By Kay Noel
Erin Patterson, an Australian woman, has been convicted of murdering three of her estranged husband’s relatives by serving them poisonous mushrooms in a beef Wellington dish. The victims were her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, who died after consuming the deadly fungi at Patterson’s home in Leongatha. Patterson was also found guilty of attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, who survived the meal.
The jury delivered the verdict after six days of deliberation, following a nine-week trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Patterson faces life imprisonment, and her sentencing date has yet to be scheduled. The prosecution argued that Patterson deliberately added death cap mushrooms to the dish, while the defense claimed it was a terrible accident due to mistakenly foraged mushrooms.
Key Details of the Case:
- Patterson’s Relationship with Victims: The prosecution highlighted strained relations between Patterson and her estranged husband’s family.
- Motive: No clear motive was established, but prosecutors suggested Patterson had a dual persona – publicly friendly, yet privately resentful towards her in-laws.
- Trial Highlights: Over 50 witnesses testified, and the trial received extensive media coverage, with several podcasts and news outlets providing live updates.
- Patterson’s Reaction: She showed no emotion during the verdict but blinked rapidly as it was read .
