liveErin Patterson mushroom murder trial live: Sole surviving lunch guest Ian Wilkinson gives evidenceBy Judd Boaz, court reporter Kristian Silva, Tim Callanan and staffTopic:Law, Crime and Justice2h ago2 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 12:20amSkip to timelineabc.net.au/news/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-live-blog-tues/105257526Link copiedShareShare articlePastor Ian Wilkinson, the sole surviving guest of Erin Patterson's deadly mushroom lunch, is giving evidence in her triple-murder trial.Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering three relatives by serving them a beef Wellington laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms.Follow the trial in our live blog.Key EventsErin raises alleged cancer after lunch4m ago4 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:19amBanter over splitting beef Wellingtons featured during the lunch25m ago25 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:57amOne different plate used at lunch, Ian Wilkinson says35m ago35 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:47amShow all key eventsLive updatesLatestOldestJust nowTue 6 May 2025 at 2:22amWitness chair sinks on Ian WilkisonKBy Kristian SilvaThere's laughter in the courtroom as the gas goes out of Mr Wilkinson's chair and he sinks out of view.There is a gasp in the courtroom, but only briefly, as Mr Wilkinson resurfaces and it is apparent he is ok."We do this to all our witnesses," Justice Christopher Beale jokes, to laughter in the courtroom.Even Erin Patterson has a wry smile on her face."I feel secure," Mr Wilkinson says, and we carry on.Copy linkKey Event4m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:19amErin raises alleged cancer after lunchJBy Judd BoazIan Wilkinson says following the lunch, Erin Patterson told the guests her medical concerns."After the lunch Erin announced that she had cancer," he says."She believed it was very serious, life-threatening."He says she asked the guests' advice about telling the children about what she called "this threat to my life".Ian says Erin told the guests about a diagnostic test she'd had that showed a tumour on a scan.He tells the court that Don spoke first and said it would be best to be honest with the children."In a moment of tension like that, maybe more time passes than you think, but I would say it was a relatively short conversation," he says.Ian says the conversation was broken up by the arrival of one of Erin's child with a friend.Copy link9m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:13amThe hearing has resumedJBy Joseph DunstanPastor Ian Wilkinson, the sole surviving guest of Erin Patterson's lunch, is giving evidence.He's being examined by prosecutor Jane Warren.Before the break, they'd been moving chronologically through the events leading up to the lunch.He'd shared that the guests at Erin's lunch had little space for cake and fruit after the substantial beef Wellington meals, which also included mashed potatoes and green beans.Copy link18m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:05amThe court has taken a short breakJBy Joseph DunstanThere's a pause in the hearings to give jurors and the legal teams a break.We'll bring you more updates once the hearing resumes.Copy link23m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:00amGuests have cake and fruit for dessertJBy Judd BoazIan says Gail had brought a cake to the lunch, while Heather had organised a fruit platter.But he tells the court that the five of them did not eat much of either."Not much cake was consumed, not much fruit was consumed, we were all fairly full from the main course," he says.Ian says he is unsure whether the same plates were used for the dessert as for the main courses.He recalls only having a glass of water at the lunch to drink.Copy linkKey Event25m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:57amBanter over splitting beef Wellingtons featured during the lunchTBy Tim CallananIan says there was a little conversation, mostly about the meal.Ian is now explaining how much of the meal was eaten by the guests and says he and Heather ate their whole meals, while Don ate his entire meal and half of Gail's beef Wellington, as Gail couldn't finish the whole meal."That's why I remember, there was talk about husbands helping their wives out by eating extra food," Mr Wilkinson says."Heather mentioned, 'oh we should have shared a beef Wellington' because she'd thought the meal was a bit on the large side for her."So that's the reason I remember who ate what, because of that little exchange."He can't say for certain how much Erin ate but says "she was definitely eating".Copy link27m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:55amErin ate from different-coloured plate, Ian tells courtJBy Judd BoazThe prosecutor has Ian confirm to the court about who ate from each plate."I ate from a grey plate," he says."Heather?" Ms Warren asks."Grey plate.""Don?""Grey plate.""Gail?""Grey plate.""Erin?""Rusty coloured plate."Copy link31m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:51amNo formal seating arrangement at lunchTBy Tim CallananIan is now talking about