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
Holly Bowles (right) and her best friend Bianca Jones (left), aged 19, had been enjoying a backpacking holiday with friends in Laos.

Parents of Teens Fatally Poisoned by Methanol Issue Cautionary Message Ahead of Schoolies Week

School leavers planning overseas celebrations are being strongly advised to exercise caution…
Internet issue takes down several sites

Widespread Internet Outage Disrupts Major Websites: Users Report Access Issues Globally

Once again, an internet infrastructure outage has disrupted numerous websites, including a…

Ex-Senator Criticizes Former Liberal Party Members as ‘Inept’ and ‘Lazy’ in Resignation Statement

Former federal senator Hollie Hughes has quit the Liberal Party, saying it…
Optus hit with maximum fine over phone scam

Optus Faces Record-Breaking Penalty for Massive Phone Scam: What You Need to Know

The telecommunications watchdog has imposed a hefty fine on Optus for not…

Curaçao’s Unprecedented Journey: Making FIFA World Cup History

The tiny Caribbean nation of Curaçao — approximately half the size of…
John Torney, 41, watched via video link from prison as Melbourne magistrate Stephen Ballek ordered him to stand trial over Emma Bates' death.

Accused Walks Out of Courtroom Following Manslaughter Verdict

A man facing charges of negligent manslaughter dramatically left a courtroom scene…
Dad 'assaulted with stun gun' in Facebook Marketplace sale gone wrong

Father Shocked in Botched Facebook Marketplace Deal: Stun Gun Attack Unfolds

A Perth man alleges he was assaulted with a “stun gun” in…
Debris balls have washed up on several NSW beaches again, but authorities are unsure whether they are related to the ones that were previously found along dozens of Sydney beaches.

Unveiling the Secret: The Surprising Origins of Mysterious Debris Balls Found on Beaches

Mysterious debris balls found on beaches along the New South Wales Central…
Virgin Australia generic flight plane

Widespread IT Outage Causes Extensive Flight Delays Across Australia

Flight delays have disrupted travel across Australia due to a technical glitch…
Popular online gaming platform to scan user faces for age

Major Online Gaming Platform Introduces Facial Scanning Technology for Accurate Age Verification

ROBLOX, a platform often at the center of online gaming debates, has…
Social media use soars as kids drop sports, reading, music

Surge in Social Media Usage Among Youth as Traditional Hobbies Decline: A New Era of Digital Engagement

Kids are dropping sport, reading, music, and the arts as social media…

UN Security Council Endorses Comprehensive Gaza Plan: Key Details and Implications

The United Nations Security Council has voted in favour of a US-drafted…