liveMushroom murder trial live: Erin Patterson told estranged husband of 'exhausting' mushroom lunch preparationBy court reporter Kristian Silva, Judd Boaz, Tim Callanan and Joseph DunstanTopic:Courts4h ago4 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 12:08amSkip to timelineabc.net.au/news/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-leongatha-australia/105235686Link copiedShareShare articleThe murder trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of deliberately poisoning four people during a lunch at her home in 2023, continues.Follow all the updates in our live blog.Key EventsDifferent plates at lunch raised by Heather Wilkinson1h ago1 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:41amErin Patterson told estranged husband lunch preparations were 'exhausting'1h ago1 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:29amLunch invitation to discuss 'a serious matter'2h ago2 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:16amShow all key eventsLive updatesLatestOldest35m agoThu 1 May 2025 at 3:50amWATCH: First witness called in mushroom murder trialJBy Judd BoazThe ABC's Sacha Payne updates us with the latest from Morwell.Loading...Copy link1h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 3:25amThe house that hosted the lunchJBy Judd BoazOn Wednesday, the prosecution detailed Erin Patterson's Leongatha home, where she had lived since late 2022.Erin Patterson's Leongatha home. (ABC News: Michael Lorigan)The five-bedroom home is situated on approximately three acres, with a dining room hosting a six-seater table on the ground floor.Erin Patterson hosted four people over lunch at her home. (ABC News)The prosecution says the dining room sits parallel to the island kitchen bench, where it is alleged Ms Patterson had been cooking before the guests arrived on the day of the lunch.Copy link1h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 3:05amThe hearing has paused for a lunch breakJBy Joseph DunstanWe'll bring you more details when the jury returns to court.If you're keen to catch up on Wednesday's hearing, you can listen to the details on the ABC's Mushroom Case Daily podcast.Individual wellingtons, coloured plates, and a false cancer claim - ABC listenCopy link1h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 3:01amErin Patterson had 'barney' with hospital staffJBy Joseph DunstanSimon Patterson recalls taking a phone call from Erin Patterson on the Monday after the lunch.He tells the court she told him she had been to Leongatha Hospital and hospital staff had advised her to bring their children in for assessment."I said to her I'm glad that you feel healthy enough to pick up the kids now," he says.Mr Patterson says his wife turned down his offer to pick up the children from school and says she wanted to pick up the children herself.He says she told him she did not want the children to "feel scared" about why they were being picked up.Mr Patterson says he thinks his wife "had a bit of a barney" with hospital staff about which hospital the children would be admitted to for observation as she wanted them at the same hospital as her.He says she later told him she checked herself out of hospital and drove home, where she lay down and slept for 45 minutes.Copy link1h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:51amErin Patterson told husband she was unwell, court hearsJBy Judd BoazSimon Patterson says in a conversation with his estranged wife Erin Patterson after the lunch, she had claimed she had also been ill.“She said she’d been having some diarrhoea herself and it was quite frequent,” he says.Mr Patterson says Ms Patterson indicated she had been experiencing diarrhoea every 20 minutes or so, and that she had not wanted to get out of the car at risk of having an accident."She was worried that she'd poo her pants," he says.He tells the court after a long day at the hospital, he returned to his own home at Korumburra at about 2:30am in the morning.Mr Patterson says he received a call at 7am the next morning from Erin Patterson, who wanted to talk."She was a bit indignant maybe," he says."She said sarcastically 'I'll sort out my own problems or something to that effect'."He says Ms Patterson told him of further diarrhoea and asked him to take her to the hospital.Mr Patterson says he declined and told her to get an ambulance instead.Copy link1h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:47amDon Patterson was 'feeling pain' at hospitalTBy Tim CallananSimon Patterson is asked about the condition of his parents at hospital and becomes emotional when discussing his father, who he says was "substantially worse than mum"."He was lying on his side, hunched quite noticeably, really discoloured face, struggling to speak," he says."His voice was strained in a way that was … he wasn't right inside. He was feeling pain."He says his parents also told him that Erin had revealed a cancer diagnosis to them at the lunch the previous day.Mr Patterson says his parents told him that Erin Patterson had