Erin Patterson trial: Mushroom cook accused of lying in murder examination over fatal beef wellington lunch

Alleged mushroom poisoner Erin Patterson has been accused of lying to the jury in her triple-murder trial.

The Supreme Court trial resumed in Morwell on Tuesday as Ms Patterson returned to the witness box for her sixth day of giving evidence.

Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC immediately began to question the accused woman on evidence she gave last week about having an appointment for a gastric bypass surgery appointment in September 2023.

On Friday, Ms Patterson said messages sent to her estranged husband Simon Patterson a day before the fatal lunch on July 29, 2023, referred medical issues she was dealing with.

“I was going to have surgery soon … the gastric bypass surgery,” she said.

She said she had an appointment at the Enrich Clinic for a pre-surgery appointment.

On Tuesday, Dr Rogers asked if the appointment was for the South Yarra clinic at 11am on September 13, 2023, which Ms Patterson agreed.

“The Enrich clinic offers services in dermatology, agree or disagree?” Dr Rogers asked.

“I don’t know,” Ms Patterson responded.

“The Enrich clinic does not offer gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery?” Dr Rogers continued.

“I don’t know,” she responded again.

“I had an appointment with them and that’s what my memory was for so I’m a bit puzzled.”

Dr Rogers suggested the claim was a lie and the booking had nothing to do with a gastric bypass surgery.

Ms Patterson disputed this, suggesting the appointment was related to weight loss and could have been liposuction.

“No it wasn’t a lie that’s what my memory was,” she said.

The 50-year-old is facing trial accused of murdering three of Simon Patterson’s family members and the attempted murder of a fourth.

She has pleaded not guilty and told jurors last week she did not intend to cause harm to anyone.

Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and aunt, Heather Wilkinson, fell ill and died after consuming death cap mushrooms at a lunch hosted by Ms Patterson while Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, recovered.

Prosecutors allege Ms Patterson deliberately spiked the beef wellington lunch intending to kill while her defence is arguing the case is a tragic accident.

Erin claims lunch survivor was mistaken on plates

Under cross-examination from Dr Rogers, Ms Patterson was taken to lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson’s evidence earlier in the trial about the meal.

Ms Patterson agreed with Mr Wilkinson’s evidence that he and Don Patterson were seated at the dining table as their wives, Heather and Gail, carried over four plates.

Last week, Ms Patterson told the jury she served up the five plates on the kitchen bench, turned away to prepare gravy, and grabbed the final plate left.

In his evidence, Mr Wilkinson said the four guests ate on four uniform large grey plates while Ms Patterson had a smaller plate that was orange or tan in colour.

Ms Patterson disagreed with this, suggesting Ian had given incorrect evidence.

She told the court she did not own grey plates or any set of four plates of the same colour.

Dr Rogers took Ms Patterson to her estranged husband’s evidence at the start of the trial where he recounted two conversations with Heather Wilkinson.

Simon told the court the morning after the lunch, Heather looked puzzled and remarked that she’d noticed Ms Patterson ate from a differently coloured plate to the rest of the guests.

Simon said Heather queried if Ms Patterson was “short on crockery”.

In response, Ms Patterson said she did not serve herself a meal, nor was it on a differently coloured plate.

“Actually sorry I should clarify that I may have in that I don’t have a matching set of plates so that it’s possible mine was different to Heather’s,” she said.

Ms Patterson disagreed with a suggestion by Dr Rogers that she knowingly served up four meals to her guests containing death cap mushrooms.

“I suggest that to avoid error, you took the extra precaution of using a different and smaller plate to plate your non-poisoned serve?” Dr Rogers asked.

“Incorrect,” Ms Patterson replied.

“That is why you never suffered the illnesses Don, Gail, Ian and Heather suffered?” Dr Rogers continued.

“Incorrect,” she responded.

The trial, now in it’s seventh week, continues.