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

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Erin Patterson, 50, was on Monday found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after serving death cap mushrooms in beef Wellington to her estranged husband's relatives at her Leongatha, Victoria home on July 29, 2023.

Al Jazeera

Erin Patterson, 50, was on Monday found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after serving death cap mushrooms in beef Wellington to her estranged husband's relatives at her Leongatha, Victoria home on July 29, 2023.

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.

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.

The 12-member jury deliberated for six to seven days following <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/australian-woman-accused-of-sinister-deception-in-mushroom-murders">a 10-week trial in Morwell, Victoria</a>, ultimately reaching unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges after hearing testimony from more than 50 witnesses.

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.

Prosecutors alleged <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/police-search-details-emerge-in-mushroom-murder-trial">Patterson deliberately sourced death cap mushrooms </a>from locations she found on the iNaturalist website, dried them using a food dehydrator, and served individual beef Wellington portions on different plates to ensure she avoided consuming the poison.

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 plates to ensure she avoided consuming the poison.

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/australian-woman-denies-measuring-fatal-mushroom-dose">Evidence presented</a> 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.

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.

However, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/mushroom-murder-trial-patterson-denies-poisoning-claims">Patterson testified for eight days in her defense</a>, 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.

New York Times

However, Patterson testified for eight days in her 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.

Guardian #1

CNN #0

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

ABC #

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

Au #

The Age #

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.

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

CNN #

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.

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

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.

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.

Erin Patterson found guilty of murder in deadly mushroom case

Mushroom murder trial verdict live: Erin Patterson found guilty of three counts of murder

Australian Woman Guilty of Mushroom Murder Plot

Australia

Crime & justice

Murders and attempted murders

This was a premeditated murder plot disguised as a family lunch. Patterson deliberately lured her victims with a fake cancer diagnosis, carefully prepared individual poisoned portions while keeping herself safe, and then engaged in an elaborate cover-up, including destroying evidence and repeatedly lying to police and health officials.

This was a premeditated murder plot disguised as a family lunch. Patterson deliberately lured her victims with a fake cancer diagnosis, carefully prepared individual poisoned portions while keeping herself safe, and then engaged in an elaborate cover-up, including destroying evidence and repeatedly lying to police and health officials.

Erin Patterson found guilty of murdering three in-laws with death cap mushrooms in beef Wellington

Erin Patterson trial: Mushroom cook found guilty of poisoning four members of husband’s family with beef wellington lunch

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 illness symptoms support the tragic accident theory.

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 illness symptoms support the tragic accident theory.

Australia: Erin Patterson Convicted of Mushroom Murders

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Australia: Erin Patterson Convicted of Mushroom Murders

AustralianAustralia: WomanErin GuiltyPatterson Convicted of Mushroom Murder PlotMurders

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