Prosecutors are expected to continue their questioning of mushroom cook Erin Patterson as she returns for a sixth day in the witness box at her triple murder trial.
The 50-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the deaths of her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, as well as the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson.
She denies deliberately poisoning her lunch guests on July 29, 2023 by serving them death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellingtons.
Patterson will continue giving evidence at her Supreme Court trial, after facing questions on Friday about her internet search history.
Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC had presented Patterson with screenshots found on a personal computer seized from her home, which she allegedly accessed in May 2022.
The prosecution alleged that one search history led to a page about death cap mushrooms on iNaturalist, a website where users share biodiversity information to learn more about nature.
“I suggest you used Bing search to look up iNaturalist,” Rogers said.
“It does look like somebody did that, yes,” Patterson responded.
“I suggest that person was you,” the prosecutor said.
“I don’t remember doing that. It’s possible,” she responded.
Before the trial broke for the weekend, Rogers referred to the screenshots to suggest to Patterson she “had an interest” in death cap mushrooms in May 2022.
“It depends what you mean by an interest,” Patterson responded.
The mushroom cook was also questioned about her relationship with her in-laws on Friday.
Patterson denied having “two faces” when it comes to her relationship with her former in-laws, who died after eating the toxic beef lunch she cooked them.
The Supreme Court trial in the regional Victorian town of Morwell has entered its seventh week, drawing curious spectators who queue before dawn to see her give evidence.
LISTEN NOW: The Mushroom Trial
