Latest news with #IanWilkinson
RNZ News
21-07-2025
- RNZ News
Mushroom lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson returns to church after Patterson guilty verdict
By Jack Colantuono , ABC Ian Wilkinson is the pastor at Korumburra Baptist Church, located in the Victorian region of South Gippsland. Photo: ABC News: Danielle Bonica Mushroom lunch survivor and pastor Ian Wilkinson has made his return to the Korumburra Baptist Church for the first time since Erin Patterson was convicted of murdering his wife. A Supreme Court jury found Patterson guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after serving beef wellington dishes laced with death cap mushrooms at her Leongatha home in July 2023. In his sermon on Sunday, Wilkinson gave everyone a warm welcome, including those visiting from interstate and watching online, and was applauded by the congregation. Ian Wilkinson (left) was the only guest to survive the lunch. His wife Heather Wilkinson, and Don and Gail Patterson all died from suspected mushroom poisoning. Photo: ABC / Supplied "Somebody's come all the way from Brisbane to be with us today," Wilkinson said. "And we have some other visitors too. "I should introduce myself… my name is Ian; I used to lead services here. "And I'm pleased to be back with you again." The light-hearted moment was met with laughter from the congregation, before it was straight back to business for Wilkinson, who began the service by reading psalms and announcing upcoming events in Korumburra. Later in the service, a church member delivered a prayer. "We pray especially for the Wilkinson and Patterson families," she said. Wilkinson did not break his silence on the outcome of the Erin Patterson trial. After eating the beef wellington at Erin Patterson's house, Wilkinson spent a number of weeks recovering in hospital. Erin Patterson arriving in the back of a prison transport vehicle at Latrobe Valley Magistrate's Court in Morwell, Australia. Photo: AFP / MARTIN KEEP Patterson was found guilty of murdering her parent-in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of her husband Mr Wilkinson by a jury earlier this month. Patterson, 50, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, telling the court the poisonous mushrooms were accidentally included in the meals she served to four relatives in 2023. Patterson, who was expected lodge an appeal of the guilty verdict, will be sentenced at a later date. The trial lasted more than two months, and the jurors heard from more than 50 witnesses. - ABC
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Sole survivor of the deadly mushroom lunch makes first public appearance since triple murderer Erin Patterson was found guilty
The sole survivor of the ill-fated beef Wellington lunch that killed his wife and two relatives has broken cover for the first time since Erin Patterson was found guilty. Local church pastor Ian Wilkinson received a round of applause from the congregation as he delivered a message of hope during a rare address at Korumburra Baptist Church on Sunday. It was his first public appearance since Patterson was found guilty of killing her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, at her Leongatha home in Victoria's Gippsland region on July 29, 2023. The mother-of-two was also found guilty of attempting to murder Heather's husband, Mr Wilkinson, who spent weeks fighting for life in hospital and underwent a liver transplant. As the two-year anniversary of the ill-fated lunch looms, Mr Wilkinson made a much-anticipated return to the church, where he's been the local pastor for two decades. 'My name is Ian. I used to lead services here a lot and I'm pleased to be back with you again,' he told the congregation. Mr Wilkinson delivered a poignant message of hope by citing an often-quoted verse from Psalm 23:4 in the Bible, Nine News reported. 'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,' he said. Erin Patterson was recently found guilty of murdering three in-laws with death cap mushrooms in a Beef Wellington that she served them for lunch at her home The congregation led special prayers for the Wilkinson and Patterson families during the service as they prepare to mark two years since losing their loved ones. Simon Patterson had also been invited to the ill-fated lunch that claimed the lives of both of his parents and his aunt. It was Mr Wilkinson's first public sighting in three weeks, apart from a personal statement shared in a noticeboard message outside the church the day after Patterson was found guilty. 'Life can be hard, but God is faithful,' he was quoted in the message. The notice from the church leadership team also requested privacy during this 'difficult time'. 'We all greatly miss Heather, Don and Gail, whether we were friends for a short time or over 20 years. They were very special people who loved God and lived to bless others,' it began. 'It's been a long journey, and we continue to lovingly support Ian, Simon and all the Wilkinson and Patterson family members through this difficult time. 'We appreciate all the care from our local communities, special support from individuals and from the Baptist Union of Victoria, and the churches and people from all over the world who have been praying for us.' Mr Wilkinson attended almost every day of Patterson's 10-week trial, where he gave powerful and compelling evidence. More details about his miraculous recovery could be revealed if he takes up an invitation to make a victim impact statement ahead of Patterson's pre-sentencing hearing later this year. A 12-person jury found Patterson guilty of three murders and one attempted murder at Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court a fortnight ago following a week of deliberations. Patterson had invited the group to her home, where she served them individually wrapped beef Wellingtons containing lethal mushrooms. The killer initially feigned grief as the fatal lunch made headlines around Australia, and Victoria Police charged her over the deaths in November 2023. Patterson faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars.
