An Australian mum who is accused of poisoning her family with toxic mushrooms told a courtroom, ‘exotic mushrooms have more flavour’.
Erin Patterson is facing three murder charges after her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, died in July 2023 after eating a beef wellington she had made.
Her murder trial is ongoing in Morwell, Victoria, an hour north of her hometown of Leongatha, where the deaths occurred.
In the trial today, she said she was drawn to ‘exotic mushrooms’ while foraging, because they ‘just taste more interesting, have more flavour.’
The amateur chef added that she often ‘experimented’ with mushrooms she foraged, before cooking them with butter.
‘They tasted good and I didn’t get sick,’ she said.
She also shared her long-standing affection for mushrooms, and previously said she would sprinkle dried mushrooms in recipes for her children.
Patterson began foraging for the fungi in 2020 during lockdown, and said she often took her children on walks: ‘There were lots of [wild mushrooms] at the gardens,’ she said.
‘They taste good and they’re very healthy. I’d buy all the different types that Woolies [supermarket Woolworths] would sell.’
The trial is expected to last six weeks in Morwell, and will delve into Patterson’s past, as well as the day of the murders.
Don, Gail and Heather’s symptoms were described as being consistent with poisoning by death cap mushrooms.
It is a dull green fungus known as Amanita phalloides and can lead to serious organ failure within 24 to 48 hours.
Erin’s ex-husband, Simon Patterson, was meant to have attended the meal, but he cancelled last minute, saying he felt ‘too uncomfortable’ about the gathering.
Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s partner, was the only survivor.
A woman who met Erin through a true crime forum on Facebook has said the accused killer was a ‘bit of a super sleuth.’
Christine Hunt told the court today how the pair met around six years ago through a group formed to discuss the trial of Keli Lane, which first had about 2,000 members.
Some of Patterson’s Facebook posts to the group were shown in court, including photos of a dehydrator that she had bought.
‘I’ve been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything. Mixed it into chocolate brownies yesterday, the kids had no idea’ Patterson said in one message to the group, The Guardian reported.
Daniela Barkley, one of the members of the group who also gave evidence in the hearing this morning, said soon afterwards Patterson asked if anyone had cooked beef wellington, and if they had advice for the dish.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.