revealed that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.Copy linkKey Event1h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:41amDifferent plates at lunch raised by Heather WilkinsonJBy Judd BoazMr Patterson says Heather Wilkinson brought up the serving of lunch at Ms Patterson's house."We didn’t have much conversation but she puzzled and she said: I noticed Erin served herself her food on a coloured plate, which was different to the rest," he tells the court.The colouring of the plates used at lunch has been raised by the prosecution (ABC News)Simon Patterson says after being told that it would be an hour wait for an ambulance to arrive at the Wilkinson home, he elected to drive them himself.He tells the court he drove the Wilkinson's car to Korumburra Hospital, where they were told the facility was full and that they should instead travel to Leongatha Hospital.On the drive to Leongatha, Mr Patterson says Heather Wilkinson once again asked about the plate.Mr Patterson says he could not remember the exact phrasing, but tells the court to the best of his recollection.“She asked me 'is Erin short of crockery, is that why she would have this different kind of coloured plate?'” he says.“I said ‘yes, Erin doesn’t have that many plates, and that might be the reason’.”During this part of his testimony, Erin Patterson's focus is fixed on her estranged husband, but she is showing no emotion.Copy link1h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:36amSimon Patterson describes events on the day of the lunchTBy Tim CallananSimon Patterson is explaining the events on the afternoon of the lunch and the following day, as he remembers them.He recalls picking up his children and a friend from a cinema around 2:30pm and driving them back to Erin Patterson's house in Leongatha, but he did not get out of the car or speak to anyone at the house.He says he saw his parents' car at the house but did not see them.The following morning, he says he received a phone call from his father saying he and his wife had been sick during the night with "vomiting and diarrhoea".He also visited the home of Ian and Heather Wilkinson and saw that Heather was "pretty crook" and had been vomiting.Copy linkKey Event1h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:29amErin Patterson told estranged husband lunch preparations were 'exhausting'JBy Judd BoazThe jury is shown an excerpt from a text message conversation between Simon and Erin Patterson.Mr Patterson read the messages aloud to the court, which were sent at 6:54pm the night before the lunch.Simon Patterson: Sorry I feel too uncomfortable about coming to lunch with you, Mum Dad, Heather and Ian, but happy to talk about your health and implications with that at another time. If you’d like to discuss on the phone, let me know.In her response, Ms Patterson said her husband's decision not to attend was "really disappointing"."I've spent many hours this week preparing lunch for tomorrow," she said, adding that had been "exhausting" in light of her health condition."I’ve spent a small fortune on beef eye fillet to make beef Wellingtons,” Ms Patterson's text response read. Ms Patterson told her husband it was "important to me that you’re all there tomorrow", so she could have the conversations she felt she needed to have with the family.Copy linkKey Event2h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:16amLunch invitation to discuss 'a serious matter'TBy Tim CallananSimon Patterson is now telling the court about the lead-up to the lunch at which his parents Don and Gail Patterson, and Ian and Heather Wilkinson ate poisonous mushrooms.He says he was invited to an earlier lunch that Erin Patterson wanted to hold with him, his parents and his children, but he declined the invitation.Mr Patterson says he was later approached by Erin Patterson at the church he and his wife attended and was invited to attend a lunch on July 29, 2023.He says Erin Patterson told him she wanted to discuss "a serious matter" regarding her health with him and his relatives.Mr Patterson says he understood that the pair's children would not be there.He says he discussed the invitation with his parents and they were "intrigued" by the purpose of the invitation.He later called his parents and told them he would not be attending and he also told Erin Patterson he would be "uncomfortable" attending.Copy linkKey Event2h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:07amErin loved her father-in-law's 'gentle nature', court hearsJBy Judd BoazWe're back from adjournment, and prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC is continuing to question Erin Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson, who appears as a witness.After the disagreement about child support, Mr Patterson says Ms Patterson reached out in a group chat on the app Signal to his parents.He says Ms Patterson directed her concerns about the child support arrangements to his parents."I think it was pretty clear that she was asking them to get involved," he