A jury in the Supreme Court of Victoria has convicted 50-year-old Leongatha cook Erin Patterson of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after she deliberately laced beef Wellington parcels with lethal death cap mushrooms, prosecutors said.
Background and charges
On 29 July 2023, Patterson hosted a lunch at her home for her estranged husband’s family, serving individually wrapped beef Wellington parcels. Her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson (both 70), and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson (66) died of multiple organ failure after consuming the meal; Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson (67) survived despite eating the same dish.
At trial, Patterson faced three murder charges and one count of attempted murder. Earlier in the proceedings, prosecutors dropped some unrelated attempted-murder allegations, focusing on the deaths of her in-laws and Heather Wilkinson.
Key evidence and trial highlights
Over a nine-week trial before Justice Peter Kidd, more than 50 witnesses—including the sole survivor Ian Wilkinson—gave evidence. Investigators uncovered Patterson’s online searches for “death cap mushrooms” and found a dehydrator in her home contaminated with mushroom remnants. Fungi experts explained the mushrooms’ high toxicity and the exact lethal dose required to kill.
Prosecutors also pointed to Patterson’s strained family relationships and hidden resentment as motives. They highlighted her inconsistent statements—initially claiming she had foraged mushrooms by accident and later admitting she had lied about having cancer to explain her injuries.
In her defence, Patterson testified over eight days, maintaining the poisonings were unintentional. She told jurors she panicked when she realised her guests were ill and had no plan to harm them. However, the jury found these explanations implausible.
Verdict and sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on Monday afternoon. Patterson appeared emotionless as the foreperson read out the verdicts. She now faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment; a sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
Community reaction and next steps
The case—dubbed Australia’s “mushroom murder” trial—drew intense national and international attention for its unusual nature and detailed court revelations. Local residents in Leongatha expressed shock at the betrayal behind the fatal lunch.
Prosecutors from the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions praised Victoria Police’s meticulous investigation, while defence lawyers signalled an appeal is under consideration.
With the verdict delivered, all eyes now turn to Patterson’s upcoming sentencing hearing, where the court will weigh the severity of her deliberate breach of trust and calculated use of one of nature’s deadliest toxins.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
