By Martin Cole-
Erin Patterson,(pictured) a 49-year-old woman from regional Victoria, has appeared before the Victorian Supreme Court for the first time, facing serious charges of murder and attempted murder of her relatives
Patterson is accused of lacing a meal with deadly mushrooms, leading to the deaths of three of her relatives and the attempted murder of five others.
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The charges stem from a lunch held at Patterson’s home in Leongatha on July 29, 2023.
The victims, who were all guests at the lunch, included Don and Gail Patterson, the parents of her estranged husband Simon Patterson, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson.
Tragically, Don, Gail, and Heather died following the meal.
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In addition to these three counts of murder, Erin Patterson is also charged with five counts of attempted murder. The allegations include three separate attempts to murder Simon Patterson, her estranged husband, in 2021 and 2022.
The remaining two counts of attempted murder relate to the July 29 lunch, with accusations that she also intended to kill Simon Patterson and Heather Wilkinson’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who was present at the meal.
Patterson’s case was presented before Judicial Registrar Tim Freeman on Thursday. The court appearance marks the beginning of what is expected to be a complex and closely watched legal battle.
Patterson pleaded not guilty to the three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on May 7.
Her case was fast-tracked to the Supreme Court in Melbourne,
The details of how the alleged poisoning was carried out remain under investigation, with forensic experts likely to play a crucial role in determining the nature and origin of the deadly mushrooms.
Victoria’s Judicial Proceedings Reports Act prevents media reporting of most events in the courtroom during the pre-trial phase of the case, when a jury has not yet been empanelled.
Media outlets will be allowed to report when a trial date has been selected. They will also be able to cover the trial itself and provide regular daily updates.
The case continues in August.
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