Australian woman accused of triple mushroom murders breaks down in court
An
Australian
woman accused of murdering three of her estranged husband's elderly relatives with a meal laced with poisonous mushrooms wept as she was questioned over expletive-laden messages about the victims on Tuesday, in a case that has captivated the country.
Erin Patterson (50) is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband.
The prosecution alleges she knowingly served the guests Beef Wellington that contained lethal death cap mushrooms at her home in Leongatha, a town of around 6,000 people some 135 km (84 miles) from Melbourne.
Patterson denies the charges, with her defence saying the deaths were a 'terrible accident'. She faces a life sentence if found guilty.
READ MORE
Appearing as a witness for her own defence, Erin Patterson was questioned on Tuesday by her barrister Colin Mandy about a series of expletive-laden messages sent to friends regarding the Patterson family.
[
'It's just beginning and it's going to get ugly': Pro-Trump Polish president-elect reflects divided nation
Opens in new window
]
The court previously heard the relationship between the accused and her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, deteriorated shortly before the alleged murders due to a disagreement over child support.
'I wish I'd never said it. I feel ashamed for saying it and I wish that the family didn't have to hear that I said that,' she said of the messages, that the court has previously heard in the prosecution's case.
'I was really frustrated with Simon but it wasn't Don and Gail's fault,' she told the court through tears.
Erin Patterson is the first witness for the defence after the prosecution rested its case on Monday, following a month of evidence from witnesses, including relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts.
The accused began her testimony on Monday afternoon. It is unknown how long she will give evidence for or whether she will be cross-examined by the prosecution.
The trial, which began on April 29th, has seen intense interest from Australian and international media, with podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers descending on the town of Morwell, around two hours east of Melbourne, where the trial is being held.
The trial continues.
- Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Irish Times
Jozef Puska's sister-in-law said she burned clothes day after Aishling Murphy murder, trial hears
Jozef Puska 's sister-in-law told gardaí that she and another family member burned clothes, including a bloodstained T-shirt, the day after schoolteacher Ashling Murphy was murdered, a trial has heard. Jozef Puska (35) attacked Ms Murphy (23) on the canal towpath at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly on January 12th, 2022 and was later convicted of her murder. She died having suffered 12 sharp force injuries to her neck, 11 of which were stab wounds. Jozefina Grundzova (32), who is married to Jozef's brother Marek Puska (36), is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef by assisting in burning his clothes. Viera Gaziova (40), who is married to Jozef's other brother Lubomir Puska jnr (38), is charged with the same offence. READ MORE Lubomir jnr and Marek are charged with withholding information from detectives investigating Ms Murphy's murder. All the accused were living with Jozef, his wife Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly when the offences are alleged to have occurred in January 2022. All accused have pleaded not guilty to all charges. At the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday, Det Garda James Duffy gave evidence to counsel for the State, Kevin White BL, that during garda interview, Ms Grundzova told gardaí that co-accused Ms Gaziova received a phone call telling her to burn certain clothes. She said these were 'maybe Jozef's clothes' and it was Ms Gaziova who lit the fire on January 13th. Ms Grundzova told gardaí that Ms Gaziova was 'throwing clothes into the fire', which she may have taken out of a bag. She said that she herself she took socks out of the bag and threw them into the fire. She said she did not know why these clothes were burned, but she noticed there was 'blood around the lower half of the T-shirt'. 'Viera told me she got a call that the clothes needed to be burned,' she said. Presiding judge Ms Justice Caroline Biggs told the jury of seven men and five women that they will not be required again until Monday, June 9th, when the trial will resume.
