Australian woman denies poisoning ex-husband’s family with mushrooms

An Australian woman has denied poisoning her ex-husband’s family members with a deadly mushroom dish.

Erin Patterson on Tuesday appeared in Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court by video from a Melbourne prison, in the southeastern state of Victoria, where she has been since her arrest back in November. She pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder and five charges of attempted murder in connection with the deaths of her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, as well as Gail’s 66-year-old sister, Heather Wilkinson.

All three victims died after a lunch on July 29, hosted by Patterson at her home in Leongatha. Patterson had invited both Don and Gail over for beef Wellington, and they were joined by Wilkinson and her husband, Ian. The next day, all four guests were hospitalized with symptoms consistent with mushroom cap poisoning.

Only Ian survived, though he remained under observation for two months and reportedly needed an emergency liver transplant.

Patterson meanwhile did not become sick after the meal.

One of the attempted murder charges relates to Ian while the other four are linked Patterson’s alleged attempts to kill her ex-husband, Simon Patterson, with whom she shares two children. Simon turned down an invitation to the July lunch and Patterson is accused of trying to murder him on three earlier occasions dating back to 2021.

If convicted, Patterson faces a sentence of up to 25 years for each attempted murder charge.

The murder counts meanwhile are punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison. She’s due to appear at Victoria state’s Supreme Court in Melbourne for the first time on May 23.