Erin Patterson found guilty
And with that, we are going to put this blog to bed. It was a big day. Before we go, let’s go over the big moments of today.
The jury found Erin Patterson caused the death of her lunch guests.
On the three charges of murder she was found guilty. On the charge of attempted murder she was also been found guilty.
As the verdict was read out, Patterson did not drop her gaze from the jury.
The gallery was asked to leave the court so Patterson could speak to her lawyers privately, with the hearing concluding.
You can read the full rundown here:
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Thomas continues:
I think it’s very important that we remember that three people have died and a person … nearly died and was seriously injured as a result of what has led to these charges. I ask that we acknowledge those people and not forget them.
He said the Patterson and Wilkinson families have asked for privacy and asked for media to respect this request.
Homicide squad detective speaks outside court
Det Insp Dean Thomas from the Victoria police homicide squad has just made a brief statement to media outside Latrobe Valley law courts following the guilty verdicts in the Erin Patterson case.
He says:
I would just like to acknowledge the decision of the jury today and I’d also like to acknowledge investigators who have worked on this investigation since July 2023 right through to today. I would also like to thank specialist services that have assisted us through the course of the investigation.
I would also like to acknowledge and thank the office of public prosecutions, the prosecution team in particular for the work they have put in, in the lead up to this trial and obviously during this trial.
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Channel Nine to air hour-long special about mushroom case
Channel Nine has also announced a one-hour special that will take viewers inside the courtroom, that will air tomorrow night.
In a statement, Channel Nine said:
This one-hour special, filmed over the course of the trial, delivers the full story as you’ve never heard it, with previously unseen recounts from the proceedings and an FBI-style profile analysis of Erin Patterson.
It delves into the mysterious events surrounding the fatal lunch in the quiet country town of Leongatha, where three guests died and a fourth was left fighting for his life after consuming a dish of beef wellington laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms.
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Nationals leader says case has ‘captured the nation’s attention’
The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, has just been on the ABC where he was asked about the Patterson trial. He said it was important for politicians to be careful of commentary.
Littleproud said:
This case has captured the nation’s attention for so long. I think it’s important the judicial system has been allowed to create that environment for a fair trial. And a jury of Ms Patterson’s peers have found her guilty.
Now, whether she moves forward with an appeal is her judicial right, you need to respect that. I think what we need to learn from this is obviously without having seen the evidence in any great deal, I think it’s important that politicians don’t delve into some of the commentary.
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Allen & Unwin to publish book about trial
The trial has captured global attention, with several in-depth projects in the works, including several documentaries.
This afternoon, Allen & Unwin announced it would publish a book about the trial, written by screenwriter and producer Greg Haddrick.
Haddrick said:
At the beginning, the public was convinced that Erin Patterson was guilty of deliberately murdering her in-laws.
But as the murder trial continued, genuine doubt arose that it may have been a dreadful accident after all. There are so many details omitted from the media’s daily summaries of the proceedings that make this a much bigger story than people realise.
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Judge thanks ‘excellent’ jurors for their work
After the verdicts were delivered, Beale thanked the jurors for their work over more than 10 weeks.
He described them as “excellent” and praised them for remaining in high spirits – even after the trial ended up going weeks longer than expected.
Beale said they would be exempt from appearing on another jury for 15 years.
There were initially 15 people empanelled as potential jurors – three additional people than the usual 12, in case someone fell sick or was discharged.
One juror was removed in May after the courts heard information they had discussed the case with family and friends.
Two others were balloted off after the judge gave his final directions to the jury.
In the end, seven men and five women were left to determine the verdict.
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Five key moments from Erin Patterson murder trial
Adeshola Ore was one of our key reporters covering this case, blogging live for several weeks, including from Morwell. Now, she writes about five key moments she saw during the trial. You can read it here:
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Victoria police issues statement on guilty verdict
Victoria police has released a statement relation to the guilty verdict. It reads:
Victoria Police acknowledges the decision of the jury today.
Our thoughts are with the respective families at this time and we acknowledge how difficult these past two years have been for them. We will continue to support them in every way possible following this decision.
We would also like to acknowledge the work of homicide squad detectives over the course of this complex investigation, as well as the significant support received from a number of other areas across Victoria Police.
The Patterson and Wilkinson families would not be supplying a statement via Victoria police and have asked for privacy, the police said.
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Patterson’s barrister and police informant leave court without comment
Erin Patterson’s barrister, Colin Mandy SC, left the court without making comment.