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Irish Times
Tattoo artist found guilty of chef's murder through sword attack in car park
A tattoo artist has been found guilty of the murder of a young chef he attacked with a sword causing partial amputation of his left leg, massive blood loss and his subsequent death in hospital has been found guilty of murder. Jurors at the Central Criminal Court in Cork took just over four hours to unanimously convict Dylan Scannell of the murder of 33-year-old father of two Ian Baitson. The victim's loved ones hugged each other and wept when the verdict was returned. Over a week-long trial, the jury heard Scannell (31) struck Mr Baitson from behind the left knee with a sword at the Eurospar car park on Newtown Road in Cobh, Co Cork on the evening of March 15th, 2024. The medical evidence was that the sword cut through muscle, artery and bone. Mr Baitson was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery, but he died four days later. READ MORE Mr Scannell will receive a mandatory life sentence. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury members for their diligent service in a 'difficult' case. The trial heard Scannell had sent Mr Baitson a text threatening to chop off his fingers because of a drug debt he at one point claimed amounted to €2,500. Mr Baitson responded by insisting he only owed him a couple of hundred euro. The accused had admitted the manslaughter of Mr Baitson but denied murder. Ian Baitson died from injuries sustained when he was attacked with a sword in a car park in Cobh, Co Cork, in March 2024. Photograph: Family handout/ PA Wire On the night of the attack, Mr Baitson had €185 he planned to give to Scannell. However, the evidence was that he never got the chance to hand over the money. Instead Scannell attacked him with a sword. Mr Baitson had told his mother Helen Goggin he was going to the shop and would be 10 minuts. She heard sirens 20 minutes later and was informed that he had been attacked. Ms Goggin wept during the trial as she said 'they had to turn off the machine' at the hospital four days later. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster told the trial a postmortem indicated Mr Baitson died of a haemorrhage and shock complicated by brain damage due to the lack of blood supply from an injury caused by sharp force. A single blow from a sharp weapon like a samurai sword caused a fracture to the knee bone and sliced through the two bones below the knee. Scannell, of O'Rahilly Street in Cobh, Co Cork, opted to evidence at the trial. He said he was 'sorry' for what occurred. He said he had supplied Mr Baitson with drugs and loaned him money for a debt he owed to a third party. He insisted Mr Baitson was his friend and said he would give anything to turn back the clock. Scannell said he was having trouble and owed money to another person at the time. He admitted he was a drug addict 'paranoid' when he went to meet Mr Baitson in the car park. He insisted he brought the sword to the car park for 'protection' and never intended to harm Mr Baitson. 'I just wanted to scare him. I didn't want to hurt anyone. I didn't think that by hitting him in the leg I would cause him any damage. I want to say I'm sorry. I would do anything to take it back.' Following the attack, Scannell drove to an area near the harbour in Cobh and threw the sword into the water. The trial heard Mr Baitson was a fit and healthy man who ran road races. He had given up alcohol six months before his death. Mourners at his funeral on March 27th, 2024 were told he was a 'lovable rogue.' Fr Tom McDermott said Mr Baitson was the 'happiest he had ever been' in the period before he died having just participated in a charity run. His family expressed gratitude to all who assisted Mr Baitson when he was attacked in the car park. His brother Richard said bystanders, paramedics and hospital staff gave them four more precious days with him before his death.
Irish Times
14 hours ago
- Irish Times
Richard Satchwell sentenced to life in prison for murder of his wife Tina Satchwell
Richard Satchwell , who was found guilty last week of the murder of his wife Tina Satchwell , has been sentenced to life in prison. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Satchwell at the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday morning. After sentencing Richard Satchwell's legal team said that he intended to appeal the verdict. Ms Satchwell's skeletal remains were found in a deep grave in an area under the stairs of the couple's Co Cork home in October 2023, more than six years after her husband reported her missing. READ MORE Satchwell (58), a lorry driver, had pleaded not guilty to murdering the 45-year-old at Grattan Street, Youghal, on March 19th and 20th, 2017. He claimed his wife had left him, taking their savings. After the remains were uncovered during a forensic excavation, Satchwell had claimed that his wife flew at him with a chisel on the morning of March 20th, 2017, and, during a struggle, went 'limp' and died. He said he put her body on a couch, then in a chest freezer and, on March 26th, buried her under the stairs. He was convicted of his wife's murder last Friday by unanimous verdict of the jury of seven women and five men, following more than nine hours of deliberation. Lawyers for Satchwell had unsuccessfully tried to have the murder charge against him withdrawn and substituted with manslaughter in the fourth week of the trial. Mr Justice Paul McDermott rejected arguments from Satchwell's defence team – made at the end of the evidence and in the absence of the jury – there was no evidence on which the jury could safely find Satchwell had the necessary legal intention for murder, to kill or cause serious injury to his wife, Tina . That was 'a huge lacuna' in the prosecution case, defence counsel Brendan Grehan argued. Tina Satchwell's family previously made a statement outside court, and said that Tina was 'portrayed in a way that is not true to who she was'. Tina's cousin, Sarah Howard said: 'Tina was our precious sister, cousin, auntie and daughter. Her presence in our lives meant so much to us all. We as a family can never put into words the impact her loss has had on us.'
