Upon her arrest, Victoria Police Detective Inspector Dean Thomas remarked that he couldn’t recall another investigation that garnered such extensive media and public attention, not just within Victoria, but across the nation and internationally.

The trial heard Erin and Simon had a dispute over child support payments, over which Gail and Don Patterson tried to step in and solve, in late 2022.

It seems the relationship between Erin and the family became worse when she received a belated invite to Gail’s 70th birthday lunch in October 2022.

The trial revealed that Simon had texted Erin in October 2022, inquiring if she and their children would attend his mother Gail’s 70th birthday lunch the following day.

Erin replied she knew nothing about the celebrations, and that perhaps the belated invite was just an “afterthought”.

“I might pass … as I’d rather not go somewhere I’m not welcome,” Erin said.

After some back and forth, Erin said she felt “very hurt” about not being invited.

“And your response is to say, I’m being ridiculous,” she texted.

Simon replied, “You’re completely off track on this matter. You already have the facts, but naturally, you’re free to believe whatever you wish, regardless of them.”

Simon Patterson told the trial Erin sent “extremely aggressive” messages to his mother and father in the weeks leading up to the fatal lunch.