her home. He said she ate from a different-coloured plate to everyone else. Prosecutors allege the contents of her plate were different, too.The crockery used at the July 29 lunch has been a consistent point during court proceedings. (ABC News)According to the prosecution, the four guests were served meals containing deadly mushrooms. Patterson's serving, they allege, contained none.There is no dispute that all five adults who attended the lunch — including Erin Patterson — were later hospitalised. But Erin Patterson's medical journey was vastly different to the others, the court heard.Poisoning victims' hospital journey detailed to courtA day after the lunch on July 29, 2023, Don and Gail Patterson and the Wilkinsons were violently ill with vomiting and diarrhoea. Doctors initially suspected food poisoning, but quickly escalated their concerns. Lab tests pointed to amanita phalloides — the death cap.Beth Morgan, who treated Don Patterson, told the jury about his AST levels. AST is a liver enzyme that typically measures between 5 and 35. Don's reading was 583."I was quite concerned that there was evidence of liver damage," she said.The journey of the five lunch guests through the hospital system was examined in court over the past week. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)Meanwhile, medical staff testified that Erin Patterson arrived at hospital a full day later.Even though she reported an upset stomach, she did not appear to be suffering the intense symptoms that had hit the others."She didn't look unwell to me," Leongatha Hospital nurse Cindy Munro said.However Veronica Foote, another doctor involved in treating Erin Patterson, said nurses had reported the Erin Patterson suffering from ongoing diarrhoea.Dr Foote said Erin Patterson had recorded a high heart rate, a possible symptom of dehydration.Several of Ms Munro's colleagues testified they had to persuade Erin Patterson to accept treatment and urged her to bring her children in for examination — after she told them they'd eaten beef Wellington leftovers."She said, 'No, no, I scraped off all the mushroom,' and that the children were fine," Ms Munro said.According to prosecutors, that claim contained both a lie and a truth.Leftovers from lunch form crucial piece of evidenceWhen police later interviewed Erin Patterson's children, they said their mother served them food she described as leftovers from the family lunch a day earlier. The kids said they felt fine afterwards. Medical tests confirmed they were unharmed.Stay up to date with the ABC's Mushroom Case Daily podcastPhoto shows An illustration of Erin Patterson with her face inside the shape of a mushroom.The ABC's Mushroom Case Daily podcast brings you all the key updates from court involving accused triple murderer Erin Patterson, and an allegedly poisonous mushroom lunch.Prosecutors argue that what the children — and Erin Patterson — ate was not the same as what was served to the four older guests. Crucially, they allege, it did not contain death cap mushrooms.The trial, which began on April 29, is expected to run for several more weeks.In his jury instructions, Justice Christopher Beale reminded the panel that Erin Patterson was presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt."It is for you to judge whether the witnesses are honest and accurate," he said."This is something you do all the time in your daily lives. There is no special skill involved. You just need to use your common sense."As jurors weigh the testimony of forensic experts, family members, medical professionals — and a softly-spoken nine-year-old girl — they will need to determine if a murder plot was the true intent of Erin Patterson's family lunch.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoFri 9 May 2025 at 9:07pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top Stories'Third party' vote looks set to beat CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A triangular chart showing an example of some electorates shifting from LNP to 'Other candidates' at the 2025 federal election'We've hit the lottery': Businesses cash in on Labor's home battery rebateTopic:Energy IndustryPhoto shows A man with a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses on top of his head smiles at camera.Labor win turns sour as the bloody realpolitik takes centre stageLAnalysis by Laura TinglePhoto shows Two men in orange hi vis vest, with one holding up a dollar coinIndia's retaliation to terror attacks reflects a changed strategy. Is it working?Analysis by Hannah JosePhoto shows Two of India's French-made Rafale fighter jets in lockstep in the sky at Aero India 2021.Glowing profits, delicate reefs: Inside Australia's coral gold rushTopic:Oceans and ReefsPhoto shows A close-up of Andre's hands, tinged blue under a UV light, holding a neon yellow piece of coral.Popular nowLabor win turns sour as the bloody realpolitik takes centre stageLAnalysis by Laura TinglePhoto shows Two men in orange hi vis vest, with one holding up a dollar coin'We've hit the lottery': Businesses cash in on Labor's home battery rebateTopic:Energy IndustryPhoto shows A man with a t-shirt, hat and sunglasses on top of his head smiles at camera.'Third party' vote looks set to beat CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A triangular chart showing an example of some electorates shifting from LNP to 'Other candidates' at the 2025 federal electionRelated topicsCourtsKorumburraLeongathaTop Stories'Third party' vote looks set to beat CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A triangular chart showing an example of some electorates shifting from LNP to 'Other candidates' at the 2025 federal election'We've hit the lottery': Businesses cash in on Labor's home battery rebateTopic:Energy IndustryLabor win turns sour as the bloody realpolitik takes centre stageLAnalysis by Laura TingleIndia's retaliation to terror attacks reflects a changed strategy. Is it working?Analysis by Hannah JoseGlowing profits, delicate reefs: Inside Australia's coral gold rushTopic:Oceans and ReefsJust InDewayne wanted to sing in palawa kani to his newborn — that's now possibleTopic:Indigenous Music13m ago13 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 10:18pmMeasles outbreaks reported in 11 US states, surpassing 1,000 casesTopic:Infectious Diseases13m ago13 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 10:17pm'A love story': Meet the 85yo rock climbing instructor with no fingers or toesTopic:Human Interest15m ago15 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 10:16pmWA prepares to farewell Arthur Leggett, state's last WWII prisoner of warTopic:Funerals and Memorial Services25m ago25 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 10:05pmMore Just InBack to top