Mushroom cook admits lie to husband
Alleged triple-murderer Erin Patterson has given evidence she lied and exaggerated to her estranged husband because she was 'hurt' he declined an invitation to the deadly lunch.
Ms Patterson, 50, is facing trial accused of murdering Simon Patterson's parents and aunt and the attempted murder of his uncle after the four guests fell critically ill following a lunch at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023.
She has pleaded not guilty, with her defence arguing the case was not deliberate poisoning but a tragic accident.
Taking the stand following the closure of the prosecution case this week, Ms Patterson was asked by her barrister Colin Mandy SC about a message exchange with her husband. Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. 9News Credit: Supplied
Earlier in the trial, the jury was told the pair separated in 2015 but remained amicable as they continued to co-parent their two children.
Reading the messages, Mr Mandy said the evening before the lunch Simon Patterson declined an invitation he'd earlier agreed to.
'Sorry, I feel too uncomfortable about coming to the lunch with you, mum, dad, Heather & Ian tomorrow, but am happy to talk about your health and implications of that at another time if you'd like to discuss on the phone. Just let me know,' the message read.
Ms Patterson responded saying; '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 fillet 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 and Heather and Ian are coming at 12.30. I hope to see you there.' Simon Patterson gave evidence earlier in the trial. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia
Asked about her reaction, Ms Patterson told the jury she felt a bit hurt and a bit stressed by Simon's message.
Questioned by Mr Mandy if the reply was true, she said: 'Apart from the fact that I'd spent a small fortune on beef eye fillet and I wanted it to be special, the rest was exaggeration.'
She told the court she exaggerated because she wanted him to attend so she could discuss an upcoming medical procedure, specifically about sorting out plans for the care of their son and daughter.
Earlier in the day, Ms Patterson told the jury she had misled Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, about needing a series of tests on a lump on her elbow.
She said earlier the same year she had a lump but it resolved itself and she was planning to use it as a cover to get gastric bypass surgery.
'I had come to the conclusion that I wanted to do something, for once and for all about my weight and my poor eating habits. So I was planning to have gastric bypass surgery and so I remember thinking I didn't want to tell anybody what I was going to have done,' she said.
'I was really embarrassed about it, so I thought perhaps letting them believe I had some serious issue that needed treatment might mean they'd be able to help me with the logistics around the kids and I wouldn't have to tell them the real reason.' Don and Gail Patterson died a day apart in early August. Supplied Credit: Supplied
The jury was shown a series of messages between Ms Patterson and Gail Patterson over a few weeks in June where she kept up the charade, writing to her mother-in-law that she was waiting for the results of a biopsy and then needing an MRI.
Asked 'were those lies?' by Mr Mandy, Ms Patterson confirmed 'yes'.
'They had shown quite a lot of care about that, which felt really nice... I didn't want their care of me to stop, so I just kept it going. I shouldn't have done it,' she said.
Ms Patterson told the court she 'shouldn't have' said those things to Simon but wanted him to feel bad about cancelling at the last minute.
Asked by her barrister whether it was true when she said she'd spent 'many hours' preparing for the lunch, the accused woman confirmed it was not.
'I didn't do any preparing other than shopping and researching the recipe, so I guess the answer to your question is, no, it wasn't true,' she said.
'I didn't mean to do any of that. I shouldn't have done any of that, but that's what I was thinking at the time.' Ms Patterson is expected to return to the witness box on Thursday. NewsWire / Paul Tyquin Credit: News Corp Australia
Don and Gail Patterson and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson died in early August 2023 from organ failure linked to death cap mushroom poisoning.
Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson recovered after about a month and a half in hospital.
Ms Patterson is expected to return to the witness box on Thursday, where Mr Mandy told the jury he had about 15 minutes more of questions, before she is turned over to the prosecution to question.
The trial continues.
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