Alleged mushroom killer returns to court

NewsWire

22 May 2024 at 8:39 pm·2-min read

Erin Patterson has appeared in the Victorian Supreme Court for the first time after pleading not guilty of three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. Picture: Supplied.

Alleged triple-murderer Erin Patterson has made her first appearance in Victoria’s Supreme Court after she pleaded not guilty to all charges earlier this month.

Ms Patterson appeared briefly on Thursday morning, where the case was adjourned by Judicial Registrar Tim Freeman for the next three months.

The mother-of-two was charged in November last year with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

She formally pleaded not guilty to the eight charges at a hearing in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on May 7.

Ms Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Picture: Supplied.

All three murder charges and one count of attempted murder relate to the alleged poisoning of four of her relatives at a lunch at her Leongatha home on July 29.

Police allege her ex-husband’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died in hospital, while Ms Wilkinson’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived.

Don Patterson died in hospital on August 5 while his wife, Gail, passed away a day earlier. Picture: supplied

Heather Wilkinson died in hospital on August 4, while her husband Ian Wilkinson survived. Picture: Supplied.

KORUMBURRA MEMORIAL — Ms Patterson has been charged with four counts of attempted murder relating to her ex-husband Simon Patterson. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

The remaining four attempted murder charges allege Ms Patterson attempted to kill her ex-husband Simon Patterson in November 2021, May 2022, September the same year and July 2023.

She was represented in court by barrister Colin Mandy S.C.

Ms Patterson will return to court on August 21.

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