Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband. The prosecution accuses her of knowingly serving the guests lethal death cap mushrooms as part of a Beef Wellington at her home in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 people some 135 km (84 miles) from Melbourne.
Under cross-examination on Thursday by the prosecution, Erin Patterson was asked whether a series of photos of mushrooms placed on weighing scales in her kitchen was evidence she had been measuring a “fatal dose” to serve to her lunch guests.
“Disagree,“ Patterson replied.
The accused has previously admitted she lied about being diagnosed with cancer, but on Thursday denied doing so in order to lure her guests to have lunch at her home.
“That’s not true,“ Patterson replied.
Nor had she pretended to be sick after the lunch to avoid becoming a suspect in the case, she said. The trial has captured public attention across Australia, with podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers from local and international media descending on the town of Morwell, where the trial is being held, about two hours east of Melbourne.
Justice Christopher Beale, the judge presiding in the trial, told the jury the cross-examination of the accused would probably continue into next week.
After the defence rests, the parties will discuss whether the prosecution might seek to reopen its case in light of defence evidence, Beale told the jury.
The trial, set to conclude this month, continues.
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