Murders and attempted murders

Australian Woman Faces Trial in Poisonous Mushroom Lunch Case

Published APR 30 2025

Story

Above: (L-R) Barrister Sophie Stafford, Lawyer Bill Doogue, Lawyer Ophelia Holloway, and Barrister Colin Mandy SC arrive at Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court in Morwell, South-Eastern Victoria, Australia, on April 30, 2025. Image credit: Martin Keep/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

Erin Patterson, 50, stood trial Wednesday for allegedly killing three relatives of her estranged husband with a poisonous mushroom-laced meal on July 29, 2023. Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Heather Wilkinson, 66, died, while Ian Wilkinson survived after weeks of hospital treatment.
Independent
The Times (UK)
Prosecutors allege Patterson poisoned her guests with intent, serving them on gray plates while using an orange plate herself. They also said her fingerprints were on a dehydrator with the mushrooms at a local garbage dump, with CCTV footage of her at the dump reportedly shown to the jury.
Sky News
CNN
BBC News
Prosecutors further argued Patterson lured guests with a fake cancer diagnosis to exclude her kids from the lunch, with phone records showing she visited areas where death cap mushrooms grew.
BBC News
guardian
Daily Mail
According to Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers, they don't intend to prove a motive. She told the jury that "you do not have to be satisfied [with] what the motive was, or even if there was one." However, Rogers has noted alleged issues surrounding Patterson's marital separation and child support payments.
BBC News
guardian
The Telegraph
Patterson's defense lawyer said she had no intention of harming her guests and that a lack of motive was important. He also admitted Patterson lied to police about never foraging for mushrooms and about owning a dehydrator, but cited her being "panicked" after her guests got sick.
CNN
Daily Mail
guardian
Patterson's estranged husband, Simon, was also invited to the lunch but declined to attend. The court heard that while they separated in 2015, they remained amicable until late 2022, when child support issues arose.
The Telegraph
BBC News
guardian

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

With overwhelming evidence against her, from the basic fact that she served poisonous mushrooms on specific plates to inviting her ex-in-laws under false pretenses, Patterson is likely guilty. What is one of the most absurd crime stories you could hear about is also a tragedy — one that will hopefully result in punishment for the killer and justice for the victims.

People

Narrative B

While there's certainly evidence against Patterson, a defendant on trial always deserves innocence until guilt is proven, especially when she explicitly says her actions were an accident. Her defense will continue to make this case until the trial is over and the jury comes to a final verdict.