3 weeks ago
Melbourne, Australia — A female accused of serving her ex-husband's parents and an aunt venomous mushrooms pinch luncheon appeared successful an Australian tribunal connected Monday charged pinch 3 counts of execution and 5 of attempted murder.
Erin Patterson, 49, appeared concisely successful nan Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court by video nexus from a Melbourne situation wherever she's been held since she was arrested successful November past year.
Magistrate Tim Walsh said he would denote connected May 7 whether Patterson will look a committal proceeding successful nan aforesaid tribunal successful Morwell aliases successful Melbourne. Morwell is simply a agrarian municipality adjacent Patterson's location astir 90 miles eastbound of Melbourne, nan Victoria authorities capital.
Committal hearings find whether prosecutors person capable grounds to put charges earlier a assemblage successful a Victorian Supreme Court trial.
It was Patterson's 2nd tribunal quality connected nan charges. She has yet to participate immoderate pleas and has not applied to beryllium released connected bail.
In this courtroom sketch, Erin Patterson appears successful Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court, Australia, connected Nov. 3, 2023. Patterson, accused of serving her ex-husband's parents and an aunt venomous mushrooms pinch luncheon appeared successful an Australian tribunal connected April 22, 2024 charged pinch 3 counts of execution and 5 of attempted murder.
Anita Lester /AAP image via AP
She is accused of sidesplitting her erstwhile parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, some 70, and Gail Patterson's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66.
All 3 died successful a infirmary days aft consuming a repast astatine Patterson's location successful July past year.
She is besides accused of nan attempted execution of her ex-husband, Simon Patterson, astatine that luncheon and connected 3 erstwhile occasions making love backmost to 2021. Simon Patterson did not judge an invitation to be nan lunch.
She besides is charged pinch nan attempted execution of Wilkinson's husband, Ian Wilkinson, 68.
Ian Wilkinson spent 7 weeks successful a infirmary pursuing nan lunch.
Police opportunity nan symptoms of nan 4 sickened family members were accordant pinch poisoning from chaotic Amanita phalloides, known arsenic decease headdress mushrooms.
The imaginable maximum condemnation successful Victoria for execution is life imprisonment, and for attempted execution is 25 years successful prison.
Patterson appeared successful tribunal connected Monday wearing a bluish situation sweater.
Walsh asked if Patterson could perceive astatine nan outset of nan hearing, and she replied, "Yes, convey you."
Her lawyer, Colin Mandy, said his customer wanted nan committal proceeding held successful Morwell, moreover if that meant a hold until adjacent year.
"If it happens adjacent year, past Ms. Patterson's contented to hold for that," Mandy told nan magistrate.
Mandy said she wanted nan proceeding to return spot adjacent to her home.
Defense lawyers person provided prosecutors pinch a database of anticipated witnesses to beryllium called astatine nan committal hearing, which Mandy said he expected would past 3 weeks.
