Mushroom jury verdict step closer as judge wraps up
Victorian Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale is expected to finish his closing statements to the jury on Monday morning.
The 14 jurors will then be balloted down to 12, who will be tasked with deciding whether Patterson is guilty or not guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
Patterson denies intentionally poisoning her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, Gail's sister Heather and Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson with meals laced with death cap mushrooms.
Don, Gail and Heather all died after consuming the beef Wellington lunch on July 29, 2023, served by Patterson at her home in regional Victoria, while Ian survived.
During his four days of directions, known as a charge, Justice Beale outlined the evidence in the case and the arguments from both sides.
On Friday, he turned to Patterson's alleged incriminating conduct and cautioned jurors on how they should consider her admitted lies.
They include claims she never foraged for wild mushrooms, never had a dehydrator and was diagnosed with cancer.
Justice Beale noted jurors could use those lies to assess Patterson's credibility but they did not mean she was guilty of murder.
The jury should instead consider all of the evidence in the prosecution case before they reach their verdicts, the judge said.
As Justice Beale excused the jury for the week on Friday afternoon, he told them to enjoy their weekend and keep conversations about the case to the jury room.
"Don't let anybody get into your ear over the weekend," he said.
"Have a media blackout. You've been doing a great job, keep going."
Once the deliberations begin, the 12 jurors will be sequestered so they will have to stay together until they reach a unanimous verdict on all charges.
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