Det Leading Sen Const Stephen Eppingstall, the informant or officer in charge of the investigation, also left now without commenting.
Police have also left but have said they will return to make a brief statement to media in about an hour.
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As we wait for the prosecutor, Nanette Rogers SC, and Patterson’s barrister, Colin Mandy SC, to leave the court, I’m reflecting on the moment we heard the verdict.
Justice Christopher Beale had asked everyone in the court to remain quiet throughout the short hearing but he didn’t really have to – you could hear a pin drop in courtroom four.
Media, members of the public and a sole friend of Patterson’s all sat in silence as the charges were individually read. After each, the jury’s foreperson said guilty.
Patterson, who was seated at the back of the court, stared at the jury. The public gallery all turned her heads to see how she would respond. She was expressionless.
After weeks of evidence, dozens of witnesses, days of deliberations, it was all over within a few minutes.
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We are waiting to see if Erin Patterson’s legal team addresses the large media presence outside. Earlier, a spokesperson for the Patterson family left court without giving a statement.
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Sentencing hearing to come
We don’t yet have a sentencing date, but that will be the next step in the process.
There will be a sentencing hearing, with submissions and arguments from the prosecution and defence about what they think the sentence should be.
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Patterson’s friend says she is ‘saddened’ by verdict
One of Patterson’s friends was surrounded by media as she left the court.
She did not say much as reporters chased her to her car, but did tell them she was “saddened” by the verdict:
I’m saddened. It is what it is.
She said Patterson had told her she would “see her soon” before she left the court.
I’m her friend. I will visit her.
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Patterson speaks to lawyers privately as hearing concludes
No members of the Patterson or Wilkinson families attended court for the verdict.
The gallery has been asked to leave the court so Patterson can speak to her lawyers privately, which concludes today’s hearing.
I’ve headed outside to a huge press pack of journalists from across Australia and the world.
A friend of Patterson’s has left the court in tears. She says she is upset by the verdict.
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After a trial lasting more than two months, Erin Patterson has been found guilty on four charges.
For a full recap of the verdict, you can read this piece from my colleagues Nino Bucci and Adeshola Ore:
Follow along as our coverage continues.
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Jury discharged
The jury has now been discharged.
Our reporter Benita Kolovos is in the court and says Erin Patterson was stoic as the charges were read. There were no tears.
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As the verdict was read out, Patterson did not drop her gaze from the jury. She looked ahead calmly.
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Jury finds Erin Patterson guilty on all charges
The jury has found Erin Patterson caused the death of her lunch guests.
On the three charges of murder she has been found guilty. On the charge of attempted murder she has also been found guilty.
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Patterson has arrived in court for the verdict.
She’s currently speaking to her lawyers, led by Colin Mandy SC, before court begins any minute.
Patterson is wearing a black blouse with a paisley print and has worn her hair out and straight. She appears calm.
Patterson, flanked by two security guards, now has her eyes closed and is taking deep breaths as we await the arrival of Justice Christopher Beale.
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Lunchtime rush at Morwell court
I’m at Latrobe Valley law courts in Morwell, where the jury are have indicated they’ve reached their verdict after seven days of deliberations in the triple murder trial of Erin Patterson.
The court was on a lunch break when the jury made their decision. Many of the dozens of journalists who have been camped in Morwell for the entire 11-week trial were out for lunch, sparking a literal dash through the city to get back to court.
Now, we’re all waiting outside court room 4 to get one of the limited seats inside to watch the verdict.
Members of the public are also queueing up, with some having left their handbags out the front of the court to save their place in the line.
I’ll continue to provide updates throughout the afternoon.
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The court is expected to reconvene at 2.15 and we will bring you updates as we have them.
Erin Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to a beef wellington lunch she served at her house in Leongatha, in regional Victoria, on 29 July 2023.
She is accused of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and her estranged husband’s aunt, Heather Wilkinson. The attempted murder charge relates to Heather’s husband, Ian.
Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution alleges Patterson deliberately poisoned her lunch guests with “murderous intent”, but her lawyers say the poisoning was a tragic accident.
Court to reconvene as jury indicates verdicts reached
Welcome to our live blog of Erin Patterson’s triple murder trial.
The jury has indicated it has reached verdicts in the case of the mushroom lunch cook.
The court is expected to reconvene shortly. We’ll bring you live updates.
Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to a beef wellington lunch she served at her house in Leongatha, in regional Victoria, on 29 July 2023. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
