Australian Erin Patterson found guilty of all counts in mushroom murders case
Share and Follow

An Australian woman was on Monday convicted of murdering three elderly relatives of her estranged husband with a meal laced with poisonous mushrooms, in a case that has gripped the country.

Erin Patterson, 50, was charged with the 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 four gathered at Erin Patterson’s home in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 people, some 84 miles southeast of Melbourne, where the mother of two served them a meal of individual Beef Wellingtons accompanied by mashed potato and green beans, which were later found to contain death cap mushrooms.

On Monday, the jury in the case found her guilty of all four charges, the court heard in Morwell, a town around two hours east of Melbourne where the trial was being held.

Patterson, who had pleaded not guilty to all charges, saying the deaths were accidental, will be sentenced at a later date.

The 10-week trial attracted huge global interest, with local and international media descending on Court 4 at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court in Morwell, the nearest court to Patterson’s home where she had requested to be tried, despite being warned of lengthy delays.

State broadcaster ABC’s daily podcast on proceedings was consistently among the most popular in Australia during the trial, while several documentaries on the case are already in production.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Trump goes off on Josh Hawley over insider trading bill

Trump Criticizes Josh Hawley on Insider Trading Legislation

President Trump on Wednesday went off on one his closest allies in…
Trump tells former Russian President to 'watch his words'

Trump Warns Former Russian President to ‘Choose Words Carefully’

President Donald Trump issued a scathing takedown of former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev…
Meet the 21 virgins looking to find love on Hulu's new reality dating show 'Are You My First?'

Introducing 21 Virgins Searching for Love on Hulu’s New Reality Dating Show ‘Are You My First?’

LOS ANGELES — Meet the 21 virgins looking for love on Hulu’s…
Ksoo's trial begins with debate over video dashcam

Rapper Ksoo Awaits Verdict in Jacksonville Murder Trial

The jury deliberated for three and a half hours before returning to…
Smokey the Bear arrests man for allegedly stealing his signs in Florida to sell on Facebook: 'Dumb criminals'

Smokey the Bear arrests man for allegedly stealing his signs in Florida to sell on Facebook: ‘Dumb criminals’

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Smokey the Bear helped…
Nine in 10 guilty of dirty habit that is fueling surge in hemorrhoids

Nine Out of Ten Engage in Common Habit Contributing to Increased Hemorrhoid Cases

The number of people suffering from painful and disruptive hemorrhoids is growing,…
Brown University strikes agreement with Trump administration to restore lost federal funding

Brown University Reaches Deal with Trump Administration to Regain Federal Funding

WASHINGTON (AP) — Brown University will pay $50 million to Rhode Island…
Exclusive eyewitness testimony reveals horrific details of deadly church attack in African nation

Exclusive eyewitness testimony reveals horrific details of deadly church attack in African nation

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Villagers bury their dead…