Erin Patterson's marriage examined as mushrooms triple-murder trial continuesBy court reporter Kristian SilvaTopic:Courts1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 4:31amThe triple-murder trial of Erin Patterson continues in the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell. (AAP Image: James Ross )In short:The ups and downs of Erin and Simon Patterson's relationship has come under examination as the second week of her trial begins in the Latrobe Valley Law Courts.Ms Patterson is charged with killing three relatives by serving them a meal containing poisonous mushrooms, but her defence lawyer says the deaths were a tragic accident.What's next?The trial is expected to run for several weeksabc.net.au/news/erin-patterson-mushroom-murder-trial-monday-may-5/105252264Link copiedShareShare articleSimon Patterson has denied asking his estranged wife Erin if she used a food dehydrator to prepare a poisonous meal, before she dumped it at a local tip.Mr Patterson was testifying for the third day in his wife's triple-murder trial, where she stands accused of poisoning her in-laws with a beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms.Listen to the latest Mushroom Case Daily episodesPhoto shows An illustration of Erin Patterson with her face inside the shape of a mushroom.The ABC podcast will bring you all the key updates from the trial of Erin Patterson over an allegedly poisonous mushroom lunch.Lawyers for Ms Patterson — who has pleaded not guilty — say she does not dispute that Don and Gail Patterson, along with Heather and Ian Wilkinson, suffered from toxic mushroom poisoning.However they argue she did not deliberately poison them and had no intent to cause them harm.Under cross examination, Mr Patterson was asked by defence barrister, Colin Mandy SC, about a conversation in hospital on July 31, 2023, two days after the fatal lunch.The court heard the discussion between the pair turned to a food dehydrator Ms Patterson owned and had been using.Mr Mandy asked Mr Patterson if he said, "Is that what you used to poison them?""I did not say that to Erin," Mr Patterson replied.Ian and Heather Wilkinson, and Don and Gail Patterson. All four were hospitalised after suspected mushroom poisoning during a lunch at Leongatha In July 2023. (Supplied)Last week, prosecutors alleged Ms Patterson lied to police about purchasing the dehydrator and using it to prepare mushrooms for the beef Wellington meal.Six days after the meal, the dehydrator was found by police at a local tip.Ms Patterson's lawyers concede she dumped the dehydrator but argued she panicked about the lunch guests falling sick and was not trying to cover up a crime.Loading YouTube contentThe trial previously heard Ms Patterson had told her husband and the lunch guests a fortnight earlier that she had important medical news to share. At the lunch, Ms Patterson falsely claimed she had cancer.Mr Patterson — who was a late withdrawal from the lunch — said he was "puzzled" that his wife would flag the serious "news" two weeks in advance."I didn't feel fully confident that there was a serious medical issue to discuss," he said.Simon Patterson continued giving evidence on Monday, in the triple-murder trial against his wife Erin Patterson. (AAP: James Ross)On Monday, the up-and-down relationship between the Pattersons was again a topic of questions directed at Mr Patterson.The court was shown messages Ms Patterson sent a family group chat in December 2022, where she complained about her husband formally declaring himself as separated on his tax return.Ms Patterson believed the change meant she could no longer claim about $15,000 a year in tax benefits, and that she had been short changed a further $90,000 in child support payments that would have been received if the government knew the couple had not been together for several years."I foolishly trusted him to do right by me and the kids when it came to the crunch," she wrote in the group chat.Erin Patterson's trial is expected to run for several weeks. (ABC News: Paul Tyquin)Tensions between the pair were also strained when Ms Patterson moved their children to a different school without telling her husband.Mr Patterson appeared emotional and tilted his head back when describing another "extremely inflammatory" message that his wife had allegedly sent the family group chat.The message was not shown to the court, and Mr Patterson did not explicitly say what it was about."It was having a crack at me," he said.The trial, before Justice Christopher Beale, continues.Posted 1h ago1 hours agoMon 5 May 2025 at 4:31amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionLIVEPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseAlbanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign AffairsPhoto shows a middle-aged man wearing glasses pointing'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A young coupleNationals MPs '100 per cent' back nuclear being kept as Coalition dissects lossTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows A man in a shirt and hat.Albanese to 'slow the pace' as factions jostle over cabinet reshuffleTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Albanese, at a press conference, raises his hands while speaking.Popular nowLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionLIVEPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseJacqui Lambie battling Pauline Hanson's daughter Lee for Senate spotTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows A woman with blonde hair in a composite with a woman with brunette hair.Erin Patterson told online friends of 'controlling' marriage, court hearsLIVEPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirtRelated topicsCourtsLeongathaMorwellTop StoriesLiberals closing gap in Goldstein, Bradfield as postal votes favour CoalitionTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows Zoe Daniel looks into the distance at a press conference at Parliament HouseAlbanese says he received 'very warm' phone call from Donald TrumpTopic:Foreign Affairs'Laughable policies': Voters explain what went wrong for CoalitionTopic:ElectionsNationals MPs '100 per cent' back nuclear being kept as Coalition dissects lossTopic:Federal GovernmentAlbanese to 'slow the pace' as factions jostle over cabinet reshuffleTopic:Federal GovernmentJust InWhat moving to a rural town for love is really likeTopic:Perspective13m ago13 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 6:00amTeal MP Zoe Daniel's high-profile seat is just one of 16 still in doubtTopic:Explainer14m ago14 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 5:59amForeign gold miner beefs up takeover offer for WA partner to $3.7bTopic:Gold20m ago20 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 5:53amPhilippine president's reported half-sister fined over conduct on Jetstar flightTopic:Courts31m ago31 minutes agoMon 5 May 2025 at 5:42amMore Just InBack to top