Rare for alleged poisonous mushroom killer to host lunch, husband says
Summary
Erin Patterson, a 50-year old woman, is on trial for allegedly poisoning three family members with a mushroom-laden lunch, and an attempt to poison another. While she pleads not guilty, saying she unknowingly served the poison, this case is being heard in court.Key Facts
- Erin Patterson is facing charges of murdering three relatives by poison and attempting murder on a fourth relative.
- The alleged poisoning event happened during a beef wellington lunch at Erin's home in July 2023.
- Three people died days after the meal, including Erin's former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70 years old, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66.
- A man named Ian Wilkinson survived after spending weeks in the hospital due to poisoning.
- Erin and her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, exchanged messages the day before the fatal lunch.
- The couple had multiple periods of separation and reconciliation between their marriage in 2007 and separation in 2015.
- Simon Patterson claims that their relationship changed significantly in 2022 when Erin was upset about him declaring himself separated in his tax return.
- According to Simon, Erin received a large inheritance from her grandmother, estimated at A$2m ($1.3m; £964,000), which was paid out over time.
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