tells the court.Mr Patterson says his parents called on the pair to resolve the issue together.Mr Patterson says Erin Patterson particularly got on well with his father, Don.He again becomes emotional, when speaking of his father."I think she loved his gentle nature," he says.Copy link2h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 1:49amCourt adjourns for a breakJBy Judd BoazProsecutor Nanette Rogers SC began to change the subject of her questioning, at which point Justice Beale interjected and called for a break.During the questioning, Erin Patterson has shown little emotion.We'll return shortly with more coverage of Simon Patterson's testimony.Copy linkKey Event2h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 1:48amRift between Erin and Simon Patterson intensifiesKBy Kristian Silva and Judd BoazThe timeline is moving closer to the date of the 2023 lunch.As of 2022, the couple were living in separate houses and their children were staying with Erin, although both parents were caring for the children.Simon says their relationship declined when Erin became angry that he had listed their status as “separated” on his tax return.“She said that mattered for a family tax benefit, or something of that nature, and she would be obliged to claim child support off me which had never happened before,” he says.“She was upset about it.”Mr Patterson says he was unsure how Ms Patterson had discovered the information on his tax return.The discovery led to an argument and a growing rift between the two, Mr Patterson tells the court.Further disagreements sprouted from the payment of school fees — which Mr Patterson says he had always previously paid — and medical bills.When a medical bill for one of their children arrived and Mr Patterson refused to pay it, their relationship broke down further.“I was sure she was very upset about that,” he says.Copy linkKey Event2h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 1:32amSimon Patterson becomes emotional discussing strained marriageKBy Kristian Silva and Judd BoazSimon Patterson says Erin inherited $2 million from her late grandmother's estate, which was distributed in multiple instalments.He confirms their separation was made permanent in late 2015."It was strained, there was tension," he says of the relationship, saying they'd gone to see a family counsellor.Mr Patterson is asked by Dr Rogers how he felt about his marriage to Erin Patterson."I was always keen to have a good relationship, a good marriage," he says."Erin decided to buy herself a separate house and move into it."Mr Patterson says at the time, she had not given him a reason for the separation.He says she later communicated to him that their relationship was "toxic".Dr Rogers then asks if the multiple separations were always initiated by Ms Patterson.Mr Patterson takes long pauses during his answer as he processes the question."That's a difficult one to answer. I was … I'll put it this way, she would leave each time … it was always her leaving me," he said.He then asks for tissues as emotion overwhelm him, but declines to take a break from his testimony.Copy link3h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 1:24amErin and Simon Patterson's marriage survived early six-month separationJBy Joseph DunstanThe court hears that in the earlier stages of the marriage, Simon and Erin Patterson had a separation of roughly six months."What I understood from Erin is that … she was struggling inside herself," Mr Patterson says.Mr Patterson says they engaged in some marriage counselling and he ended up landing a job in regional Western Australia.That job came with a home, and Mr Patterson says his wife moved back in with him after he'd settled there.Copy linkKey Event3h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 1:14amEstranged husband says Erin Patterson is 'very intelligent'KBy Kristian SilvaSimon Patterson is asked by the prosecution about his estranged wife.He says she's "witty" and has worked towards many qualifications."Erin’s very intelligent," Mr Patterson says."She's quite witty and can be quite funny."I guess some of the things that attracted me to her in the first place was her intelligence."He says his wife is a qualified accountant and air traffic controller."She studied various courses while we were married including a vet science course. I know she had studied legal courses as well," he says.When asked how she interacts with others, Mr Patterson says it was "very rare" for her to invite people over to their home in their early years of marriage.Copy linkKey Event3h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 1:04amSimon Patterson begins his testimonyKBy Kristian SilvaSimon Patterson is in the witness box, where he takes the oath before giving his evidence.Mr Patterson confirms he is still married to Erin Patterson, and says they first met in the early 2000s."We both worked for the Monash City Council in Melbourne," he begins.Mr Patterson says he was a civil engineer, while Erin was in the local laws department.He