Erin Patterson trial: Alleged mushroom poisoner to return to witness box for eighth day of evidence

Alleged triple-murderer Erin Patterson has denied an account of stopping for a bush poo was a “lie” made up to explain away a long driving trip one day after a fatal mushroom lunch in her eighth day on the witness stand.

The 50-year-old is facing trial after pleading not guilty to the murder of three of her husband’s family members and the attempted murder of a fourth.

Ms Patterson returned to the witness box at her Supreme Court trial in Morwell on Thursday to give evidence as she continued to face questions from Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC.

Dr Rogers took Ms Patterson to evidence she gave last week about stopping to have diarrhoea on the side of the road while driving her son to a flying lesson in Tyabb.

Earlier in the trial the jury was told Ms Patterson drove her two children an hour and a half to Tyabb for the lesson, but it was cancelled shortly before they arrived and she turned around in the afternoon of July 30, 2023.

Ms Patterson has claimed she was suffering nausea and regular diarrhoea that day and stopped 30 minutes into the trip.

Dr Rogers took Ms Patterson to her son’s evidence where he said at no stage did his mother stop to use the toilet.

“I suggest he did not recall it because it did not happen?,” Dr Rogers asked.

“Disagree,” she replied.

“This is another lie you told to explain how you managed the trip to Tyabb?” the prosecutor continued.

“Disagree,” Ms Patterson said.

Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and aunt, Heather Wilkinson, died after eating a meal at Ms Patterson’s home on July 29, 2023, in the country Victorian town of Leongatha.

Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson survived after spending about a month and a half in hospital.

Prosecutors allege Ms Patterson deliberately poisoned the guests with death cap mushrooms while her defence argues it was a tragic accident.

Prosecution ask three final questions

Shortly after 11.30am, Dr Rogers remarks that the jury would be pleased she has three final questions for Ms Patterson after a week of cross-examination.

Dr Rogers suggests Ms Patterson deliberately sourced death cap mushrooms, deliberately included them in the beef wellington and did so intending to kill her four guests.

The accused woman responded “Disagree” three times to each of the propositions.

“Your Honour, I have no further questions,” Dr Rogers said.

Ms Patterson’s barrister, Colin Mandy SC, rose to his feet, telling the court he had about 30 minutes of re-examination for Ms Patterson before asking for a half-hour break.

The jury then took a mid-morning break.

Erin disputes children’s account of leftovers

Dr Rogers took Ms Patterson to the evidence of her two children about serving leftovers of the lunch for dinner on Sunday, July 30, 2023.

In her evidence, Ms Patterson said she scrapped off the mushrooms and pastry of the lunch leftovers for her son and daughter and served herself a bowl of cereal because she wasn’t feeling well.

In her children’s evidence, both said Ms Patterson had plated herself up some leftovers too.

Her daughter said Ms Patterson “wasn’t very hungry” and her son ate his portion and the remainder of her mothers.

Asked if she says her son and daughter were “wrong about what you prepared yourself for dinner that night”, Ms Patterson agreed.

Mushroom cook denies ‘wild goose chase’ claim

Facing questions from Dr Rogers on Wednesday, the accused woman denied she led health authorities on a “wild goose chase” as they probed the mushroom poisoning of her four lunch guests.

Giving evidence last week, Ms Patterson maintained she used dried mushrooms in the deadly lunch which she had bought from an Asian grocer in Melbourne’s east in about April 2023.

She told the court she initially planned to use them in a pasta dish, but decided they would be too overpowering and stored them in a Tupperware container in her pantry.

She said she now believes she may have added foraged wild mushrooms to that container.

Facing questions from Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC on Wednesday, Ms Patterson was asked if she was worried about them being too strong for the beef Wellington.

“No, I didn’t think that. I thought it was the perfect dish for them,” she responded.

Dr Rogers went on to probe the exchange Ms Patterson had with Department of Health officer Sally Ann Atkinson about the Asian grocer.

Ms Atkinson gave evidence she communicated with Ms Patterson over several days in earlier August amid a public health probe into the poisoning.

Text messages and calls between the pair showed the public health officer attempting to narrow down the location of the store.

Dr Rogers suggested Ms Patterson was “very familiar” with the area, owning a home in Mount Waverley and having previously worked for Monash City Council.

The accused woman disputed this, but did say she was familiar with the adjoining areas of Glen Waverley, Oakleigh and Clayton.

Dr Rogers suggested Ms Patterson was “deliberately vague” about the location of the Asian grocer because it was a lie.

“Incorrect,” Ms Patterson responded.

“I was doing my best to remember when it happened, but I think I was clear at all times that I didn’t have a memory of the actual purchase.”

The trial, now in its seventh week, continues.