Articles in this Cluster
02-05-2025
Erin Patterson, 50, is on trial in Australia accused of murdering three relatives of her estranged husband—and attempting to murder a fourth—by serving a beef Wellington allegedly laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023. Her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, testified he declined the lunch invite because he felt “uncomfortable.” Prosecutors say she gathered the guests under the pretense of revealing a cancer diagnosis, which medical tests later disproved, and that she avoided eating the toxic mushrooms herself while feigning similar symptoms. Three guests—Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson—died; Ian Wilkinson survived after nearly two months in hospital. The defense calls it a tragic accident, saying Erin also ate the meal but was less affected. The trial, expected to last six weeks, is being held in Morwell, Victoria.
Entities: Erin Patterson, Simon Patterson, death cap mushrooms, beef Wellington, Morwell, Victoria • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
02-05-2025
Erin Patterson, 50, is on trial in Australia accused of murdering three of her ex-husband’s relatives and attempting to murder a fourth by serving a beef Wellington allegedly laced with death cap mushrooms at a July 29, 2023 lunch. Gail and Don Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died; Ian Wilkinson survived after seven weeks in hospital. Prosecutors say Patterson served herself from a different plate and falsely claimed she had cancer; they are not alleging a motive. Patterson’s lawyer admits the guests were poisoned by mushrooms she served but calls it a terrible accident, acknowledging she foraged mushrooms while denying intent to use death caps. Previous attempted murder charges involving her estranged husband were dropped. The trial is expected to last six weeks.
Entities: Erin Patterson, Australia, death cap mushrooms, beef Wellington, Gail Patterson • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
02-05-2025
Erin Patterson, 50, is on trial in Victoria, Australia, accused of murdering her ex-in-laws Gail and Donald Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Heather’s husband Ian, by serving a beef wellington allegedly laced with death cap mushrooms at a 29 July 2023 lunch. Her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, testified that their relationship had deteriorated after financial separation issues and that he repeatedly declined her lunch invitations, including this one, because he felt uncomfortable. Prosecutors say she lied about having cancer to frame the lunch as a discussion about telling their children—ensuring the children wouldn’t attend. Three guests died within a week; Ian Wilkinson survived after seven weeks in hospital. Patterson denies all charges, calling the deaths a terrible accident. The trial continues through June.
Entities: Erin Patterson, Simon Patterson, Gail Patterson, Donald Patterson, Heather Wilkinson • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
02-05-2025
Erin Patterson, 50, is on trial in Victoria’s Supreme Court for three murders and one attempted murder after a July 2023 lunch at her Leongatha home where prosecutors say she served beef Wellington containing deadly Amanita (death cap) mushrooms to her estranged husband’s parents and his aunt and uncle. Three guests died from liver failure; a fourth survived. Prosecutors allege she staged the adults-only lunch under false pretenses, did not eat the same dish, and later feigned illness and lied to police about a food dehydrator and foraging. The defense says she also ate the meal, became ill, and that the deaths were a tragic accident, not intentional poisoning. Patterson has pleaded not guilty. The high-profile, six-week trial includes a sequestered jury; early testimony detailed Erin and Simon Patterson’s long, intermittently strained relationship, their separation, and the unusual nature of the invitation that Simon declined.
Entities: Erin Patterson, Victoria’s Supreme Court, Leongatha, Amanita (death cap) mushrooms, beef Wellington • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