ABC News
20-07-2025
- ABC News
Mushroom lunch survivor Ian Wilkinson returns to church after Patterson guilty verdict
Mushroom lunch survivor and pastor Ian Wilkinson has made his return to the Korumburra Baptist Church for the first time since Erin Patterson was convicted of murdering his wife. A Supreme Court jury found Patterson guilty of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after serving beef wellington dishes laced with death cap mushrooms at her Leongatha home in July 2023. In his sermon on Sunday, Mr Wilkinson gave everyone a warm welcome, including those visiting from interstate and watching online, and was applauded by the congregation. "Somebody's come all the way from Brisbane to be with us today," Mr Wilkinson said. "And we have some other visitors too. "I should introduce myself… my name is Ian; I used to lead services here. The light-hearted moment was met with laughter from the congregation, before it was straight back to business for Mr Wilkinson, who began the service by reading psalms and announcing upcoming events in Korumburra. Later in the service, a church member delivered a prayer. "We pray especially for the Wilkinson and Patterson families," she said. Mr Wilkinson did not break his silence on the outcome of the Erin Patterson trial. After eating the beef wellington at Erin Patterson's house, Mr Wilkinson spent a number of weeks recovering in hospital. Patterson was found guilty of murdering her parent-in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of her husband Mr Wilkinson by a jury earlier this month. Patterson, 50, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, telling the court the poisonous mushrooms were accidentally included in the meals she served to four relatives in 2023. Patterson, who was expected lodge an appeal of the guilty verdict, will be sentenced at a later date. The trial lasted more than two months, and the jurors heard from more than 50 witnesses.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
Woman found guilty in mushroom murder mystery that left three family members dead after meal
A woman who poisoned four family members, killing three of them, is facing life in prison after a jury found her guilty of murder-by-mushrooms. Erin Patterson invited her estranged husband's mother, father, aunt and uncle to lunch at her home in the southern state of Victoria in Australia in July 2023 and served them beef Wellington made with death cap mushrooms. Patterson, aged 50, told police she must have included the deadly fungi in her recipe by accident. But the trial proved she had lied and tried to hide evidence of her culinary crime by disposing of incriminating evidence. During the 10-week trial, which dominated headlines Down Under, the jury heard how Patterson had invited the family for lunch under the pretext of revealing a cancer diagnosis. What To Know About The Fda's Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Warning Estranged husband Simon decided at the last minute not to attend, and Patterson was originally also accused of his attempted murder, although she never faced those charges in court. Read On The Fox News App Google searches for beef Wellington recipes have soared in Australia over the last few months, as the trial captivated the country. During Patterson's trial, the jury saw pictures of the leftover beef Wellington and heard how family members had gotten sick and gone to the local hospital, where mushroom poisoning was quickly diagnosed. They also heard from the sole survivor, her estranged husband's uncle Ian Wilkinson, who testified that Erin had served them beef Wellington with green beans and mashed potatoes in individual portions, but served herself on a different plate. No traces of the deadly mushrooms were found in her system, and she told police that she was bulimic and had vomited after eating the food. A doctor who treated the poisoning victims says he had taken one look at her and known something was wrong. In an interview with Australia's ABC News, Doctor Chris Webster said he had asked Erin Patterson where she had gotten the mushrooms. Couple Charged In Alleged Cyanide Plot To Kill Ex-girlfriends; Agents Hospitalized During Search "When she didn't respond in a way that instantly would have explained it as a tragic accident, that's it, from that moment in my mind, she was guilty," he said. "She was evil and very