Australian mother found guilty of murdering relatives with poisonous mushrooms

A jury has found Erin Patterson guilty of killing her estranged husband's parents and an aunt by serving them a beef wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms.

Patterson, 50, invited her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail Patterson's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, to the fatal lunch on 29 July 2023.

All four fell ill after eating a meal of beef wellington, mashed potatoes and green beans at Patterson's home in the town of Leongatha, the court was told.

The guests ate their meals off four large grey dinner plates, while Patterson ate from a smaller, tan-coloured plate, the court heard.

Mrs Wilkinson and Mrs Patterson died on Friday 4 August 2023, while Mr Patterson died a day later.

Reverend Wilkinson spent seven weeks in hospital but survived.

Her estranged husband Simon Patterson, with whom she has two children, was also invited to the lunch and initially accepted but later declined, the trial heard.

The mother-of-two, from the state of Victoria in southern Australia, has also been convicted of the attempted murder of Mrs Wilkinson's husband Reverend Ian Wilkinson.

Patterson will be sentenced at a later date.

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