Mushroom cook denies ‘wild goose chase' claim
Alleged triple-murderer Erin Patterson has denied she led health authorities on a 'wild goose chase' as they probed the mushroom poisoning of her four lunch guests.
Ms Patterson returned to the witness box at her Supreme Court trial in Morwell this week for her second week of giving evidence.
The 50-year-old is facing trial after pleading not guilty to the murder of three of her husband's family members and the attempted murder of a fourth.
Simon Patterson's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and aunt, Heather Wilkinson, died after eating a meal at Ms Patterson's home on July 29, 2023, in the country Victorian town of Leongatha. Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty, telling the jury she did not intend to harm anyone. Brooke Grebert-Craig. Credit: Supplied
Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson survived after spending about a month and a half in hospital.
Prosecutors allege Ms Patterson deliberately poisoned the guests with death cap mushrooms while her defence argues it was a tragic accident.
Giving evidence last week, Ms Patterson maintained she used dried mushrooms in the deadly lunch which she had bought from an Asian grocer in Melbourne's east in about April 2023.
She told the court she initially planned to use them in a pasta dish, but decided they would be too overpowering and stored them in a Tupperware container in her pantry.
She said she now believes she may have added foraged wild mushrooms to that container. Ms Patterson's estranged husband Simon Patterson. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia
Facing questions from Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC on Wednesday, Ms Patterson was asked if she was worried about them being too strong for the beef Wellington.
'No, I didn't think that. I thought it was the perfect dish for them,' she responded.
Dr Rogers went on to probe the exchange Ms Patterson had with Department of Health officer Sally Ann Atkinson about the Asian grocer. Dr Nanette Rogers is leading the prosecution for the Crown. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia
Ms Atkinson gave evidence she communicated with Ms Patterson over several days in earlier August amid a public health probe into the poisoning.
Text messages and calls between the pair showed the public health officer attempting to narrow down the location of the store.
Dr Rogers suggested Ms Patterson was 'very familiar' with the area, owning a home in Mount Waverley and having previously worked for Monash City Council.
The accused woman disputed this, but did say she was familiar with the adjoining areas of Glen Waverley, Oakleigh and Clayton.
Dr Rogers suggested Ms Patterson was 'deliberately vague' about the location of the Asian grocer because it was a lie.
'Incorrect,' Ms Patterson responded.
'I was doing my best to remember when it happened, but I think I was clear at all times that I didn't have a memory of the actual purchase.'
The trial, now in its seventh week, continues.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
10 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘It's got to stop': Victorian crime statistics reveal ‘rampant' uptick in offences
Sky News contributor Joe Hildebrand comments on Victorian crime statistics. 'As I keep saying, there's absolutely nothing progressive about letting crime run rampant and letting criminals onto the street,' Mr Hildebrand told Sky News host Steve Price. 'This overwhelmingly affects people in the already most socially disadvantaged suburbs, they are the ones to be far more likely victims of crime. 'It's got to stop.'
Sky News AU
11 hours ago
- Sky News AU
‘Topsy-turvy': Victorians are used to their government ‘siding with criminals'
Victoria Shadow Treasurer James Newbury says Victorians are used to their government siding with criminals. 'When you're a Victorian, the sad thing is you're used to this government siding with criminals,' Mr Newbury told Sky News host Steve Price. 'When you live in Victoria, it's topsy-turvy.'
Sky News AU
14 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Tony Mokbel receives $1 million payout after prison bashing
Former drug kingpin Tony Mokbel has received a $1 million payout from the Victorian government after a state prison bashing. Mr Mokbel sued the government after the attack left him with a brain injury. Despite the payout, Mr Mokbel will not be able to access the funds for a year, allowing victims to claim compensation from him.
