Alleged killer mushroom cook Erin Patterson pleads not guilty

1 week ago 9

Alleged slayer mushroom navigator Erin Patterson volition person her lawsuit fast-tracked to the Supreme Court wherever her barrister says she volition plead not blameworthy to each charges.

Patterson faced Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court connected Tuesday via videolink from Dame Phyllis Frost Centre women’s prison, dressed successful a bluish tracksuit.

Don Patterson, Gail Patterson, Heather Wilkinson and Ian Wilkinson were poisoned by the mushroom meal.

Defence barrister Colin Mandy, SC, said his lawsuit had elected to person the substance fast-tracked to a higher court, avoiding the request for a committal, wherever grounds against Patterson would person been tested publically for the archetypal time.

This besides means the substance is brought earlier proceedings sooner than if it remained successful Gippsland.

Magistrate Tim Walsh accepted the application.

“You are committed for trial,” Walsh said.

A tribunal sketch of Erin Patterson from April 2024.

“I enactment you person pleaded not blameworthy and determination is nary exertion for bail today.”

Patterson faced tribunal past period erstwhile it was revealed her ineligible squad was initially warring to person the lawsuit heard successful determination Victoria and not Melbourne.

The tribunal heard Patterson had the accidental to person her lawsuit shifted to Melbourne, but was consenting to walk longer successful custody instead, to person it stay astatine the section court. The Latrobe Valley tribunal is improbable to beryllium capable to accommodate the proceeding until 2025.

“[She] wants it heard successful section tribunal earlier her section community. A proceeding should beryllium held successful the assemblage wherever an offence is alleged to person been committed,” Mandy said astatine the time.

Patterson is accused of murdering her erstwhile in-laws – Don Patterson, 70, and Gail Patterson, 70 – arsenic good arsenic Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66. She is besides accused of attempting to termination Heather’s husband, 68-year-old Baptist pastor Ian Wilkinson, and her ain ex-husband, Simon Patterson, connected abstracted occasions.

Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died successful infirmary days aft a deadly household luncheon of beef Wellington was served successful Leongatha connected July 29 past year.

Ian Wilkinson was released from the Austin Hospital aft 7 weeks of attraction – astir of which helium spent successful a coma.

Police allege decease headdress mushrooms were utilized to poison the family, with 1 wound known to beryllium capable to termination someone, causing terrible gastroenteritis and yet organ failure.

Homicide squad detectives besides allege Patterson attempted to execution erstwhile hubby Simon Patterson connected astatine slightest 4 abstracted occasions betwixt November 2021 and July 2023.

Patterson was arrested successful November and aboriginal charged with 3 counts of execution and 5 counts of attempted murder. She has remained successful custody since.