smart to have planned it all and carried it out, but didn't quite dot every 'i' and cross every 't.'" Although prosecutors couldn't find a specific motive for the murders, Australian media outlets have reported that Erin, who had worked as an accountant and also an air traffic controller, had resented her ex-husband, Simon, for not doing his share of household chores. In messages to online friends, the triple-murderer said she had had to hire a cleaner because of Simon's refusal to help out around the house. The couple have two children together. Prosecutors untangled her web of lies about the poisonings, including her claims that she had never been foraging for mushrooms, and that she didn't own a food dehydrator. The kitchen appliance was later found at a nearby landfill site, where Erin had taken it to try and dispose of evidence. Police found death cap mushroom residue inside. Patterson's legal team has 28 days to appeal the conviction. If there is no appeal, she will likely be sentenced in August and faces life behind article source: Woman found guilty in mushroom murder mystery that left three family members dead after meal
Fox News
12-07-2025
- Fox News
Woman found guilty in mushroom murder mystery that left three family members dead after meal
A woman who poisoned four family members, killing three of them, is facing life in prison after a jury found her guilty of murder-by-mushrooms. Erin Patterson invited her estranged husband's mother, father, aunt and uncle to lunch at her home in the southern state of Victoria in Australia in July 2023 and served them beef Wellington made with death cap mushrooms. Patterson, aged 50, told police she must have included the deadly fungi in her recipe by accident. But the trial proved she had lied and tried to hide evidence of her culinary crime by disposing of incriminating evidence. During the 10-week trial, which dominated headlines Down Under, the jury heard how Patterson had invited the family for lunch under the pretext of revealing a cancer diagnosis. Estranged husband Simon decided at the last minute not to attend, and Patterson was originally also accused of his attempted murder, although she never faced those charges in court. Google searches for beef Wellington recipes have soared in Australia over the last few months, as the trial captivated the country. During Patterson's trial, the jury saw pictures of the leftover beef Wellington and heard how family members had gotten sick and gone to the local hospital, where mushroom poisoning was quickly diagnosed. They also heard from the sole survivor, her estranged husband's uncle Ian Wilkinson, who testified that Erin had served them beef Wellington with green beans and mashed potatoes in individual portions, but served herself on a different plate. No traces of the deadly mushrooms were found in her system, and she told police that she was bulimic and had vomited after eating the food. A doctor who treated the poisoning victims says he had taken one look at her and known something was wrong. In an interview with Australia's ABC News, Doctor Chris Webster said he had asked Erin Patterson where she had gotten the mushrooms. "When she didn't respond in a way that instantly would have explained it as a tragic accident, that's it, from that moment in my mind, she was guilty," he said. "She was evil and very smart to have planned it all and carried it out, but didn't quite dot every 'i' and cross every 't.'" Although prosecutors couldn't find a specific motive for the murders, Australian media outlets have reported that Erin, who had worked as an accountant and also an air traffic controller, had resented her ex-husband, Simon, for not doing his share of household chores. In messages to online friends, the triple-murderer said she had had to hire a cleaner because of Simon's refusal to help out around the house. The couple have two children together. Prosecutors untangled her web of lies about the poisonings, including her claims that she had never been foraging for mushrooms, and that she didn't own a food dehydrator. The kitchen appliance was later found at a nearby landfill site, where Erin had taken it to try and dispose of evidence. Police found death cap mushroom residue inside. Patterson's legal team has 28 days to appeal the conviction. If there is no appeal, she will likely be sentenced in August and faces life behind bars.
