NEWCASTLE, Australia. Erin Patterson, 50, took the stand on Monday in her trial for the alleged murder of three members of her ex-husband’s family by serving them poisonous mushrooms.
Patterson is accused of killing Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, and attempting to murder Wilkinson’s husband, Ian, 68, who survived after a liver transplant.
The incident occurred in July 2023 at Patterson’s home in Leongatha, Victoria, where she prepared beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms, mashed potatoes and green beans.
Patterson, who has pleaded not guilty, faces up to 25 years in prison for attempted murder and a life sentence if convicted of murder.
On Monday, she testified about her struggles with low self-esteem, her evolving spirituality, and growing distance from her estranged husband’s family. “We saw each other less,” she said of her relationship with Don and Gail Patterson.
The prosecution finished presenting its case to the 14-member jury earlier on Monday. Patterson is expected to continue her testimony on Tuesday.
Edgaroo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- EDGARDO HERNALhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- EDGARDO HERNALhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- EDGARDO HERNALhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
- EDGARDO HERNALhttps://tutubi.ph/author/gary-hernal/
