25 December 2023 , 21:30
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A woman accused of serving her ex-husband and his family fatally poisoned meals is having a lonely Christmas dinner in her women’s prison.
Erin Patterson, 49, was arrested by police in November at her home in Leongatha, Australia, where her former husband Simon Patterson, his parents Gail and Don Patterson, Simon's sister Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian had been invited to lunch on July 29. After eating the alleged poisoned Beef Wellington dish her parents-in-law and aunt-in-law were admitted to hospital and died days later. Baptist pastor Ian spent seven weeks in hospital recovering. Police said at the time she put mushrooms known as amanita phalloides and containing lethal toxins, in the meal.
Today she would have started her day behind bars with toast and cereal. It would have been followed by a selection of cooked meats, roast vegetables and gravy with cake for dessert. Dinner would have been a cold meat and salad.
Patterson was arrested at her home on November 2 and will remain behind bars at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre in Ravenhall, Melbourne before her next appearance before the court via video link on May, 3, next year.
Patterson has not yet entered a plea but previously said: “I didn't do anything. I loved them. I just can't fathom what has happened.”
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Don and Gail Patterson both died after eating the beef wellington (supplied)Police allege Simon Patterson became ill after eating three meals in 2021 and 2022, but did not specify his wife’s alleged involvement. The defendant's two children were at home during lunch in July but did not share the meal. Officers Police searched Patterson's house on Thursday with what they described as "technology detection dogs who are trained to find electronic storage devices hidden in wall cavities and containers of food.
Police say the symptoms of the four family members who attended the lunch were consistent with poisoning from wild Amanita phalloides, known as death cap mushrooms. Erin Patterson has publicly denied any wrongdoing.
Heather was killed but her husband survived (Nine)Prosecutor Greg Ellis requested the case be adjourned for 20 weeks to allow police time to analyse computer equipment seized from the home. Magistrate Tim Walsh ordered Erin Patterson to remain in custody and appear in court next on May 3. Walsh told her it was important that her case "progresses through the system as fast as possible". She replied "OK" and nodded her head. The potential maximum sentence in Victoria for murder is life imprisonment, and for attempted murder, 25 years in prison