liveLive: Erin Patterson's mushroom murder trial over allegedly poisoned lunch beginsBy court reporter Kristian Silva and staffTopic:Courts52m ago52 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:23pmSkip to timelineabc.net.au/news/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-leongatha-victoria-aus/105230440Link copiedShareShare articleProsecutors will outline their case against Victorian woman Erin Patterson, who stands accused of using a poisoned meal to murder three relatives.Follow all the updates in our live blog.Live updatesLatestOldest2m agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 12:13amJury sequester detailsKBy Kristian SilvaYesterday we heard that the jury will be sequestered when they go out to deliberate for the final time in a few weeks.This means the panel will be isolated from the outside world as they decide whether Erin Patterson is guilty or not.Justice Beale outlined how the arrangement would work."At the end of each day during the deliberations, the jurors will not be permitted to go home," he said."Instead, they will be bussed to a hotel at an undisclosed location, where they will stay overnight and be bussed back to the court the next morning to continue their deliberations."Jurors will be supervised by court staff known as jury keepers and will have to surrender their mobile phones. Their families will be provided with an emergency contact number."Whilst staying overnight at the hotel, access to TV, radio and newspapers will also be limited," the judge continued."If the jury needs to be sequestered over a weekend, we may require the jury to deliberate on Saturday but not Sundays. Jurors need a break."Copy link5m agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 12:10amWho is Erin Patterson?TBy Tim CallananErin Patterson is a name familiar to people who have followed this case over the past several years, but may not be as well known to others.Ms Patterson, 50, is a resident of Leongatha, about 140 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.She is separated from her husband, Simon Patterson.Erin Patterson has always maintained her innocence in the case. (ABC News.)Ms Patterson is accused of deliberately serving up a poisonous meal containing death cap mushrooms on July 29, 2023 at her home.It is alleged that after consuming the food, her parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson died, along with Gail Patterson's sister Heather Wilkinson. Ms Wilkinson's husband, Ian, recovered after a long stint in hospital.Ms Patterson has always maintained her innocence of the charges.Copy link16m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:59pmWATCH: Prosecutors set to outline case against Erin PattersonJBy Judd BoazThe ABC's Kristian Silva is on the ground at Morwell to provide a preview of the upcoming opening arguments.Loading...Copy link41m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:34pmWho were the four people allegedly poisoned at the lunch?JBy Joseph DunstanProsecutors allege Ian and Heather Wilkinson (left) and Don and Gail Patterson were poisoned during a lunch at Erin Patterson's Leongatha home. (Supplied)The four people prosecutors allege were poisoned by Erin Patterson were all from the Gippsland town of Korumburra.Ian Wilkinson, the sole survivor of the alleged mushroom poisoning, has given many years of service to the community as the minister at the local Baptist church.Korumburra has a population of roughly 5,000 people. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)His wife, Heather Wilkinson, taught English as a second language at a local community house.She was popular with her students and helped migrant women who were isolated or in need of assistance.Heather's sister, Gail Patterson, and Gail's husband Don, ran the local Korumburra newspaper, the Burra Flyer.The significant community ties and contributions mean their losses were felt deeply across the rural community.Korumburra and Leongatha sit in Victoria's lush South Gippsland region. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)In 2023, Korumburra's Anglican Reverend Fran Grimes told the ABC the intense public interest in the tragedy had made the grieving process more difficult."It was like it was taken out of the space where we could all love each other and support each other and it was far bigger and out of our control, so it has been difficult," she explained.Copy link45m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:30pmProsecutors dropped three chargesMBy Mikaela OrtolanOn Tuesday, the jury heard that prosecutors had dropped three attempted murder charges against Erin Patterson.Those charges related to alleged attempts to kill Ms Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson.The jury received instructions from trial judge, Justice Christopher Beale, that the charges had been withdrawn and they should put them out of their minds.On Tuesday Justice Beale told the jury to "use your head, not your heart" to determine whether Ms Patterson was guilty or not."You are the only ones in this court who can make a decision about the facts," he said.Copy link54m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:21pmWhat happens in court today?JBy Joseph DunstanToday we're expecting the jury will hear opening submissions from the prosecution and the defence.It's a chance for both sides to lay out their arguments on why the jury should convict or acquit Erin Patterson of the murder and attempted murder charges.The Supreme Court trial is being heard at the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell. (ABC News: Danielle Bonica)But broadly, prosecutors allege Ms Patterson served a beef Wellington dish containing mushrooms at her regional Victorian home in 2023.They allege the meal at Leongatha led to the deaths of three relatives and the hospitalisation of another.Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges and has always maintained her innocenceCopy link56m agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:19pmWelcome to today's coverage of the trialJBy Joseph DunstanCourt reporter Kristian Silva will be bringing us regular updates from the Supreme Court trial of Erin Patterson.Ms Patterson is accused of murdering three of her relatives and the attempted murder of another, through a poisoned lunch at her Leongatha home.She has always maintained her innocence.Copy linkPosted 52m ago52 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:23pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)TimelineRead nextLatestJury sequester details2m ago2 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 12:13amWho is Erin Patterson?5m ago5 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 12:10amWATCH: Prosecutors set to outline case against Erin Patterson16m ago16 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:59pmWho were the four people allegedly poisoned at the lunch?41m ago41 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:34pmProsecutors dropped three charges45m ago45 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:30pmWhat happens in court today?54m ago54 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:21pmWelcome to today's coverage of the trial56m ago56 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:19pmTop StoriesAustralia faces a 'lonelier' world with rules-based order crumblingTopic:National SecurityPhoto shows Two men wearing glasses and suits behind the backdrop of the world map.Data shows shift in views towards Australia's relationship with US and ChinaTopic:Foreign AffairsThere's a reason Dutton can't resort to a scare campaign with older AustraliansAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbHolmes à Court fuels movement that denies he'll have seat at the tableTopic:Political Parties and MovementsFinal campaign dash as Albanese sweats on Dutton suburban fightbackTopic:ElectionsJust InNationals candidate Andrew Lethlean under pressure over lapsed liquor licenceTopic:Elections15m ago15 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 12:00am'Foal beats coal' in land use fight that divided a communityTopic:Coal50m ago50 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:25pmAlleged triple-murderer Erin Patterson's trial over mushroom lunch beginsLIVE52m ago52 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:23pmAmbulance Victoria admits to second illegal COVID-era gatheringTopic:Emergency Services58m ago58 minutes agoTue 29 Apr 2025 at 11:17pmMore Just InBack to top
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