The highly-publicised trial of mushroom killer Erin Patterson has officially wrapped up, with the 50-year-old found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Spanning over two months and 50 witnesses, a 12-person Supreme Court jury returned a unanimous verdict, finding her guilty of murdering in-laws Gail and Don Patterson, Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson.
Amid all the media attention surrounding the controversial trial, court-ordered suppression orders meant there was limited information publicly available about the case, plus there were limits on commentary or reporting around it. But with the verdicts delivered and the jurors discharged, we can now share a glimpse of the evidence used during the trial.
The beef Wellington meal
The trial centred around the now infamous beef Wellington served to Patterson’s guests at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023. New pics released by the Supreme Court of Victoria show the leftovers analysed by experts, which found traces of Beta-amanitin toxin, which is present in death cap mushrooms.
As reported by ABC News, a RecipeTin Eats book was also photographed in Patterson’s kitchen, with the 50-year-old telling the jury that she modified a recipe from Nagi Maehashi‘s cookbook to create the meal.
Dumping a dehydrator
A food dehydrator owned by Patterson was an item of interest through the trial. The jury heard she bought the appliance in April 28 for around $230. Patterson later admitted she lied about owning the item and dumping it at the Koonawarra tip, with CCTV footage of that trip now released to public.
The dehydrator was discovered by police days after the lunch, in August 2023, after a member of the homicide squad discovered a transaction on her bank statement.
Prosecutors argued that dumping the dehydrator demonstrated an intent to cover up her crime. It was tested, and found to have traces of death cap mushroom toxins.
Erin Patterson’s kitchen
Patterson’s home was the subject of a police search on August 5, 2023, with police capturing photos of the dining table and the kitchen where guests would have sat for the lunch.
As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, Ian Wilkinson — the surviving lunch guest — gave evidence he was seated at the head of the table, with Gail and Don to his right, and Heather and Erin seated to his left respectively.
Taking the stand, Wilkinson also testified the guests ate on four grey plates while Patterson ate on a differently coloured orange plate.
As reported by news.com.au, Patterson’s husband Simon gave evidence of a similar statement by Heather the morning following the lunch, recounting she brought up the topic as he drove her and Ian to the hospital.
“She asked me, ‘Is Erin short of crockery? Is that why she would have this different kind of coloured plate’,” he said.
“I said, ‘Yes, Erin doesn’t have that many plates’ and that may be the reason.”
Patterson herself denied she owed grey or tan coloured plates, insisting she did not even own a full set of plates. When police searched the property, they found several white and black plates, some smaller red and black plates, and a multi-coloured plate, which Patterson claimed were the only ones she owned, per the publication.
CCTV footage of leaving the hospital
The jury also saw footage from the hospital two days after the lunch when Patterson presented to medical staff, stating she was suffering from gastro-like symptoms. However, she later discharged herself, minutes after being told she may have been exposed to potentially fatal mushroom poisoning.
Taking the stand, Dr Christopher Webster explained he called Triple Zero out of concern upon realising she had left the hospital, asking police to track her down.
Patterson is set to return to court for a pre-sentence hearing later this year. Patterson will have 28 days from the date of her sentence to begin lodging an appeal, if any. Her legal team could appeal the guilty verdict itself, the sentence handed down, or both.
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