Her estranged husband Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, along with Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, tragically passed away in the hospital following their diagnosis with death cap mushroom poisoning after consuming the meal.

The accused in the triple murder case stated to doctors and toxicologists that she purchased the mushrooms used in the meal from a Woolworths in Leongatha and a Chinese grocer located in Melbourne’s southeast.

Dr May told the court “there is no evidence that amanita phalloides occurs in China”.

Earlier, doctors who treated Patterson at Monash Hospital spoke to the jury about how she did not appear unwell and was discharged.

Patterson had taken herself to Leongatha Hospital earlier that day, on July 31, saying she was suffering diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Her four lunch guests, including church pastor Ian Wilkinson who survived the lunch but became very unwell from eating it, were also being treated at Melbourne hospitals at that time.

The court heard Monash emergency doctor Varuna Ruggoo assessed Patterson on August 1 and found she was “clinically well” after performing several tests.

Patterson had been cleared of potentially suffering from death cap mushroom poisoning by another doctor, Laura Muldoon, she said.

“She wrote in her notes that there was no concerns about that type of poisoning because … Ms Patterson’s liver function tests were all within normal limits,” Dr Ruggoo told the jury.

Dr Ruggoo then deemed Patterson was fit to be discharged, at 1pm that day.

Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died at the Austin Hospital on August 4, then Don Patterson died the following day.

The trial before Justice Christopher Beale continues.