says they slowly got to know each other before starting a romantic relationship, getting married on June 2, 2007.Ms Patterson, in the back of the court dock, is listening intently.Copy linkKey Event3h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 12:57amSimon Patterson takes the standJBy Judd BoazSimon Patterson is the first witness in the murder trial of his estranged wife Erin.Don and Gail Patterson, Simon's parents, died after eating a lunch at Ms Patterson's Leongatha home. His aunt, Heather Wilkinson, also died.On Wednesday, the court heard Simon and Erin Patterson had separated in 2015, but had maintained an amicable relationship for several years afterwards, going on family trips together with their children.Simon Patterson is Erin Patterson' estranged husband. (ABC News)However, towards the end of 2022, their relationship had soured, stemming from a disagreement about child support.The prosecution told the jury on Wednesday that in 2023, Ms Patterson had changed her children's school without consulting Mr Patterson.Copy link3h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 12:53amRevisit the opening of the mushroom trial, moment by momentJBy Judd BoazWe'll be bringing you all the crucial moments from today's proceedings in the Erin Patterson murder trial.To revisit Wednesday's proceedings, which saw the defence and prosecution outline their cases for and against Ms Patterson, check out yesterday's live blog below:Erin Patterson's lawyer tells jury mushroom poisoning deaths were 'a terrible accident' — as it happenedCopy link3h agoThu 1 May 2025 at 12:50amKristian Silva reporting from inside courtroom 4KBy Kristian SilvaGood morning again from inside courtroom 4 of the Latrobe Valley Law Courts.The lawyers, jury and Erin Patterson are all here.Ms Patterson is in the court dock at the back of the room, wearing a solid pink button-shirt today.First up, a logistical task — giving the jury members their own iPads, where they can view things like trial exhibits and documents.There's a bit of a set up and instruction process that needs to take place.Typically, some are struggling a bit with the task."It's a lot better, ladies and gentlemen than the old way, where you had a massive folder," Justice Beale jokes.Copy linkShow more postsPosted 4h ago4 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 12:08am, updated 35m ago35 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 3:49amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)TimelineRead nextTimelineKey EventsLatestDifferent plates at lunch raised by Heather Wilkinson1h ago1 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:41amErin Patterson told estranged husband lunch preparations were 'exhausting'1h ago1 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:29amLunch invitation to discuss 'a serious matter'2h ago2 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:16amErin loved her father-in-law's 'gentle nature', court hears2h ago2 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 2:07amRift between Erin and Simon Patterson intensifies2h ago2 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 1:48amSimon Patterson becomes emotional discussing strained marriage2h ago2 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 1:32amEstranged husband says Erin Patterson is 'very intelligent'3h ago3 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 1:14amSimon Patterson begins his testimony3h ago3 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 1:04amSimon Patterson takes the stand3h ago3 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 12:57amErin Patterson's estranged husband Simon arrives at court3h ago3 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 12:31amWhat are we expecting in court today?3h ago3 hours agoThu 1 May 2025 at 12:29amTop StoriesDutton hints at Coalition campaign failure as polls show Albanese majority in sightTopic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows Peter Dutton election shadowsJacinta Nampijinpa Price contradicts Peter Dutton, asserting Coalition will end school 'indoctrination'Topic:Public SchoolsSurprise could lurk for Labor if enough voters vent anger over cost of livingDAnalysis by David SpeersBefore the WFH backflip, industrial relations was already on the political agendaTopic:Industrial RelationsStolen bank staff logins could be an 'open gate' for hackers, experts sayTopic:Cyber CrimeJust InMajor Queensland manufacturer considers job cuts amid dip in workloadTopic:Manufacturing2m ago2 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 4:22amThe comedians bringing their babies on tour — and talking parenthood on stageTopic:Comedy6m ago6 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 4:18amMan charged over only unsolved fatal hit-and-run in WA since 2016Topic:Road Accidents and Incidents6m ago6 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 4:18amWalsh up for fight with Cobbo for Broncos fullback spotTopic:NRL12m ago12 minutes agoThu 1 May 2025 at 4:13amMore Just InBack to top