As the trial comes to a close, Justice Christopher Beale this week asked jurors to ignore the “unprecedented” attention it had received when coming to their decision.

The facts of the case

Heather Wilkinson and Gail Patterson both died on 4 August, and Don Patterson died on 5 August. Ian Wilkinson was the only guest who survived.

Erin Patterson, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, spent eight days giving evidence. Source: AAP / Anita Lester

Patterson was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in November 2023.

Patterson has pleaded not guilty, maintaining it was an accident and she did not intend to harm her guests. The trial before Beale began in late April in Morwell.

The prosecution’s case

Patterson’s second alleged deception was the lunch itself and her decision to source the death cap mushrooms and conceal them in individual beef Wellingtons, the prosecutor said.

Rogers alleged Patterson also feigned illness after lunch, which she denied in court.

The defence’s case

But she denied deliberately foraging for death cap mushrooms and knowing they were in the beef Wellingtons she served to her guests.

Defence barrister Colin Mandy (left) has argued Patterson did not have a motive to kill members of her estranged husband’s family and never planned to serve them death cap mushrooms. Source: AAP / James Ross

When asked by defence barrister Colin Mandy SC if she had ever “intentionally picked death cap mushrooms”, Patterson said “no”.

“This is not a court of moral judgement.”

What happens now?

“The defence, on the other hand, argues that there are other reasonable innocent explanations for the alleged conduct relied on by the prosecution.”

The trial at Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell began in late April. Source: AAP / James Ross

Beale asked the jury not to pay attention to the “unprecedented media attention” the trial had received as they come to their decision.