An Australian woman on trial for the alleged murder of three of her estranged husband’s relatives by serving them a meal laced with deadly mushrooms had no reason to commit the crime, her lawyer argued on Tuesday as the defence presented its final statement.
Erin Patterson stands accused of murdering her former in-laws—Gail and Donald Patterson—and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, after a July 2023 lunch at her home in Leongatha, a small town southeast of Melbourne. She also faces a charge of attempted murder for allegedly poisoning Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, who survived.
Prosecutors claim Patterson deliberately foraged, dried, and served poisonous death cap mushrooms in individual servings of Beef Wellington. They allege the act was premeditated and argue she knowingly caused the deaths. If convicted, Patterson faces a possible life sentence.
But Patterson denies the charges, with her legal team describing the incident as a terrible accident.
In his closing argument, defence barrister Colin Mandy dismissed the prosecution’s claim that the motive was rooted in bitterness over child support disputes with her estranged husband, Simon Patterson. He told the court such disagreements did not equate to a motive for murder.
“Whatever we might call those spats and frustrations, they do not justify or explain the alleged motive to kill someone’s parents,” Mandy said, adding that Patterson had a cordial relationship with her former in-laws and even financially supported Simon’s siblings, lending them significant sums to purchase property.
Earlier in the day, prosecutor Nanette Rogers wrapped up the prosecution’s case by labelling Patterson’s actions as part of a deliberate cover-up.
“She has told lie upon lie,” Rogers told the court. “She lied because she knew the truth would implicate her.”
Following the defence’s final remarks, Justice Christopher Beale will instruct the jury before they retire to deliberate.
The high-profile trial, now in its eighth week, has captivated national attention and is expected to conclude later this month.
reuters/S.S