Court hears Erin Patterson's daughter recount days around mushroom lunch that killed threeBy court reporter Kristian SilvaTopic:Courts4h ago4 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:30amErin Patterson has always maintained her innocence saying the mushroom poisoning deaths were a "terrible accident". (AAP Image: James Ross )In short:A court has heard a police interview of Erin Patterson's young daughter, conducted in the weeks following a deadly lunch at her mother's house in 2023.Ms Patterson, who is accused of murdering three people at the lunch, was visibly shaken by the recording and needed to compose herself before leaving court.What's next?The trial, which is being held in the regional Victorian city of Morwell, is expected to run for several weeks.abc.net.au/news/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial/105267128Link copiedShareShare articleAccused murderer Erin Patterson broke down and was visibly upset as a Victorian court was shown her daughter's police interview, filmed weeks after a deadly lunch at her home.Ms Patterson stood in the court dock with tears in her eyes, looking up and quietly saying a few words to herself as the jury was led out of the room on Thursday afternoon.The trial of Erin Patterson, who stands accused of using a poisoned meal to murder three relatives, continues.Look back at how Thursday's court proceedings unfolded in our live blog.To chart the people, events and evidence in the case, read our Mushroom murder trial explainer.On Thursday, Ms Patterson's triple-murder trial touched on three key topics: her daughter's evidence; the medical treatment Ms Patterson received after hosting a beef Wellington lunch; and where the toxic mushrooms may have come from.Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering three of her relatives and trying to kill another by serving them a dish allegedly laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms on July 29, 2023.The court was shown the pre-recorded interview with Ms Patterson's daughter, who was aged nine at the time of the lunch.The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she went to the movies with her brother and a friend on the day in question.The girl said her mother had told her that in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, along with extended relatives Ian and Heather Wilkinson, would be coming over."She said she wanted to talk to them about adult stuff," the girl told a police officer.Ian Wilkinson, the sole surviving guest of the lunch, took to the witness box earlier this week. (AAP: Joel Carrett)Earlier in the trial, the only surviving guest from the lunch Ian Wilkinson said Ms Patterson had told the group she had cancer. Ms Patterson's lawyers have conceded she does not have cancer.When the girl was asked whether she saw her mother preparing food before the lunch on July 29, the girl replied, "I think she was".Later, the girl said, Ms Patterson began complaining about feeling sick and went to the toilet about 10 times."She said she had diarrhoea and that her tummy was sore," the girl said.The following day, the girl said she and her brother were served steak, mashed potatoes and green beans — purportedly leftovers from the beef Wellington lunch.On July 31, a police officer found remnants of beef Wellington leftovers in Ms Patterson's rubbish bin, as authorities began investigating the source of suspected poisoning suffered by the lunch guests.Erin Patterson 'didn't look unwell', nurse tells juryEarlier, a doctor, paramedic and two nurses gave evidence that Ms Patterson did not appear to suffer from the same severe symptoms as the Pattersons and the Wilkinsons.By July 31, Don and Gail Patterson and Heather and Ian Wilkinson had all been admitted to local hospitals with severe vomiting and diarrhoea."She didn't look unwell like Ian and Heather," Leongatha hospital nurse Cindy Munro said of Ms Patterson."I recall Ian being so unwell he could barely lift his head off the pillow."Erin was sitting up in the bed in the trolley and she didn't look unwell to me."At the time, Ms Munro said, Ms Patterson was hesitant about receiving intravenous fluids and liver-protecting medication."Erin sort of stressed she didn't want any of this," Ms Munro said.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.Ms Munro said medical staff were concerned the lunch attendees were suffering from mushroom poisoning, and were worried Ms Patterson's two children had been exposed to the toxins after eating some of the leftovers."At that stage she said, 'No, no I scraped off all the mushroom' and the children were not unwell," Ms Munro said."She didn't want to cause any hassle. She didn't want to take them out of school and that was when she became quite teary, quite worried."Ms Munro said she warned Ms Patterson it was possible toxins could have seeped into the meat eaten by the children.Eventually, Ms Patterson agreed to having the children checked out.Erin Patterson's bowel movements charted in courtEarlier on Thursday, doctor Veronica Foote told the court Ms Patterson