Erin Patterson is facing trial after pleading not guilty over a fatal mushroom lunch that killed Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson.
See all 14 stories. Key posts 1 of 3
Latest posts 5.59pm
Jury dismissed for the day By Marta Pascual Juanola and Erin Pearson That concludes the evidence for today. Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale has dismissed the jury for the day. Here’s a wrap of what happened today:
Darren Fox, whose store Hartley Wells Betta Home Living in Leongatha sells appliances, told the court that in November 2023, an employee told him she had sold a dehydrator to Erin Patterson. Ian Wilkinson, the lone survivor among the four guests who fell ill after the fatal lunch, was called to the witness box. Ian described his relationship with Erin as friendly and amicable, he said she “seemed like a normal person”. Ian told the court he and his wife, Heather, were excited about being invited to the fatal lunch and thought their relationship with Erin might improve as a result. Turning to the lunch, the jury heard that Heather and Gail offered to help Erin plate the food, but she rejected the offer and did it all herself at the bench. Ian said there were four large, grey dinner plates – and one smaller plate in a different colour, which Erin ate from. Ian recounted that after the group finished eating, Erin told them she had cancer and was very concerned. The group then prayed for Erin and her children. Ian and his wife Heather fell sick the evening of the lunch. “It continued right through the night. We had vomiting and diarrhoea,” he said. Beth Morgan, a registered doctor and an advanced infectious diseases trainee at Monash Health, was the last witness to give evidence on day six. Morgan recounted being told by a pharmacist that there wasn’t enough antidote for four patients, but said they would obtain it from another hospital. The trial will continue tomorrow.
Thanks for following our live coverage.
5.15pm
Photos from outside court Award-winning photographer Jason South has taken these photos of Ian Wilkinson, Lisa Shannon and Cindy Hyde outside court. All three gave evidence today.
Ian Wilkinson leaves court. Credit: Jason South
Lisa Shannon. Credit: Jason South
Cindy Hyde. Credit: Jason South
4.45pm
‘Not enough for four’: Doctor reveals mushroom antidote was in short supply after fatal meal By Marta Pascual Juanola Dr Beth Morgan, a registered doctor and an advanced infectious diseases trainee, was the last witness to give evidence on Tuesday in the trial of accused triple murderer Erin Patterson.
Morgan was the overnight medical registrar at Dandenong Hospital the night Don and Gail Patterson were taken there for care.
Don Patterson.
That night, she was taking referrals from the emergency department for medical patients who do not require surgery and need to be in hospital for longer than four hours (which means they cannot stay in the emergency department).
Morgan says the initial history for the couple included mention of 30–40 episodes of vomiting and diarrhoea, which had started following midnight the night before.
She says Don had mild abdominal pain on his right side. He was quite sweaty
Read More