Jurors in the trial of mushroom cook Erin Patterson, accused of triple murder, will soon start their deliberations following over four days of detailed instructions from the judge.
Victorian Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale is expected to finish his closing statements to the jury on Monday morning.
The group of 14 jurors will be reduced to 12 through a ballot, and these selected jurors will decide if Patterson is guilty or innocent on charges of three counts of murder and one attempted murder.
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Patterson claims she did not knowingly poison her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, Gail’s sister Heather, and Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson, with meals that contained death cap mushrooms.
Don, Gail and Heather all died after consuming the beef Wellington lunch on July 29, 2023, served by Patterson at her home in regional Victoria, while Ian survived.
During his four days of directions, known as a charge, Justice Beale outlined the evidence in the case and the arguments from both sides.
On Friday, he turned to Patterson's alleged incriminating conduct and cautioned jurors on how they should consider her admitted lies.
They include claims she never foraged for wild mushrooms, never had a dehydrator and was diagnosed with cancer.
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Justice Beale noted jurors could use those lies to assess Patterson's credibility but they did not mean she was guilty of murder.
The jury should instead consider all of the evidence in the prosecution case before they reach their verdicts, the judge said.
As Justice Beale excused the jury for the week on Friday afternoon, he told them to enjoy their weekend and keep conversations about the case to the jury room.
"Don't let anybody get into your ear over the weekend," he said.
"Have a media blackout. You've been doing a great job, keep going."
Once the deliberations begin, the 12 jurors will be sequestered so they will have to stay together until they reach a unanimous verdict on all charges.
