Guardian

Jury urged to reject ‘ridiculous’ and ‘convoluted’ propositions in Erin Patterson mushroom trial as defence completes closing address

Erin Patterson verdict: Jury finds Australian cook guilty of murder with hidden death cap mushrooms

<span>Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died from multiorgan failure caused by death cap mushroom poisoning within days of the lunch, while Ian Wilkinson survived after weeks in hospital and a liver transplant.</span

Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died from multiorgan failure caused by death cap mushroom poisoning within days of the lunch, while Ian Wilkinson survived after weeks in hospital and a liver transplant.

<span>The 12-member jury deliberated for six to seven days following a 10-week trial in Morwell, Victoria, ultimately reaching unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges after hearing testimony from more than 50 witnesses.</span

The Age

The 12-member jury deliberated for six to seven days following a 10-week trial in Morwell, Victoria, ultimately reaching unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges after hearing testimony from more than 50 witnesses.

<span>Prosecutors alleged Patterson deliberately sourced death cap mushrooms from locations she found on the iNaturalist website, dried them using a food dehydrator, and served individual beef Wellington portions on different colored plates to ensure she avoided consuming the poison.</span

Daily Mail

1 News

Prosecutors alleged Patterson deliberately sourced death cap mushrooms from locations she found on the iNaturalist website, dried them using a food dehydrator, and served individual beef Wellington portions on different colored plates to ensure she avoided consuming the poison.

<span>Patterson testified for eight days in her own defense, claiming the deaths were a tragic accident and that she may have accidentally mixed foraged mushrooms with store-bought varieties, but the jury rejected her explanation.</span

New York Times

Patterson testified for eight days in her own defense, claiming the deaths were a tragic accident and that she may have accidentally mixed foraged mushrooms with store-bought varieties, but the jury rejected her explanation.

<span>Evidence presented included Patterson's disposal of the dehydrator at a local tip using her own EFTPOS card, factory resetting her phone multiple times, and Facebook messages expressing anger toward her in-laws over child support and family disputes.</span

Evidence presented included Patterson's disposal of the dehydrator at a local tip using her own EFTPOS card, factory resetting her phone multiple times, and Facebook messages expressing anger toward her in-laws over child support and family disputes.

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Australian Erin Patterson found guilty in mushroom murders case

Australia

Crime & justice

Murders and attempted murders

The prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence without establishing any clear motive for such heinous crimes. Patterson's lies and evidence disposal can be explained by panic after realizing she may have accidentally poisoned her guests, and her own illness symptoms support the tragic accident theory.

<span>The prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence without establishing any clear motive for such heinous crimes. Patterson's lies and evidence disposal can be explained by panic after realizing she may have accidentally poisoned her guests, and her own illness symptoms support the tragic accident theory.</span>

Australian Woman Guilty of Mushroom Murder Plot

Australian ErinWoman PattersonGuilty foundof guiltyMushroom inMurder mushroom murders casePlot

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Australian Woman Guilty of Mushroom Murder Plot

Australian ErinWoman PattersonGuilty foundof guiltyMushroom inMurder mushroom murders casePlot

The Spin

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