In a gripping and tragic case that has captured national attention, Erin Patterson, 49, has been found guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after serving a deadly beef wellington lunch to her in-laws in July 2023.
The verdict, handed down by a jury in Morwell after a nine-week trial, confirms that Patterson deliberately included death cap mushrooms in the meal that led to the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the near-fatal poisoning of Ian Wilkinson.
The lunch, served in Patterson’s Leongatha home, was originally presented as a family reconciliation gesture. However, prosecutors argued it was a calculated act of poisoning. All guests began exhibiting severe gastrointestinal symptoms within 12 hours. Three later died from multiple organ failure, while Ian Wilkinson survived after weeks in intensive care.
Patterson, who claimed she had also fallen ill from the meal, was found to have fabricated parts of her story. Evidence revealed she lied to police, disposed of a food dehydrator later found with mushroom residue, and previously searched for death cap sightings online. Prosecutors also alleged she prepared a sixth beef wellington for her estranged husband Simon, who withdrew from the lunch last minute.
Chief Prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC said Patterson’s actions were deliberate, citing “calculated deception” and manipulation. She pointed to Patterson’s choice to make individually portioned dishes and eat from a different plate than her guests.
The defence, led by Colin Mandy SC, argued the incident was a tragic accident, citing Patterson’s lack of motive and history of good relations with her in-laws. He said her lies were acts of panic, not guilt, and that the poisoning could have resulted from unintentional mixing of wild and store-bought mushrooms.
The jury ultimately rejected the accidental poisoning theory, siding with the prosecution’s version of premeditated murder.
Patterson will be sentenced at a later date, with public interest remaining high in a case that has shaken both the local Gippsland community and the nation.
