Mushroom triple murderer arrives at court to face her victims
Share this @internewscast.com
Erin Patterson has been escorted into court to face the victims of her murderous mushroom lunch for a two-day pre-sentence hearing.

The convicted triple murderer, 50, wore a paisley top with a light brown jacket as she was taken from a prison van at the Supreme Court in Melbourne this morning.

Her sole surviving lunch victim, Ian Wilkinson, arrived at court alongside members of his family.

Erin Patterson arrives at Supreme Court of Victoria for the hearing. (AAP)
Victim impact statements will be read out at the hearing. (AAP)

Family of her murdered lunch victims are also present at the court.

Members of the public lined up to get a seat in court before 10am, as did dozens of media trying to catch a glimpse of Patterson.

She was found guilty of three murders, and the attempted murder of Wilkinson, in July over a death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellington lunch.

Patterson faces the first day of her pre-sentence hearing on today, where Wilkinson and family of her murder victims are expected to give statements to the court.

The Pattersons and Wilkinsons, who attended much of the trial, have not been seen in court since before the jury returned verdicts on July 7 after a nearly 11-week trial he regional Victorian town of Morwell.

Their victim impact statements will either be read out by them, or a prosecutor, at today’s plea hearing. 

Prosecutors will argue how long Patterson should be jailed for over the murders and attempted murder, and her defence team will explain any factors that should mitigate the length of her sentence. 

Erin Patterson
Erin Patterson, 50, was in July convicted of three murders and one attempted murder over a death cap mushroom-laced beef Wellington. (Martin Keep AFP)
Mushroom lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson attended Erin Patterson’s trial. (Justin McManus)

Patterson deliberately served up the poisoned dish during lunch at her Leongatha home in 2023, to her former mother and father-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian.

Her lunch guests were taken to hospital, with Don, Gail and Heather dying days after the meal.

She invited her estranged husband Simon to the deadly gathering, but he declined the night before.

Jurors were not told the reason he did not attend, with that information revealed weeks later after a suppression order was lifted.

Estranged husband Simon Patterson larrives at the court. (Jason South)
Footage of Erin Patterson’s police interview has since been released to the public. (Nine)

Justice Christopher Beale allowed pre-trial evidence to be released for the first time.

Simon allegedly believed Patterson had been trying to kill him by poisoning meals since 2021, during or before camping trips the pair took together.

He claimed Patterson poisoned him with a penne, chicken curry and a wrap she had prepared, but she denied this and the allegations were never tested at trial.

She was charged with three counts of attempted murder, but they were dropped at the start of her trial after Justice Beale ruled they should be heard separately.

Other evidence ruled out of trial included an allegedly fake cat post to a poisoning help page, an appendix from a Criminal Poisoning book allegedly found on a tablet and an additional trip to the tip on the day of the lunch.

Patterson will be brought in person from prison to the plea hearing, which is expected to span two days.

She faces life in prison and a date for her sentence could be set at the hearing.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
A low angle shot of the front of an Optus store sign.

Optus Faces Mass Exodus: Why Millions of Customers Are Ready to Switch Networks

A poll conducted by Resolve Political Monitor for The Sydney Morning Herald…
Barnaby Joyce reportedly in 'advance talks' to defect to Pauline Hanson's One Nation

David Littleproud to Address Barnaby Joyce Following Nationals Departure

Barnaby Joyce has announced that he will not seek re-election in the…
HSC hoax letter

Viral HSC Hoax Debunked: Exam Rescheduling Rumors Set Straight

A letter allegedly issued by the NSW Education Standards Authority, claiming a…
Danny Green

Iconic Athletes Rally Behind Danny Green’s Powerful Message

A diverse array of sports legends, from the West Coast Eagles’ current…
Logan hospital

Concerns Rise Over Potential Rat Poison Contamination in Takeaway Orders

Exclusive: There are fears multiple takeaway orders in south-east Queensland have been…
An underwater photo shows examples of coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef.

Great Barrier Reef Confronts ‘Catastrophic’ Threats – Here’s Why Hope Remains

The chorus of global alarm is growing ever louder, underscoring the urgent…
'Poor choice of words': Queensland Premier walks back stabbing remark

Queensland Premier Clarifies Controversial Comment on Stabbing Incident

At a Newscorp event in Brisbane, David Crisafulli addressed strategies to entice…
Farmers plant rice saplings in a waterlogged paddy field in Uttar Pradesh on July 12, 2025.

Farmer Uncovers Mysterious Buried Doll, Discovers Surprising Revelation as Fingers Move

The first sight Shyam Babu stumbled upon was a tiny, frail arm…

Trump’s Surprising Stance: Why Long-Range Missiles for Ukraine are Off the Table

Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make a deal with…

Barnaby Joyce Announces Departure: Will Not Seek Re-Election in Upcoming Nationals Contest

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has quit the party, citing fractured relationships…

Honoring Dr. Charles Perkins: Reflecting on His Legacy 25 Years After His Passing

This article contains references/and or images of a deceased Aboriginal person. Twenty-five…

Breaking News: Trump Commutes George Santos’ Sentence – Former Politician Set to Walk Free

Donald Trump on Friday commuted the more than seven-year prison sentence of…