Australian woman who allegedly killed in-laws with mushroom lunch pleads not guilty

A 49-year-old woman inAustralia,who allegedly killed three of her former family members with a poisonous mushroomlunch,pleaded not guilty, according to media reports on Tuesday (May 7).Erin Patterson's trial wouldnowbe fast-tracked after she pleaded not guilty to eight charges. A report by 9News on Tuesday said that Pattersonis accusedof killingher former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson.

The Pattersons and Wilkinson died in a hospital days after they had lunch at Erin's residence inLeongatha last year. The report saidthat Erinfaced theLatrobe Valley Magistrates Court via video link from prison, wearing a blue jumper and glasses.

A poisonous mushroom lunch

On July 29, 2023, Erin hosted a lunch at her home. The guests wereDon and Gail Patterson (both aged 70), Heather (aged 66) and her husband Ian (aged 68), a report by BBC said. Police said that Erin's estranged husbandSimonwas also invitedbuthecould not make it at the last minute.

Hours after eating the mushroomwhichpolice believe was the death cap mushroom, all four guests fell ill with what they initially thought was food poisoning. Within days, Don, Gail, and Heather died. Ian survived after spending almost three months in the hospital, the BBC report said.

Death cap mushrooms areextremelypoisonous, and eating themmay lead to liver and kidney damage as well as death.

Erin was named as a suspect by police since she appeared unharmed after the lunch.

Following months of investigation, detectives allegedly uncovered another three murder attempts the 49-year-old made against Simonbetween 2021 and 2022. She was arrested in November last year and charged with eight offences -three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

'Not guilty, Your Honour'

On Tuesday, Erin told the court she was not guilty asthe charges against her were read. The woman electednot to have a committal, fast-tracking her court process to face trial at the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Erinwas remandedin custodywith her case listed for a directions hearing at the Supreme Court on May 23.

(With inputs from agencies)