Erin Patterson trial latest: Australian woman found guilty of murdering in-laws with death cap mushroom lunch

Trial captures international attention

The 10-week trial in Morwell, a town around two hours drive east of Melbourne where Patterson had requested the case be heard, attracted huge global interest.

Local and international media descended on Court 4 at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court, the nearest court to Patterson's home, despite being warned of lengthy delays.

State broadcaster ABC's daily podcast on proceedings was consistently among the most popular in Australia during the trial, while several documentaries on the case are already in production.

Rachel Clun7 July 2025 08:02

Death cap mushrooms: What are the symptoms of mushroom poisoning?

The death cap is a large fungus up to around 15cm across and 15cm tall with a domed or white cap and an off-white stem.

These mushrooms can be located in parks, gardens and nature strips, the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria has said on its website.

It often resides under exotic trees, especially oak (Quercus). There have also been reports of Amanita phalloides growing under Eucalyptus in Algeria and Tanzania, but there have been no confirmed sightings of the death cap away from exotic trees in Australia, the website added.

In Victoria, the death cap is often found widely across Melbourne in suburbs including Ashburton, Burwood, Camberwell, Canterbury, Clayton, Deepdene, East Malvern, Emerald, Heathmont, Heidelberg, Kew, Sandringham, South Yarra, Surrey Hills and Wheelers Hill.

More here.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 July 2025 07:44

In pics: Erin Patterson's defence team leaves court after verdict

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 July 2025 07:37

What happened at the July lunch?

On 29 July 2023, Erin Patterson hosted her estranged husband’s parents Don and Gail, as well as Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and Heather’s husband, church pastor Ian Wilkinson.

She had invited them all for lunch at her home two weeks prior. Patterson had also invited her husband, Simon, but he declined. The pair had been separated since 2015.

She served her guests beef wellington, which is a beef fillet wrapped in a mushroom paste and covered with pastry, with a side of mashed potato and green beans.

The day after the lunch, all four guests fell ill and went to hospital complaining of nausea and diarrhoea.

Within days, Don, Gail and Heather had died, while Ian Wilkinson survived after receiving an organ transplant.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 July 2025 07:26

Patterson to be sentenced at later date

Erin Patterson, 50, has now been found guilty of the murders of her mother-in-law, Gail Patterson, father-in-law, Donald Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband.

It was not disputed that Patterson served her family a lunch containing deadly death cap mushrooms, but she had pleaded not guilty to all charges, saying the deaths were accidental.

She will be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum life sentence.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 July 2025 07:25

'It is what it is,' says Patterson's friend

Outside the court, reporters from throughout Australia crowded around friends of Erin Patterson as they left after the hearing.

"I'm saddened, but it is what it is," said one friend, Ali Rose, who wore sunglasses and fought back tears.

Asked what she thought Patterson felt as the verdicts were read, Ms Rose said: "I don't know."

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 July 2025 07:05

Bizarre case of woman who killed her ex-husband’s relatives with beef wellington

Patterson is a mother of two from the Victorian town of Leongatha, east of Melbourne.

She has been charged with murdering Don Patterson, Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and charged with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.

The defendant had also been charged with three counts of attempted murder relating to her husband Simon Patterson, but those charges were dropped on Tuesday, before the trial opened.

Patterson has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Rachel Clun has more.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 July 2025 06:54

Victoria police issue statement

The Victoria police, in a statement, said: "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," a spokesperson for the police told ABC.

The police added that the Patterson and Wilkinson families have asked for privacy, and would not issue a statement via the authorities.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 July 2025 06:52

Mushroom killer Erin Patterson found guilty on all counts

A court in Australia on Monday convicted Erin Patterson of murdering three elderly relatives of her estranged husband with a meal laced with poisonous mushrooms as one of the biggest criminal trials gripping the country concluded.

Patterson, 50, was found guilty of murdering three people and attempting to murder a fourth person. She was charged with killing her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law, Donald Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband.

Patterson cooked and served her estranged husband’s parents and his aunt and uncle beef wellington at her Leongatha home in July 2023. The next day, all four guests were hospitalised with symptoms of death cap mushroom poisoning, and later, three of them died.

Read more here:

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar7 July 2025 06:40