A fatal family lunch in regional Victoria is at the centre of a high-profile murder trial that is under way in the state’s supreme court.
Erin Patterson is accused of murdering her estranged husband Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister and Simon’s aunt, Heather Wilkinson, by feeding them a meal of beef wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023.
She is accused of attempting to murder Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who also attended the lunch at Erin’s home in Leongatha. Wilkinson recovered after spending weeks in hospital.
Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the murder and attempted murder charges. The trial began on 29 April in Morwell and is expected to run for up to six weeks.
Erin Patterson
The jury has heard Erin Patterson, 50, served the four guests individual beef wellingtons when they attended her home for a family lunch on 29 July 2023. Three later died from death cap mushroom poisoning. Patterson has denied deliberately poisoning them.
Patterson invited her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, and his relatives to her house to discuss “medical issues” she had and how to break the news to her and Simon’s two children, the court heard.
Erin invited the group to lunch during a service at the Korumburra Baptist church, where Ian was the pastor, on 16 July 2023. The night before the lunch, Simon texted Patterson that he “felt uncomfortable” attending, but that he would be happy to discuss her health with her another time.
The court has heard Patterson told her lunch guests she had ovarian cancer. Both the defence and prosecution agree that she had not been diagnosed with the disease.
When Erin and her estranged husband, Simon, met in the early 2000s she was working as an RSPCA representative at the Monash city council, the court heard.
Prior to their marriage, Erin had worked as an accountant and qualified as an air traffic controller at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport.
Simon told the court Erin enjoyed studying and undertook a veterinary science and legal course during their relationship.
(July 29, 2023)
Erin Patterson hosts lunch for estranged husband Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt and uncle Heather and Ian Wilkinson. Patterson serves beef wellington.
(July 30, 2023)
All four lunch guests are admitted to hospital with gastro-like symptoms.
(August 4, 2023)
Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson die in hospital.
(August 5, 2023)
Don Patterson dies in hospital. Victoria police search Erin Patterson’s home and interview her.
(September 23, 2023)
Ian Wilkinson is discharged from hospital after weeks in intensive care.
(November 2, 2023)
Police again search Erin Patterson’s home, and she is arrested and interviewed. She is charged with three counts of murder relating to the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.
(April 28, 2025)
Jury is sworn in.
(April 29, 2025)
Murder trial begins. Jury hears that charges of attempting to murder her estranged husband Simon are dropped.
Simon Patterson
Simon Patterson, 50, is Erin’s estranged husband and the father of their two children. His parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and aunt, Heather Wilkinson, died after the lunch. His uncle, Ian Wilkinson, became ill but recovered after weeks in hospital.
Simon met Erin while part of an “eclectic” group of friends who worked together at the Monash city council in the early to mid 2000s, the court has heard. Simon worked as a civil engineer at the council.
They married in 2007, and had two children, born in 2009 and 2014. Simon said during the couple’s relationship they shared a love of travel.
There were numerous separations during the course of their relationship, culminating in a final separation in 2015. They had an amicable relationship until November 2022, the prosecution told the court.
Simon had maintained hope that the couple would reconcile, the court heard.
Gail Patterson
Gail Patterson, 70, was Simon’s mother. Gail died the day before her husband, Don, six days after the lunch.
Gail lived with Don in Korumburra, which is a 14-minute drive from where the lunch was held in Leongatha. They had both worked as school teachers.
Don Patterson
Don Patterson, 70, was Simon’s father and Gail’s husband. He died seven days after the lunch was served.
In a memorial for his parents, Simon remembered Gail and Don as “very much a team”, adding: “The fact they died on consecutive days reflected the togetherness they had.”
Simon spoke about overseas trips with his father, including to the Mt Everest base camp. Younger climbers were struck by his father’s fitness when he was then in his 60s, he said.
Don’s son, Simon, told the court his father had a love of knowledge and learning and an “interest in the world” – which he shared with Erin.
He said his father also loved rockets.
Heather Wilkinson
Heather Wilkinson, 66, was Gail’s sister and Simon’s aunt. She died on 4 August 2023.
Heather was a former school teacher and was remembered by her son at her memorial service as a wonderful mother.
Ian Wilkinson
Rev Ian Wilkinson, 70, survived the fatal mushroom lunch. Wilkinson was the pastor at the Korumburra Baptist church.
He was married to Heather for almost 45 years.
He spent weeks in hospital before being discharged in September 2023.
