Erin Patterson murder trial: Alleged mushroom poisoner was ill, intensive care specialist reveals in court
The triple-murder trial of alleged poisoner Erin Patterson has been told she was sick with a “diarrhoeal illness” when she checked herself into hospital following the lunch.
Ms Patterson, 50, is facing trial after pleading not guilty to the murder of three of her estranged husband’s relatives and attempting to kill one more on July 29, 2023.
Prosecutors alleged she deliberately spiked a beef Wellington lunch with death cap mushrooms, while Ms Patterson’s defence say it was unintentional and a “tragic accident”.
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Called to give evidence at the trial on Wednesday, intensive care specialist and Flinders University professor Andrew Bersten said Ms Patterson’s medical records were “consistent” with her having suffered a diarrhoeal illness.
The jury was told Ms Patterson checked herself into Leongatha Hospital on July 31, complaining of abdominal cramps, nausea and diarrhoea since the evening of the lunch.
Later the same day she was transferred to Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne where she spent just over 21 hours before being discharged.
Dr Bersten confirmed the notes indicated she was discharged on August 1 with no evidence of poisoning from death cap mushrooms or any other toxic substance.
Three of her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Patterson died within a day of each other in early August from multiple organ failure due to clinically diagnosed amanita mushroom poisoning.
Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson gradually recovered and he was discharged into the rehabilitation ward on September 11.
At the start of the trial Ms Patterson’s barrister, Colin Mandy SC, told the jury his client did not dispute her guests were poisoned with death cap mushrooms but that she did not deliberately poison anyone.
“The defence case is that she didn’t intend to cause anyone any harm on that day,” he said.
“The defence case is that what happened was a tragedy and a terrible accident.”
The trial continues.
Originally published as Erin Patterson trial: Alleged mushroom poisoner was ill, intensive care specialist tells court
