Erin Patterson: Regional Victoria trial date set for woman accused of triple-fatal mushroom poisoning

Tara Cosoleto
AAP
Erin Patterson will stand trial in April 2025 accused of three murders. (Anita Lester/AAP PHOTOS)
Erin Patterson will stand trial in April 2025 accused of three murders. (Anita Lester/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

Accused triple mushroom poisoning murderer Erin Patterson is due to face a Supreme Court trial near her home in regional Victoria.

Patterson, 49, is charged with the murder of her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70 and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66.

All three died in hospital days after consuming an allegedly deadly mushroom meal at Patterson’s Leongatha home, in South Gippsland, on July 29, 2023.

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Don and Gail Patterson
Don and Gail Patterson died after eating a meal cooked by their daughter-in-law Erin Patterson. Credit: AAP

She is also accused of the attempted murder of her ex-husband Simon at the lunch, and on three occasions dating back to 2021, as well as the attempted murder of Ms Wilkinson’s husband Ian, 68.

Mr Wilkinson spent almost two months being treated in the Austin Hospital, including in a coma.

Erin Patterson, 49, of Leongatha.
Erin Patterson, 49, of Leongatha is charged with several counts of murder and attempted murder. Credit: AAP

Patterson pleaded not guilty to the three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court on May 7.

She appeared via video link in the Supreme Court in Melbourne on Wednesday for a pre-trial hearing.

At the start of the hearing, it was confirmed Patterson’s murder trial has been listed to start on April 28, 2025, in Morwell in the state’s east.

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