The woman was accused of murdering three members of her former husband’s family who provided them with poisonous mushrooms and took a stance in Australian court on Monday as the highly publicized triple murder trial approached its conclusion.
Erin Patterson, 50, is accused of killing her former parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, Gail Patterson's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, and also attempting to murder Wilkinson's husband Ian, who, 68, has occupied a meal at the home of four in July 2023 at Patterson, Victoria.
In a murder case in Victoria, she could face 25 years in prison for attempted murder.
Her attorney, Colin Mandy, had previously told the Victoria Supreme Court during a six-week trial that the poisoning was accidental.
Archives – Australia's Erin Patterson is charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder, and she allegedly served her ex-husband's family with a lunch time containing a death cap mushroom.
Jason Edwards/Newspix via Getty Images
Patterson's appearance as a defense witness on Monday marks the first speech the 50-year-old has spoken since pleading not guilty to all charges last May.
She served beef Wellington, mashed potatoes and mung beans at her home in the rural town of Leongartha on July 29, 2023. Ian Wilkinson survived a liver transplant.
Get the daily national news
Get news, politics, economics and current events titles delivered to your inbox every day.
In Mandy's doubts, Patterson reveals low self-esteem, spiritual transfer, the complex birth of his son and personal battles with his estranged husband's family in recent years.
“For months, I felt like I had a relationship with the wider Patterson family, especially Don and Gale, maybe there was a greater distance or space between us,” Patterson said. “We met each other.”
As the trial continues, Patterson will return to witness stance on Tuesday.
The prosecution completed the introduction of the evidence to the jury earlier Monday afternoon.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
