Erin Patterson: Mushroom cook takes to the witness box at beef wellington murder trial

Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson has taken the stand to give evidence in her trial over a poisonous beef Wellington lunch, after she was called as a defence witness.

The 50-year-old is nearing the end of a Supreme Court jury trial in regional Victoria, with the prosecution completing their evidence to a jury of 14 on Monday afternoon.

Located about seven metres in front of her – with three rows of public seating as a divider — she has watched on as her husband, in-laws, friends, police and experts gave evidence.

About 3.15pm on Monday, her barrister, Colin Mandy SC, rose to his feet when asked by Justice Christopher Beale what course of action the defence would take.

“The defence will call Erin Patterson,” he said.

Moments later jurors were given an afternoon break.

The jury returned at 3.30pm to see Ms Patterson seated in the witness box wearing a darkly-coloured paisley blouse and glasses.

Ms Patterson confirmed her full name as Erin Trudi Patterson, aged 50, and gave an undertaking to be truthful evidence.

Mr Mandy’s first question was what her life was like in July 2023, first asking about her children.

“My children had just recently settled into a new school having changed schools at the start of the term,” she said.

“So the children lived with me full time and they could see Simon whenever they wanted to.”

The prosecution’s final witness was Detective Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall, who spent about five days in the witness box.

“The crown formally closes its case,” prosecution barrister Nanette Rogers SC told the jury.

About 3.15pm on Monday, defence barrister Colin Mandy SC told the jury he will call Patterson as a witness.

“Your Honour, the defence will call Erin Patterson,” he said.

Her defence admitted Patterson told a number of lies at the beginning of the trial, including that she did not own a food dehydrator and had never foraged for mushrooms.

She has pleaded not guilty to three murders over the deaths of her estranged husband’s family, after serving them a toxic beef Wellington at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023.

Her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died in hospital from death cap mushroom poisoning days after the lunch.

She is also charged with the attempted murder of Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson, who became sick but survived the meal.

Mr Wilkinson has sat inside court almost every day since he gave evidence in the second week of the trial, which is sitting at Latrobe Valley courts in Morwell, about two hours’ drive from Melbourne.

Mr Mandy told the jury earlier the defence case was Patterson had “panicked” and told some lies “because she was overwhelmed by the fact that these four people had become so ill because of the food that she’d served to them”.

The poisonings were unintentional, “a tragedy and a terrible accident”, he said.

However, the prosecution claims Patterson deliberately poisoned her lunch guests.

The trial before Justice Christopher Beale continues.

— with NCA