
Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial LIVE updates: Jury deliberates for a fifth day as world waits on verdict
Victoria Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale concluded his address to the jury - or 'charge' - on Monday afternoon before the jury retired to deliberate on the verdict.
Two jurors were balloted out, leaving 12 to decide Patterson's fate.
The five women and seven men will resume their deliberations at 10.30am, meaning there is a possibility a verdict in the murder trial, which has garnered worldwide attention, could come today.
Should they not reach a verdict on Friday, the jury may continue its deliberations into Saturday. However, they have discretion about how long they sit for on that day.
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 (pictured), was also invited to the gathering at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria's Gippsland region, but didn't attend.
Witnesses told the jury that Patterson ate her serving from a smaller, differently-coloured plate to 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.
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