Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial LIVE updates: Accused killer enters day eight in the witness box

Daily Mail​

a day ago

21:49
Patterson to enter day 8 in the witness box
Erin Patterson will this morning enter the witness box for what is expected to be the eighth and final day in her own marathon murder trial.
Patterson has been a big drawcard with people queuing up outside (pictured) the courthouse very early each morning to get a front row seat in the courtroom.
Dozens of members of the public braved the fog and freezing temperatures on Wednesday morning as they awaited the beginning of Patterson's seventh day on the stand.
Patterson, 50, is accused of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, after allegedly serving them a beef Wellington lunch made with death cap mushrooms.
Patterson is also accused of attempting to murder Heather's husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, who survived the lunch after spending several weeks in an intensive care unit.
The court heard Patterson's estranged husband, Simon, was also invited to the gathering at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region, but didn't attend.
Witnesses told the jury Patterson ate her serving from a smaller, differently-coloured plate than those of her guests, who ate off four grey plates.
Patterson told authorities she bought dried mushrooms from an unnamed Asian store in the Monash area of Melbourne, but health inspectors could find no evidence of this.
Last week, Justice Christopher Beale told the jury it was possible the trial may go on for another couple of weeks.
Justice Beale said once evidence is completed, he will have legal discussions with the parties while the jury is out, before closing addresses can commence.
Crown Prosecutor Dr Nanette Rogers SC said yesterday she will complete cross-examining Patterson today.
Patterson claimed she ate a kilo of mushrooms prior to lunch
On Wdenesday, Patterson claimed she ate a kilo of mushrooms between July 23 and July 27.
Dr Rogers suggested Patterson purchased 1.75kg of mushrooms between July 23 and July 27.
'Incorrect,' Patterson replied.
Patterson said the amount was a kilo-and-a-half and she ate one kilo and used the rest of the mushrooms for the Wellingtons.
Dr Rogers suggested that is an 'untruth'.
'Disagree,' Patterson said.
Dr Rogers suggested Patterson had twice the amount of mushrooms the RecipeTin Eats recipe called for and there was no need to add extra mushrooms.
Patterson disagreed.
Prosecution grills Patterson over beef Wellington 'plans'
Yesterday's court proceedings begun with Crown prosector Dr Nanette Rogers suggesting to Patterson she could've sourced a whole eye-fillet 'log' but didn't because she wanted to cook individual beef Wellingtons.
Patterson told the jury she asked her online Facebook friends including Jenny Hay for advice on how to cook the beef Wellington.
Patterson agreed she asked her friends how to stop the Wellington from going soggy.
She agreed Ms Hay advised her to wrap the beef in pastry as close to putting it in the oven.
Patterson said she used smaller cuts of eye-fillet because she couldn't source an entire log.
Dr Rogers suggested Patterson could've sourced a whole eye-fillet log at several butchers or supermarkets in Korumburra and Leongatha.
Dr Rogers said Patterson didn't source a log because she wanted to make smaller individual Wellingtons.
Dr Rogers also asked Patterson about the mushrooms.
'I wasn't planning on using foraged mushrooms,' Patterson said.
'I didn't discuss all my cooking plans…'
'I suggest your only plan for the beef Wellingtons were that death cap mushrooms were included, correct or incorrect?' Dr Rogers asked.
'Incorrect,' Patterson replied.