Erin Patterson trial: Estranged husband tells court he was ‘too uncomfortable’ to attend fatal mushroom lunch
The estranged husband of an Australian woman accused of murdering three of his elderly relatives with a meal laced with deadly mushrooms told a court on Thursday he declined the lunch invitation because he felt “too uncomfortable” attending.
While giving evidence in court, Simon Patterson told chief prosecutor Nanette Rogers that he was invited along with his parents and his aunt and uncle to the 29 July 2023 lunch at Erin Patterson’s home, when the murders are alleged to have taken place, following a service at the Korumburra Baptist Church.
“I was a bit reluctant but I ultimately agreed,” Mr Patterson said.
However, a day before the lunch, he messaged Ms Patterson to tell her that won’t be coming after all.
The court heard on Wednesday the accused had lied about having cancer and hosted the lunch on the pretence of discussing the best way to tell her two children about the illness, in what the prosecution said was an effort to ensure the children did not attend and eat the poisoned meal. The defence does not dispute the accused lied about having cancer.
Text messages between Simon and Erin Patterson read out in court said the accused found his decision not to attend “really disappointing” as she had spent significant amounts of time and money preparing a “special meal” for the group.
“Sorry I feel too uncomfortable about coming to the lunch with you, mum, dad, Ian and Heather,” he read from a photo of the exchange.
“That’s really disappointing, I’ve spent many hours this week preparing lunch for tomorrow,” Ms Patterson allegedly responded.
“It’s important for me that you’re all there… I hope you change your mind,” she wrote back.
Ms Patterson told Mr Patterson that she had spent a “small fortune” on the steaks.
Ms Patterson, 50, is charged with the 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, in a case that has gripped Australia.
All four fell ill after a lunch of Beef Wellington, mashed potatoes and green beans, the court has heard. Gail and Heather died on 4 August, Don died the following day, while Ian survived after being critically ill. Prosecutors allege the accused laced the meal with highly poisonous death cap mushrooms at her home in Leongatha, a town of around 6,000 people some 135km (84 miles) from Melbourne. Ms Patterson denies the charges, with her defence saying the deaths were a “terrible accident”.
Prosecutors also claim that Ms Patterson served her guests on four identical grey plates while using a smaller, tan-coloured one for herself.
The prosecution claims that phone data showed Ms Patterson travelled to Loch and South Gippsland areas, where death cap mushrooms had reportedly been sighted. Her lawyer Colin Mandy said she admits to foraging for mushrooms but denies ever intentionally collecting death caps.
