Australian Woman on Trial for Mushroom Poisoning Admits Deadly Lunch Contained Death Caps
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
An Australian woman accused of murdering three relatives of her estranged husband admitted in court Tuesday that the beef Wellington meal she served them contained deadly death cap mushrooms—but insisted the poisoning was unintentional.
Erin Patterson, 50, is on trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria for three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder following a fatal lunch held at her home in Leongatha in July 2023. Her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Heather Wilkinson, the sister of her estranged husband's mother, all died after the meal. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, was also hospitalized in critical condition but survived.
If convicted, Patterson faces life imprisonment on the murder charges and up to 25 years for attempted murder.
Taking the witness stand for the first time late Monday, Patterson testified for several hours on Tuesday. Large crowds gathered outside Latrobe Valley Courthouse as interest in the high-profile case intensified. Patterson told the court she began foraging mushrooms during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, a practice witnessed only by her children. She recounted experimenting with one of the mushrooms by frying it in butter and eating it without any ill effects.
“They tasted good and I didn’t get sick,” she said.
Patterson said she later incorporated foraged mushrooms—chopped very finely—into dishes like curries, pasta, and soups for her children. She developed a passion for exotic mushrooms, joined an online mushroom enthusiast group, and purchased a food dehydrator to preserve her finds.
Under questioning by her lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, Patterson confirmed that she now accepts the meal she served in 2023 did contain death caps. She testified that the majority of the mushrooms used came from local supermarkets but acknowledged that she may have stored them in the same container as wild mushrooms she had previously foraged, as well as others purchased from an Asian food store.
In April, Mandy told the court Patterson initially lied to investigators by claiming she had never foraged mushrooms, but insisted she did not knowingly include death caps in the meal. He also said she discarded her dehydrator in a panic after learning of the deaths.
During Tuesday’s testimony, Patterson became emotional when asked about explicit and hostile Facebook messages she had sent about her in-laws in December 2022. She described the group chat where the messages were shared as a “safe venting space” and expressed deep regret over her words.
“I wish I’d never said it. I feel very ashamed for saying it and I wish that the family didn’t have to hear that I said it,” she said through tears. “They didn’t deserve it.”
Patterson explained that tensions with her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, were escalating at the time over issues like school fees, and she had hoped her in-laws would mediate the dispute. Although formally separated since 2015 following several temporary splits, she said she remained emotionally connected to Simon and his family.
“It never changed. I was just their daughter-in-law,” she testified. “They just continued to love me.”
The court heard that Simon Patterson had been invited to the July 2023 lunch but did not attend. Prosecutors previously argued that the lunch was organized under false pretenses, suggesting Patterson told guests she had received a cancer diagnosis. On Tuesday, she admitted that she had never been diagnosed with cancer but was concerned enough by her symptoms to undergo testing.
The prosecution has alleged the poisoning was deliberate, pointing to Patterson’s inconsistent statements and arguing she lied about eating the same food as her guests or feeding the leftovers to her children. They also presented testimony from dying victim Heather Wilkinson, who reportedly told family members Patterson ate her beef Wellington from a different colored plate than the others.
Prosecutor Nanette Rogers said in her opening argument that although the motive remains unclear, the evidence suggests intent.
Patterson is expected to continue her testimony on Wednesday. She has yet to provide a detailed account of the events on the day of the lunch or face cross-examination by the prosecution.
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