Erin Patterson live updates: Ian Wilkinson offers forgiveness to mushroom killer for her crimes

Court will be resuming at 2.15pm AEST.

At that point, evidence will be given via video link by the corrections department.

It is expected that we will hear about Erin Patterson’s condition at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, a maximum-security women’s prison in Ravenhall in Melbourne’s west.

In one of the most emotional moments of the victim impact statements being heard, a person who Erin Patterson attempted to murder, offered her forgiveness, but questioned her actions.

Ian Wilkinson, husband to murdered Heather Wilkinson, and in-law to Don and Gail Patterson, said Erin Patterson had “callous and calculated disregard for my life and the life of those I love”.

“What foolishness possesses a person to think that murder is the solution?” he said, giving his incredibly emotional statement.

“I bear her no ill will (to Erin Patterson),” he said, offering his forgiveness.

“My prayer for her is that she will use her time in jail wisely to become a better person.

“I am no longer Erin Patterson’s victim, and she has become the victim of my kindness.”

Now that the court has heard victim impact statements, a break has been called.

The court will resume at 2.15pm AEST.

When the court resumes, video evidence will be given by the corrections department.

Following a string of deeply emotional victim impact statements that were read aloud in court, the Crown confirmed an additional 28 statements had been filed, but would not be read out.

The victim impact statements have now been tendered.

Simon Patterson described the toll and ongoing impact his wife’s actions had on their children.

“They have also been robbed of hope for the kind of relationship with their mother that every child naturally (has),” he said.

“They face the daunting challenge of what she has done and then, who she might be.”

Mr Patterson said his children, solely under his care, live in a “safe, open and honest” home, but that his murderer wife had given them hurdles to overcome.

“None of these hurdles my children face are easy to overcome,” he said, adding the impact of Erin’s actions will be something they “wrestle with for the rest of our lives”.

Erin Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson, who chose not to attend the fatal lunch, has had his victim impact statement read to the court.

“I miss my parents and aunt...more than words can express,” his statement said.

“I am thankful, however, that they are with god and I will see them again.”

Mr Patterson, who is still legally married to the convicted mass murderer, said the “brilliant legacy” of his parents, Don and Gail, lives on.

He spoke to their heath, and his family’s health, adding he would spend the next 30 years of his life knowing they would likely have been alive “if Erin had not murdered them”.

Tim Patterson said, like so many others, he still questions “why” Erin Patterson chose to fatally poison her victims, who he said were so loved.

“Like everyone else, I still ask myself why?” his statement said.

“Why did Erin choose to focus her expertly hidden wrath on the most selfless people I know?”

Mr Patterson said he had not fully accepted Don and Gail’s death.

“In my mind, it is just that we haven’t seen each other for a while,” the statement said.

“They’re still there in Korumburra. Sitting by the fire, reading books and sharing their love of life, family and god.”

The court has heard a victim impact statement from Tim Patterson, Don and Gail’s nephew.

“How do you measure such a deep sense of loss?” his statement began.

“How do you answer what is the emotional impact?

“What I do know is the week following (the beef Wellington lunch) was the worst of my life.”

Tim’s statement spoke about the health impacts Erin Patterson’s actions have had, including heart palpitations and anxiety, describing life as a “nightmare that became real”.

Lead prosecutor for the Crown, Dr Nanette Rogers SC, read a victim statement from Lynette, the sister of Heather Wilkinson and Gail Patterson.

Describing the sense of loss she feels daily, Lynette highlighted a confronting realisation.

She said that when Don Patterson’s birthday came after his death, her mind reminded her of a tradition.

“I needed to get him a chocolate eclair. I cried instead.”

In Ms Dubois’ statement, she spoke of the life Erin Patterson created for her children.

Patterson’s death cap mushroom-laced lunch became world news, thrusting her family into the spotlight and giving them grief to confront.

“As a mother, I will never understand how you could willingly choose this for your children,” Ms Dubois said about Patterson.