Prosecutor asks accused triple-murderer Erin Patterson why she didn't alert authorities over foraged mushrooms
Erin Patterson didn't tell a "single person" that she may have accidentally added foraged mushrooms to a lunch that eventually killed three of her relatives, her murder trial has heard.
The accused triple-murderer has given evidence for a fifth day in the Supreme Court trial in the Victorian town of Morwell.
She has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder after three relatives — her parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson — died from death cap mushroom poisoning following a lunch at her house on July 29, 2023.
The trial of Erin Patterson, who stands accused of using a poisoned meal to murder three relatives, continues.
Look back at how Friday's hearing unfolded in our live blog.
To stay up to date with this story, subscribe to ABC News.
Another relative, Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson, fell seriously ill but survived.
Lead prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC, who continued her cross-examination of Ms Patterson today, pointed to a police interview in which she spoke lovingly of her in-laws.
"You agree that you told police in your record of interview that you loved Don and Gail?" Dr Rogers asked.
"Correct," Ms Patterson said.
The prosecutor then asked why she wouldn't have thought to tell authorities of her worries that she may have added foraged mushrooms to her guests' lunches, given they had fallen seriously ill.
Ms Patterson earlier told the trial she had become "scared" and began to worry that authorities would think it was "intentional".
"Well I didn't," Ms Patterson responded. "I had been told that … people were getting treatment for possible death cap mushroom poisoning. So that was already happening."
Dr Rogers noted that this was days before anyone had died, but that Ms Patterson didn't tell "a single person" that foraged mushrooms may be in the meal.
"Correct," the 50-year-old mother responded.This came after Dr Rogers detailed a conversation that took place between Ms Patterson and her estranged husband Simon in a hospital on the Tuesday after the lunch.Ms Patterson previously said he had confronted her and asked her if she'd used the dehydrator to poison his parents. Mr Patterson denies he said that.
In evidence earlier this week, Ms Patterson said that after the conversation, "it got me thinking about all the times that I'd used it [the dehydrator]".
"And how I had dried foraged mushrooms in it weeks earlier. And I was starting to think, what if they'd gone in the container with the Chinese mushrooms," Erin said.
On the Wednesday after the lunch, the court heard Ms Patterson, got up, drove her children to school, then came home.
"Then you got rid of the dehydrator," Dr Rogers said.
Ms Patterson confirmed that was what happened.Two days ago, Ms Patterson admitted to disposing of the food dehydrator at the Koonwarra tip.She told the court she knew that child protection workers were on their way to her house, and she feared being blamed for making her guests sick.Ms Patterson said this feeling of anxiety also led her to carry out a factory reset on her phone because she "panicked" about photos it contained of foraged mushrooms.
The trial continues.
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Medical mysteries? Or just misunderstood? 'I want revenge' For centuries, vampire folklore has compelled us. Tales of bloodsucking beasts can be found in ancient cultures around the world including First Nations people. But in the last few decades, they've been forever fixed in pop culture as a romanticised symbol of finding identity in the world. This romanticism is at the heart of the complex history between real vampires and Sydney local Crystal, who does not wish to share her real name. On one hand, Crystal claims they've drugged her. Drank her blood without consent. Even forced her to drink the blood of others. On the other hand, she remains transfixed by their mythical morbidity. For Crystal, it all began when she was invited to an opulent mansion party in Sydney's affluent suburb of Vaucluse when she was just 18. Crystal, who was drawn to gothic culture at the time, said the house belonged to the father of a friend of a friend who worked as a nurse. 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But it begs another question: why? Real vampires claim they feel sick and lethargic if they don't feed on human blood. It balances their energy. Some believe this thirst for blood is a sign of a deeper mental health problem. So is it all a big delusion? When vampires follow a code of silence, it's not easy to say. But that secrecy is well founded. They've learned the hard way their lifestyle inspires revulsion. That's why this community stays in the shadows. Most Australian vampires I contacted for this story declined to take part in it. One local fanged figure you need to know is Jason De Marco, otherwise known as Don Jason. Don Jason runs the Sydney Vampires Meetup Group. He's also an electioneering member of the Liberal Party, bringing new meaning to idea of a bloodsucking polly. At least this one is honest. In a YouTube video made by married artists Gillie and Marc Schattner, Jason is seen wearing Edwardian-era clothing, surgically-enhanced fangs, and a wide smile. 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'The ABS regularly reviews statistical standard classifications and holds public consultations to ensure standard classifications reflect the Australian community.' Until vampires are socially acknowledged, we'll never know how many of them walk among us or what secrets they hold.
