Small Aussie town in spotlight after mushroom murderer found guilty
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RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Mushroom lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson returns to church after Patterson guilty verdict
By Jack Colantuono , ABC Ian Wilkinson is the pastor at Korumburra Baptist Church, located in the Victorian region of South Gippsland. Photo: ABC News: Danielle Bonica Mushroom lunch survivor and pastor Ian Wilkinson has made his return to the Korumburra Baptist Church for the first time since Erin Patterson was convicted of murdering his wife. A Supreme Court jury found Patterson guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after serving beef wellington dishes laced with death cap mushrooms at her Leongatha home in July 2023. In his sermon on Sunday, Wilkinson gave everyone a warm welcome, including those visiting from interstate and watching online, and was applauded by the congregation. Ian Wilkinson (left) was the only guest to survive the lunch. His wife Heather Wilkinson, and Don and Gail Patterson all died from suspected mushroom poisoning. Photo: ABC / Supplied "Somebody's come all the way from Brisbane to be with us today," Wilkinson said. "And we have some other visitors too. "I should introduce myself… my name is Ian; I used to lead services here. "And I'm pleased to be back with you again." The light-hearted moment was met with laughter from the congregation, before it was straight back to business for Wilkinson, who began the service by reading psalms and announcing upcoming events in Korumburra. Later in the service, a church member delivered a prayer. "We pray especially for the Wilkinson and Patterson families," she said. Wilkinson did not break his silence on the outcome of the Erin Patterson trial. After eating the beef wellington at Erin Patterson's house, Wilkinson spent a number of weeks recovering in hospital. Erin Patterson arriving in the back of a prison transport vehicle at Latrobe Valley Magistrate's Court in Morwell, Australia. Photo: AFP / MARTIN KEEP Patterson was found guilty of murdering her parent-in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of her husband Mr Wilkinson by a jury earlier this month. Patterson, 50, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, telling the court the poisonous mushrooms were accidentally included in the meals she served to four relatives in 2023. Patterson, who was expected lodge an appeal of the guilty verdict, will be sentenced at a later date. The trial lasted more than two months, and the jurors heard from more than 50 witnesses. - ABC
RNZ News
20 hours ago
- RNZ News
NSW Police gangs boss sends message to wannabe teenage assassins
Superintendent Box says juveniles are willing to take part in serious crime for financial gain. Photo: ABC / Jack Ailwood By Lia Harris , ABC In more than 30 years on the NSW Police force, Detective Superintendent Jason Box has never seen a Sydney gangland war like this one. "I've never seen the willingness of juveniles to participate in such serious crime ... They're actively looking for opportunities to partake in this serious crime for financial gain, so that is concerning," Box said. As the head of Taskforce Falcon, which was formed earlier this year to combat the escalating underworld conflict across Sydney, Box told ABC News his team was working around the clock to end the violence. "This can't continue, people in the community being hurt for no reason, innocent persons being injured or killed, and young juveniles being utilised as pawns in this whole internal conflict," he said. "I hope this ceases sooner than later, and I hope we have an impact and an influence on that." There have been at least 14 suspected gangland shootings and stabbings across Sydney in the past four months, with several innocent people caught in the crossfire. Last month, two masked gunmen stormed an Auburn kebab shop in broad daylight and fired a hail of bullets in an attempt to kill a Sydney underworld figure, hitting and injuring an innocent employee. Taskforce Falcon is also investigating a series of gangland attacks dating back to December last year, including the shooting murder of 31-year-old David Khau at Canley Heights. "It's of great concern ... We've arrested a 15-year-old male who (allegedly) fired over 40 shots into two homes, and in one of those it just missed a sleeping five-year-old by centimetres," Box said. Shootings and a stabbing investigated by NSW Police under Taskforce Falcon. Photo: ABC / NSW police Since the taskforce's inception, more than 80 people have been arrested and more than 200 charges laid. To disrupt the violence, investigators have now carried out more than 2000 "taskings", including intelligence gathering, bail checks, patrolling hotspot areas, searching for suspicious cars and firearms prohibition enforcement checks. They have seized 15 guns and 50 vehicles they believe were staged and ready to be used in violent crimes. "We've recovered firearms, jerry cans, face coverings, locations, maps where offences were going to occur," Superintendent Box said. At least six underage teenagers have so far been charged by the taskforce for their alleged involvement in violent crimes, and police fear more youths are being recruited via encrypted apps and word of mouth. Box said organised crime groups were contracting young, inexperienced street gang members to carry out the attacks to ensure it can't be traced back to them. "They're expendable, these juveniles; the amount that they pay them is minimal compared to what they'd normally pay for these types of acts to be done. In reality, the task for a lot of them is to kill somebody," he said. "You're giving firearms to 14, 15-year-old kids ... so there's always the risk that they're going to panic, they're going to do things wrong. There's always a great concern that there will be error in their judgement." As his detectives work to prevent more attacks, Box had a message for any youths who may be in over their heads. "If they've been involved and have been captured in some type of organised criminal activity and they've realised that it's beyond them, that this is a lot bigger than they thought, the repercussions are enormous, their personal safety and that of their family is at risk, they can come forward and see us ... we'll do what we can to protect them," he said. "Going into custody is one thing, but being held accountable for their actions is something else, and it might not only be the courts, it might be the people that they've tried to harm. "There's a long reach of these people, these organised crime networks in jails and areas of custody, so there's nowhere that they're going to be protected if they're committing offences against these serious criminals; they really need to consider what they're doing." - ABC
RNZ News
4 days ago
- RNZ News
Death of outback murderer hasn't killed hope of finding victims remains
Australian correspondent Nick Grimm spoke to Melissa Chan-Green about the death of the man convicted of the outback murder of British tourist Peter Falconio 24 years ago which has not brought an end to hopes that the dead man's missing remains could still be located. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