where guests sat at the lunch.There was no formal arrangement for where people sat."It was a casual arrangement, [we] just seemed to naturally sit down in a place," he says.He's marking where each guest sat on a photo supplied to the court.Copy linkKey Event35m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:47amOne different plate used at lunch, Ian Wilkinson saysJBy Judd BoazThe prosecution asks about the plates used at lunch, which Ian says were on the kitchen bench."There were four large grey dinner plates, and one smaller plate, a different colour, it was an orangey-tan colour," he says.Mr Wilkinson says Gail picked up two of the grey plates and Heather picked up two of the grey plates.He says Erin picked up the odd plate and carried it to her place at table.Copy linkKey Event38m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:44amBeef Wellingtons 'very much like a pasty', court hearsJBy Judd BoazIan Wilkinson says Erin plated all the food despite offers for help."Both Heather and Gail were offering to help plate up the food," Mr Wilkinson says."The offer was rejected and Erin plated."He says he did not see where the beef Wellington on the plates had come from before it was plated."Each person had an individual serve, it was very much like a pasty, if you imagine a pasty being put on a plate," Mr Wilkinson says."It was a pastry case and when we cut into it, there was steak and mushrooms."Copy link41m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:41amLunch preparations get underwayJBy Judd BoazIan Wilkinson says he did not see the beef Wellington being prepared.He tells the court he saw Erin Patterson working at the kitchen island bench opposite to where the other guests were standing."The only preparation I saw was potatoes being mashed, I saw food being plated up," he says.Copy link42m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:41amThe court is learning about Erin Patterson's dining room layoutKBy Kristian SilvaMr Wilkinson has described Erin Patterson's dining room as an open-plan kitchen and dining space.An image is being displayed to the court, showing the long rectangular wooden dining table, with five chairs around it.Underneath the table is a small grey rug.To the left of the picture, you can see the white kitchen bench where the ladies were standing around.Copy linkKey Event46m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:36amErin 'very reluctant' for guests to visit pantryTBy Tim CallananIan says the guests exchanged pleasantries with Erin Patterson and they spoke about the house.He says Erin mentioned the pantry at the house and says he recalls Heather asking whether she could look at Erin's pantry.Heather was interested in pantries at the time as the Wilkinsons had been completing some home improvements.Ian says Erin was "very reluctant about the visit to the pantry"."I thought maybe the pantry's a mess, an embarrassment," he says.He says he didn't go to look at the pantry.Copy link50m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:32amThe questions turn to the day of the lunchTBy Tim CallananIan explains that he and his wife Heather travelled together with Don and Gail Patterson to the lunch at Erin Patterson's house.He says when they first arrived, Heather noted that Simon Patterson's car was not at the property."Oh, Simon's car's not here," Mr Wilkinson recalls her saying.He recalls either Don or Gail saying the Simon would not be at the lunch.Copy link55m agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:28amIan Wilkinson recaps previous meals in JulyJBy Judd BoazThe prosecution has Ian Wilkinson recount some of the meals in the days prior to the July 29 lunch.Mr Wilkinson recounts a pub meal, a BBQ birthday dinner with family and a breakfast on the morning of July 29.He says he cannot recall what he and Heather had for breakfast on that morning."I have porridge basically every morning for breakfast, so I probably had a nice bowl of porridge," he says with a laugh.The couple then walked down the street to buy a newspaper and continued onto a local cafe for coffee with neighbours.Copy linkKey Event1h agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:22amHeather Wilkinson's diary shown to courtKBy Kristian SilvaA picture of Heather Wilkinson's colourful green 2023 diary is being shown to the court.The page covers the week of July commencing 24 July, 2023.On the critical date of June 29, it says "Erin's for lunch".Copy link1h agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:21amErin Patterson is watching Ian Wilkinson's evidence closelyKBy Kristian SilvaTo paint the courtroom scene, Ian Wilkinson is seated in the witness box wearing a black vest and grey-coloured shirt.To his right is a plastic water bottle he's brought into court, and in front he has a microphone and a computer screen to view any exhibits that might be shown to the court.The church pastor's voice is soft, and at times he smiles warmly and chuckles when providing his answers to prosecutor Jane Warren.Erin Patterson is in the court dock, about 10 metres away. She's listening intently, a neutral look on her face.Copy linkKey Event1h agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:20amLunch guest hoped 'relationship with Erin was going to improve'JBy Judd BoazMr Wilkinson says most of his interactions with Erin Patterson had come as social gatherings such as Christmas parties at Don and Gail Patterson’s house. The prosecution begins to question Mr Wilkinson about the July 29 lunch. He confirms an invite was extended at lunch to his wife Heather, although he wasn’t present at the time.Ms Warren asks him how he and Heather reacted to the lunch invite."She was fairly excited ... I really can't remember in detail," he says with a laugh."There was no reason given for the lunch, and I remember talking to Heather wondering why the sudden invitation," Mr Wilkinson says.He says the pair were "very happy to be invited"."Seemed like maybe our relationship with Erin was going to improve," he says.Mr Wilkinson says the discovered soon after that Don, Gail and Simon Patterson had also been invited.Copy link1h agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:18amIan Wilkinson says he didn't regularly visit ErinTBy Tim CallananMr Wilkinson says he didn't often visit Erin Patterson's house, but did visit her once with his wife Heather.He says they spoke to Erin on her doorstep.Ian says he dined with Erin at family occasions and Christmas parties that were usually held at Don and Gail Patterson's house.Copy linkKey Event1h agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:16am'She just seemed like a normal person', surviving guest saysTBy Tim CallananIan Wilkinson is answering questions about his relationship with Erin Patterson."I would say our relationship was friendly, amicable. It didn’t have much depth. We were more like acquaintances," he says.He explains Erin helped at the Korumburra Baptist Church by assisting with the broadcasting of services on YouTube.Ian says they would sometimes talk about family and relations when they met at the church.He says his wife Heather saw Erin more frequently, but he didn't consider the relationship to be close.When asked what his impression was of Erin, he says:"She just seemed like a normal person. When we met, things were friendly. We never had arguments or disputes."Copy linkShow more postsPosted 2h ago2 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 12:20am, updated 31m ago31 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:51amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)TimelineRead nextTimelineKey EventsLatestErin raises alleged cancer after lunch4m ago4 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:19amBanter over splitting beef Wellingtons featured during the lunch25m ago25 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:57amOne different plate used at lunch, Ian Wilkinson says35m ago35 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:47amBeef Wellingtons 'very much like a pasty', court hears38m ago38 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:44amErin 'very reluctant' for guests to visit pantry46m ago46 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:36amHeather Wilkinson's diary shown to court1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:22amLunch guest hoped 'relationship with Erin was going to improve'1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:20am'She just seemed like a normal person', surviving guest says1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:16amIan Wilkinson called to the witness box1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:05amGood morning from inside Courtroom 41h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 12:58amWho's who and when did things happen?1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 12:31amWhat happened in court yesterday?1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 12:27amIan Wilkinson arrives at the court1h ago1 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 12:24amWelcome to today's blog2h ago2 hours agoTue 6 May 2025 at 12:12amTop StoriesNationals deputy leader 'shattered' she will likely lose Senate seatTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Perin Davey listens to a press conference by Water Minister Tanya Plibersek at Parliament HouseGreens' Adam Bandt in danger as seat of Melbourne remains on knife's edgeTopic:ElectionsSolar uptake a clue to why Australians chose batteries over nuclearTopic:Energy PolicyThe timeline prosecutors allege in the mushroom murder trialTopic:ExplainerJanelle Monáe, Diana Ross and dramatic suit reveals at this year's Met GalaTopic:Arts, Cultural and Entertainment EventsJust InWhy the head of one of the world's best orchestras still worries about scalesTopic:Classical Music20m ago20 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:02amFormer AFLW All Australian says 2025 season opener honours traditionTopic:AFL Women’s24m ago24 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:58am'This game's not going to go our way': NBA star crashes social game in MelbourneTopic:Basketball38m ago38 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 1:44amNew top cop Mike Bush to make significant changes to Victoria PoliceTopic:Police5m ago5 minutes agoTue 6 May 2025 at 2:17amMore Just InBack to top