A deadly lunch, a fractured family, and a mysterious inheritance are all at the centre of one of Australia’s most shocking murder trials.
Erin Patterson, 50, is currently facing court charged with the murder of three of her former in-laws and the attempted murder of a fourth, after allegedly serving them a meal laced with death cap mushrooms.
The fatal lunch took place on 29 July, 2023, at Patterson’s home in Leongatha, Victoria.
On the menu: beef Wellington, mashed potato, and green beans. By the end of the week, three guests — Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66 — were dead.
Reverend Ian Wilkinson, 68, survived only after a liver transplant.
Prosecutors allege Patterson deliberately poisoned the group. She has pleaded not guilty, claiming it was a tragic accident, News.com.au reports.
“A special meal” that turned deadly
In court, prosecutors revealed that Erin had originally invited her estranged husband Simon Patterson, his parents Don and Gail, and Heather and Ian Wilkinson to the lunch after a service at the Korumburra Baptist Church.
Simon, however, pulled out at the last minute.
“Sorry, I feel too uncomfortable about coming to the lunch with you mum, dad, Heather and Ian tomorrow,” Simon texted his ex-wife the day before the meal.
Erin replied: “That’s really disappointing.
"I’ve spent many hours this week preparing lunch for tomorrow which has been exhausting in light of the issues I’m facing and spent a small fortune on beef eye filet to make beef Wellingtons because I wanted it to be a special meal as I may not be able to host a lunch like this again for some time.
"It’s important to me that you’re all there tomorrow, and that I can have the conversations that I need to have. I hope you’ll change your mind. Your parents, Heather and Ian, are coming at 12.30, and I hope to see you there.”
During the meal, Erin allegedly told guests she had ovarian cancer and wanted advice on how to break the news to her children. According to prosecutor Nanette Rogers, the group prayed together for her health and discussed being honest with the children, BBC News adds.
However, Erin's defence later confirmed she never had cancer. Her lawyer described the situation as “a tragedy, a terrible accident,” insisting that Erin never meant to harm anyone.
“I noticed Erin served herself on a coloured plate”
The prosecution also highlighted unsettling details raised by Heather Wilkinson before she died.
Simon Patterson testified that when he visited Heather the day after the lunch, she was unwell but coherent enough to make a pointed observation: “I noticed Erin served herself her food on a coloured plate which was different to the rest.”
Later, while Simon drove Heather and Ian to hospital, she brought it up again. “She asked me, ‘Is Erin short of crockery? Is that why she would have this different coloured plate that she served herself with?’”
Simon had responded that Erin didn’t have many plates and “that may be the reason.”
He also recalled visiting his parents in hospital: “Dad was substantially worse than mum. He was really struggling… he was lying on his side. He was hunched quite noticeably, with a really discoloured face, struggling to speak.”
The $2 million inheritance
Another explosive detail emerged during Simon’s testimony: Erin Patterson received a $2 million inheritance from her grandmother before they married.
“Her grandmother died before we were married and left an estate and she got a substantial inheritance of roughly $2 million,” Simon said. He added the funds were “dribbled out” in multiple payments over time.
While the inheritance isn’t currently central to the charges, its introduction into the courtroom adds yet another layer of complexity to an already dramatic case.
A fractured relationship
Simon described his ex-wife to the court as “very intelligent,” citing her studies in business, veterinary science, legal studies, and air traffic control. “Some of the things that attracted me to her in the first place was her intelligence, she’s quite witty and can be quite funny,” he said.
However, their relationship turned turbulent.
After marrying in 2007, they travelled around Australia before settling in Western Australia, where their son was born in 2009. The couple separated and reconciled several times before finally splitting in 2015.
Simon recounted a dramatic moment during one of their separations: Erin left him and their baby son during a road trip, and he had to drive alone from Townsville to Perth — over 3,000 miles — with the child.
He added that Erin complained their communication was “toxic” and that their once “chatty” relationship deteriorated significantly after he listed himself as separated on a tax return in 2022.
Despite their estrangement, Simon maintained that Erin got on well with his father, Don. “They shared a love of knowledge and learning,” he said, his voice faltering. “I think she loved his gentle nature.”
What happens next?
The trial, taking place at the Supreme Court in Morwell, is expected to last six weeks.
Prosecutors argue Erin Patterson invited her guests under false pretences and went to lengths to cover her tracks afterward — including allegedly lying about the source of the mushrooms and disposing of a food dehydrator used to prepare them.
The jury has been told there’s no dispute that the meal contained death cap mushrooms.
However, the key question remains: was it a horrifying accident or a calculated act?