had discharged herself from the Leongatha hospital on July 31 after a five-minute stay.Ms Patterson's decision, against medical advice, prompted another concerned doctor to call police when she failed to return in an agreed 20-minute window.Dr Foote said she formed the view Ms Patterson was moderately dehydrated and appeared to have a gastro illness, after having a conversation with her and performing a physical examination.Ian Wilkinson (left) was the sole surviving guest of the lunch. (Supplied)Paramedic Eleyne Spencer, who transported Ms Patterson from the Leongatha Hospital to the Monash Medical Centre, said she had complained about having "extensive diarrhoea".However, Ms Spencer said Ms Patterson did not need to go to the toilet once during a 90-minute trip to the Monash hospital."Ms Patterson was fairly calm and nonchalant. It was a fairly, I guess, uneventful journey," Ms Spencer said.At the the Monash hospital, Ms Patterson was visited by Tanya Patterson, the wife of her brother-in-law."She told me she knew Don and Gail were in a coma," Tanya Patterson said.Tanya Patterson said the conversation then shifted to Ms Patterson wanting to take her children on a boat cruise.A toxicologist then entered the room and informed Ms Patterson that her potassium levels were "fine", Tanya Patterson said."I stayed and heard the toxicologist say Erin was fine and well enough to go home," she said.Doctors asked for source of deadly mushrooms, court hearsOn Thursday, several witnesses told the court they quizzed Ms Patterson on the source of the mushrooms.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.Several said she had mentioned the Leongatha Woolworths and an unspecified Asian or Chinese grocer in Oakleigh, a suburb of Melbourne.Dr Conor McDermott, a former toxicologist with the Victorian Poisons Information centre, said he spoke to Ms Patterson over the phone two days after the lunch."I tried to ask which brand they were, and I was told they were unbranded," he said.Dr McDermott said he pulled up a list of Asian grocers in the Oakleigh area and offered to run through their names to see if he could jog Ms Patterson's memory."Ms Patterson replied that she wouldn't be able to recall even if I named the shop," he said."She said it might have been Glen Waverley instead."The trial continues.Posted 4h ago4 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 4:30am, updated 39m ago39 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 7:54amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesSecond minister booted from cabinet as PM prepares reshuffleLIVEPhoto shows Ed Husic wearing a blue suit sitting in an office.More women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonPhoto shows Anika Wells Amanda Rishworth Katie Gallagher Anne AlyGreens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat, ending 15 years in parliamentTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Adam Bandt press gallery doorstopHow one mother's grief and love captured hearts across AustraliaCAnalysis by Cason HoPhoto shows A woman sits in front of a microphone on a dimly lit stage with an emotional expression.'Wish we did better': The timeline of confusion during Westfield Bondi Junction attackTopic:CrimePhoto shows Paramedics stand with stretches near vehicles on a road.Popular nowSecond minister booted from cabinet as PM prepares reshuffleLIVEPhoto shows Ed Husic wearing a blue suit sitting in an office.Jacinta Nampijinpa Price joins Liberal Party as leadership race heats upTopic:Political Parties and MovementsPhoto shows A close up shot of a woman wearing a white blazer and black and white shirt.Greens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat, ending 15 years in parliamentTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Adam Bandt press gallery doorstopRelated topicsCourtsLeongathaMorwellTop StoriesSecond minister booted from cabinet as PM prepares reshuffleTopic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows Ed Husic wearing a blue suit sitting in an office.More women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonGreens leader Adam Bandt concedes seat, ending 15 years in parliamentTopic:ElectionsHow one mother's grief and love captured hearts across AustraliaCAnalysis by Cason Ho'Wish we did better': The timeline of confusion during Westfield Bondi Junction attackTopic:CrimeJust InCabinet ministers Mark Dreyfus, Ed Husic scrapped from new Albanese ministryTopic:Political Leadership22m ago22 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 8:11amWoman doused friend in fuel, set him alight over misogynistic commentTopic:Courts27m ago27 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 8:06am'Feels like a tipping point': India and Pakistan diaspora grapple with Kashmir conflictTopic:Unrest, Conflict and War49m ago49 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 7:44amQueensland appoints first mining coroner amid inquest backlogTopic:Mining and Metals Industry55m ago55 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 7:38amMore Just InBack to top