Australia’s Most Shocking Trial: Woman Accused of Poisoning Three In-Laws with Mushrooms Testifies in Court
On a quiet winter day in 2023, a small lunch in a rural Australian town turned deadly, sparking a case that has gripped the nation.
Erin Patterson, a 50-year-old mother of two, hosted a meal at her home in Leongatha, Victoria, that led to the deaths of three people and a high-profile triple-murder trial.
What happened at that lunch, and why is Patterson now facing serious charges? Here’s the story of the case, step by step.
Erin Patterson Mushroom Case
On July 29, 2023, Erin Patterson invited four guests to her home in Leongatha, a small town about 135 kilometers from Melbourne.
The guests were her estranged in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister and her husband, Heather and Ian Wilkinson, aged 66 and 68.
They were served beef Wellington, a dish made with beef, pastry, and mushrooms, along with mashed potatoes and green beans.
The meal seemed ordinary, but the next day, all four guests fell seriously ill. They were rushed to the hospital with symptoms of severe poisoning.
Tragically, Don, Gail, and Heather died within days. Ian Wilkinson survived after a liver transplant and nearly two months in the hospital.
Tests later confirmed the cause: death cap mushrooms, a highly toxic species, were in the beef Wellington.
Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon, was invited but did not attend, a decision that may have saved his life. Patterson herself reported feeling unwell, telling hospital staff she had vomiting and diarrhea.
Her children ate leftovers from the meal but were unharmed, as their portions reportedly did not contain mushrooms.
The incident raised immediate questions: how did deadly mushrooms end up in the dish, and was it an accident or something more sinister?
Investigation and Charges
Police quickly turned their attention to Patterson. On August 5, 2023, they searched her home, seizing items like a food dehydrator, which later tested positive for traces of death cap mushrooms and had Patterson’s fingerprints.
They also found evidence that Patterson had visited websites about death cap mushrooms and had been to areas where they grow, like Outtrim and Loch.
Prosecutors alleged she lied about having cancer to lure her guests to the lunch and reset one of her phones, suggesting an attempt to hide evidence.
On November 2, 2023, Patterson was arrested and charged with three counts of murder for the deaths of Don, Gail, and Heather, and one count of attempted murder for Ian Wilkinson.
She pleaded not guilty, and her defense team called the poisoning a “terrible accident.”
The Trial Unfolds
The trial began on April 29, 2025, at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court in Morwell, Victoria. It drew massive attention, with media outlets and podcasts covering every detail.
Prosecutors argued that Patterson deliberately poisoned her guests with “murderous intent,” pointing to her actions after the lunch, like disposing of the dehydrator and lying about foraging for mushrooms.
They presented phone data suggesting she visited areas where death cap mushrooms grow and showed text messages where she expressed frustration with her estranged husband’s family.
Patterson’s defense, led by Colin Mandy, argued she had no motive to kill. They highlighted her positive relationship with her in-laws, with messages showing her calling Gail “the best mother-in-law.”
Witnesses, including Simon Patterson and Ian Wilkinson, described the family dynamics, noting tensions but no clear reason for the murder.
On May 15, 2025, a juror was removed for possible misconduct, but the trial continued with 14 jurors.
“The defense will call Erin Patterson.”
On June 2, 2025, the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court in Morwell, Victoria, witnessed a critical moment in the Erin Patterson triple-murder trial.
After weeks of prosecution witnesses and evidence, Erin Patterson, the 50-year-old mother accused of poisoning three relatives with death cap mushrooms, took the stand as the first defense witness.
Her testimony, marked by emotional revelations and personal struggles, offered the jury a glimpse into her life, relationships, and state of mind leading up to the fatal lunch on July 29, 2023.
This day was pivotal, as Patterson’s words aimed to counter the prosecution’s narrative of deliberate murder, instead framing the tragedy as an accident.
Patterson’s testimony began in the afternoon, following the prosecution resting its case after 24 days of evidence.
Her defense lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, announced, “The defense will call Erin Patterson,” signaling her decision to speak directly to the jury.
Dressed in a paisley-patterned shirt, black pants, and sandals, Patterson appeared nervous, her hands trembling as she sipped water.
She spoke softly, often holding back tears, as she detailed her personal struggles and her relationships with her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, and his family.
Patterson described a “never-ending battle” with low self-esteem that had plagued her for most of her adult life.
She told the court that by 2023, her self-image had worsened, exacerbated by weight gain and reduced ability to exercise.
She revealed plans for gastric bypass surgery to address her weight, a decision she said stemmed from feeling “less good” about herself as she aged.
…
This personal disclosure painted a picture of a woman grappling with self-worth, a theme her defense likely used to humanize her to the jury.
The testimony also delved into her relationship with Simon Patterson, which began in 2004 when they met at Monash City Council in Melbourne.
Initially friends, they started dating in 2005 and married in 2007 at Korumburra Anglican Church. Patterson shared that she was a “fundamentalist atheist” when they met, while Simon was a Christian.
A significant moment came in early 2005 when she attended a service at Korumburra Baptist Church, where Ian Wilkinson, one of her alleged victims, delivered a sermon.
She described this as a “spiritual experience” that led to her conversion to Christianity, a shift that shaped her life and relationships.
Patterson spoke warmly of her early interactions with her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, who invited her for meals “almost monthly” during her early relationship with Simon.
However, she admitted that by early 2023, she felt a growing “distance” with Don and Gail, partly because she no longer lived in the same town.
Her relationship with Simon had also deteriorated, becoming “functional” and focused on logistical matters like co-parenting their two children.
She recounted multiple separations between 2009 and 2015, emphasizing that despite these struggles, they prioritized their children’s well-being.
Patterson’s emotional account of her son’s “very traumatic” birth in 2009, involving an emergency cesarean, underscored the challenges she faced as a mother and wife.
The court also heard about her interactions with the wider Patterson family, including Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, and her husband, Ian.
Patterson’s testimony highlighted her efforts to maintain ties with her in-laws, despite tensions. She denied any malicious intent, aligning with her defense’s argument that the poisoning was a “terrible accident.”
…
The prosecution, however, had previously presented evidence suggesting Patterson lied about foraging mushrooms and visited areas where death cap mushrooms grew, which they argued pointed to premeditation.
Patterson’s 41-minute testimony concluded with the court adjourning for the day. Her emotional delivery and focus on personal struggles aimed to challenge the prosecution’s portrayal of her as a calculated killer.
The jury, tasked with weighing her words against weeks of forensic and circumstantial evidence, left the courtroom with much to consider. Patterson was set to continue her testimony on June 3, 2025, promising further insights into her defense.
The Erin Patterson mushroom case remains a mystery wrapped in tragedy. Was it a horrific mistake, or a calculated act? The answer lies in the hands of the jury.
You might also want to read: $8.5M Worth of Illegal Mushrooms Found in This Man’s Home
