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As the high-profile case reaches the four-week mark, here’s a summary of key developments you may have missed.
What is the mushroom murder case about?
She served beef Wellington to her guests, which consisted of steak covered in mushroom paste, wrapped in pastry.
Erin Patterson is accused of lacing a beef Wellington with death cap mushrooms. Source: AAP / Joel Carrett
The following day, all four guests were taken to the hospital, with Heather, Gail and Don dying over the following days. Ian Wilkinson survived.
In November 2023, Patterson was formally charged with three counts of murder and one of attempted murder. She also faced charges of three additional counts of attempted murder of her estranged husband, but these were dismissed prior to the commencement of the trial.
Mushroom expert quizzed
Gerostamoulos said a person’s age, weight, their tolerance to the mushroom’s poison and the amount they consume can all play a part.
However, Gerostamoulos told the jury on Thursday he found death cap mushroom toxins inside the meal’s remains when he performed chemical testing.
Angry messages and device resets
Photos taken of mushrooms in May 2023, including some inside a food dehydrator, were found on a tablet seized by police and also shown to the jury.
Defence says accused ‘panicked’ after lunch
He said Patterson admitted she got rid of the dehydrator and “that makes her look guilty” and then lied about getting rid of it.
He said the prosecution would not be able to prove Patterson had intentionally poisoned her guests.
Estranged husband’s evidence in court
He did not reply and was not at the lunch
Simon Patterson, Erin Patterson’s estranged husband, did not attend the lunch. Source: AAP / Diego Fedele
Simon Patterson gave evidence in Latrobe Valley Law Court, and said his father had called him on 30 July and had told him he and his mother were going to hospital due to vomiting and diarrhoea.
Patterson said he later spoke to his estranged wife, who said she had also been suffering from diarrhoea.
During a recorded police interview presented to the court, the Pattersons’ 14-year-old son characterized the relationship between his parents as “very negative”.
