An Australian woman accused of killing three individuals with toxic mushrooms has informed a court that she misled police due to fears of being deemed “responsible”.
Erin Patterson faces charges of murdering her estranged husband’s parents and aunt in 2023 by contaminating their beef Wellington lunch with deadly death cap mushrooms.
Additionally, she stands accused of attempting to murder a fourth guest—her husband’s uncle—who managed to survive after an extended hospital stay.
Ms. Patterson asserts that the meal was unintentionally poisoned and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to the prosecution, Ms. Patterson later told police that she did not possess a food dehydrator.
“You fabricated stories about dehydrating food and mushrooms because you were aware that telling the truth would implicate you in the poisoned lunch,” prosecution attorney Nanette Rogers stated.
“Do you agree or disagree?”
“I agree that I lied because I was afraid I would be held responsible,” Ms. Patterson replied.
The court previously heard that Ms. Patterson utilized a food dehydrator to preserve both store-bought and foraged mushrooms, which she then stored in her pantry.
Days following the deadly meal, security footage allegedly showed Ms. Patterson disposing of the dehydrator at a local dump.
Detectives reported discovering traces of death cap mushrooms in the dehydrator, as the court earlier heard.
“I did not intentionally include death cap mushrooms in the meal,” Ms. Patterson stated to the court.
The prosecution contends that she deliberately poisoned her lunch guests, ensuring she did not consume the dangerous mushrooms herself.
Her defense asserts that Ms. Patterson had the same meal as the others but did not become as ill.
Erin Patterson employed a food dehydrator to prepare mushrooms she had gathered while foraging.
In July 2023, Ms. Patterson invited her estranged husband Simon to a family lunch at her isolated rural home in Victoria.
He declined the invitation due to feelings of discomfort, as the court was informed earlier.
Although the couple was long estranged, they remained legally married.
Simon’s parents, Don and Gail, were eager to attend but passed away days after consuming the home-cooked meal.
Simon’s aunt, Heather Wilkinson, also died, while her husband Ian became gravely ill but eventually recovered.
Ms. Patterson testified that had Simon come to the lunch, she would have “prepared a beef Wellington for him as well”.
“But it wouldn’t have contained death cap mushrooms intentionally,” she added.
Colin Mandy, Ms. Patterson’s defense attorney, inquired whether she aimed to kill or inflict serious harm to her lunch guests that day.
Ms. Patterson responded that she did not.
The trial is ongoing.
