Erin Patterson: RecipeTin Eats cook Nagi Maehashi breaks silence on mushroom murders
Patterson, 50, was found guilty of murdering three family members and attempting to kill a fourth by serving the dish laced with death cap mushrooms.
The convicted killer had sourced the recipe from Maehashi's cookbook Dinner, which ended up being used as evidence during the 11-week trial that gripped the nation.
Following the verdict on Monday, the beloved cookbook author took to social media to express her sadness to have been 'entangled in the tragic situation'.
'It is of course upsetting to learn that one of my recipes – perhaps the one I've spent more hours perfecting than any other – something that I created to bring joy and happiness, is entangled in this tragic situation,' Maehashi wrote on social media, alongside a mushroom emoji.
She added that she had 'nothing to say' beyond the post and asked that media stop reaching out to her for comment.
'Other than that, I have nothing to say and I won't be talking to anyone. Thank you for respecting my privacy.'
When police searched Patterson's house on August 5, 2023, they found a copy of the popular cookbook with the recipe for the beef Wellington 'spattered' with evidence that it had been followed.
The prosecution argued that Patterson modified the recipe to prepare individual servings that excluded herself, ensuring she would not accidentally consume the poisonous meal.
Patterson confirmed in court that she followed the recipe but made a few changes.
After a week of deliberations, the jury unanimously found Patterson guilty of murdering her ex husband's parents Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson.
Patterson was also found guilty of attempting to murder Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson.
It is expected that Patterson will challenge the verdict. She will have 28 days to lodge an appeal after she receives her sentencing.
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Sydney Morning Herald
15 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Round of applause as mushroom lunch survivor returns to Korumburra church
Pastor Ian Wilkinson made his return to the Korumburra Baptist Church on Sunday for the first time since Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering his wife Heather and Patterson's former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson. Nine News reported that Wilkinson spoke briefly to the congregation re-introducing himself and citing the oft-quoted Bible verse from Psalm 23:4: 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow death, I will fear no evil.' 'My name is Ian. I used to lead services here a lot ... and I'm pleased to be back with you again,' Wilkinson reportedly told the congregation before receiving a round of applause. Wilkinson was the sole surviving guest at a home-cooked lunch prepared by Patterson, which killed his wife Heather and the parents of Patterson's former husband, Simon Patterson, after they were fed death cap mushrooms. Nine reported that members of the congregation led special prayers for Heather Wilkinson and Don and Gail Patterson during the service. Wilkinson made a 'miraculous recovery' after a long stint in hospital and attended Patterson's trial, also giving evidence about the lunch that left him on the brink of death. Wilkinson will likely be invited to give a victim impact statement during Patterson's pre-sentence hearing, which is expected to be scheduled in the coming months. The Patterson trial put a global spotlight on the Gippsland town and its modest Baptist church. That spotlight remains despite Patterson's conviction for the murders and attempted murder.
The Age
15 hours ago
- The Age
Round of applause as mushroom lunch survivor returns to Korumburra church
Pastor Ian Wilkinson made his return to the Korumburra Baptist Church on Sunday for the first time since Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering his wife Heather and Patterson's former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson. Nine News reported that Wilkinson spoke briefly to the congregation re-introducing himself and citing the oft-quoted Bible verse from Psalm 23:4: 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow death, I will fear no evil.' 'My name is Ian. I used to lead services here a lot ... and I'm pleased to be back with you again,' Wilkinson reportedly told the congregation before receiving a round of applause. Wilkinson was the sole surviving guest at a home-cooked lunch prepared by Patterson, which killed his wife Heather and the parents of Patterson's former husband, Simon Patterson, after they were fed death cap mushrooms. Nine reported that members of the congregation led special prayers for Heather Wilkinson and Don and Gail Patterson during the service. Wilkinson made a 'miraculous recovery' after a long stint in hospital and attended Patterson's trial, also giving evidence about the lunch that left him on the brink of death. Wilkinson will likely be invited to give a victim impact statement during Patterson's pre-sentence hearing, which is expected to be scheduled in the coming months. The Patterson trial put a global spotlight on the Gippsland town and its modest Baptist church. That spotlight remains despite Patterson's conviction for the murders and attempted murder.
ABC News
6 days ago
- ABC News
Erin Patterson mushroom deaths trial raises family pain of four poisoned children
The high-profile trial of mushroom poisoning killer Erin Patterson has brought up 160-year-old scars of four tragic deaths in SA's south east. In May 1861, at Hynam — east of Naracoorte — Sophia, Charles, Emma and Susan Norris, aged between seven and one, died from poisoning after eating foraged wild mushrooms. They were believed to have eaten Galerina marginata or funeral bell, which were commonly mistaken for edible honey mushrooms. Noel Norris, whose grandfather was a sibling of the Norris children, said the tragedy stayed with the family for decades. "It wasn't discussed very much for many years, because it was still pretty raw and tender, even after 100 years," he said. "My grandfather would never speak of it. "I did know about it but I didn't take it too seriously. "It was almost told to me like a bit of a children's story." Mr Norris and his wife searched for where the children were buried, eventually finding them in the Hynam cemetery in 2017. The grave was marked out with a fence and a plaque telling the children's story. "It must've been absolutely horrific and I think it left a scar on the Norris family, until now where we've been able to find the graves," he said. Mr Norris said the recently completed trial of Erin Patterson in Victoria brought up some of the emotions. "It brings it back to mind, but our story has been basically put to rest," he said. "We've gone through all the agonies of putting the children to rest, so whilst it does it bring it back, it's at arms length." In South Australia, 932 mushroom-related calls were made to the Poison Information Centre in the decade from 2015 until 2024, most of which were children aged less than five. Of those, 319 cases were referred to hospital. Mr Norris said his great aunts and uncle's stories should serve as a reminder for people of how dangerous mushrooms could be. "Even back from those years of when my family members died, there was still no real realisation of how deadly they can be," he said. "It's only this trial that's brought it back to people's mind to be a bit more aware. "It's a cautionary tale what happened to those beautiful children, but it hasn't stood up and people forget." Hynam Heritage Group secretary Lyn Schinckel said it had long been rumoured the children were buried at Hynam. "Nobody seemed to know where," she said. "There were stories that they weren't allowed to be buried here because it was a private cemetery. "One of the members decided to get the ground-penetrating radar here to actually find if and where they were." Mrs Schinckel was among the attendees at the ceremony in 2017. "We were pretty excited that we'd found something useful that no one else really knew," she said. "It was a very moving little ceremony, particularly for Noel and his wife. "We always knew what had happened but not really how it had finished or where it had finished."
