Erin Patterson's mushroom murder trial jury hears prosecution case over alleged poisonings
Crown Prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC has opened the case for the prosecution at the Latrobe Valley Law Courts.
Prosecutors are outlining their case against Erin Patterson, who stands accused of using a poisoned meal to murder three relatives.
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Don and Gail Patterson, the parents of Ms Patterson's estranged husband, fell ill and never recovered after attending the gathering at a home in Leongatha, about 135 kilometres from Melbourne.
Gail Patterson's sister Heather Wilkinson also died, although her husband Ian Wilkinson pulled through after a long stint in hospital.
Ms Patterson, who has been charged with three counts of murder and one of attempted murder, has always maintained her innocence.
Barrister Nanette Rogers SC is the lead crown prosecutor in the case.
(
AAP: James Ross
)
Prosecutors allege the four guests were served individual beef Wellingtons which contained deadly amanita mushrooms.
Opening the case against Ms Patterson, Dr Rogers told the court Mr Wilkinson recounted the guests being served their meals on grey-coloured plates, while Ms Patterson served herself a meal on an orange-coloured plate.
The court heard Ms Patterson had invited the four guests to her Leongatha home, along with her estranged husband Simon Patterson.
Mr Patterson declined the invitation and did not attend.
At the lunch, Ms Patterson told her guests that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was seeking advice about whether to tell her children about the diagnosis, Ms Rogers said.
The Patterson's children were seeing a movie at Leongatha and were not present at the lunch, the jury heard.
Ms Rogers also told the jury Erin Patterson was a member of a Facebook group dedicated to discussing the Keli Lane murder case and other true crime stories.
Other charges against Ms Patterson dropped
The Director of Public Prosecutions has
Those charges related to alleged attempts to kill Ms Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson.
It is nearly two years since three people died after eating the beef Wellington dish.
The case, which has attracted global media attention, is set to run for up to six weeks.
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