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7NEWS
11-07-2025
- 7NEWS
Inside the Erin Patterson mushroom trial: How 15,000 were whittled down into 12 jurors and why case was held in Morwell
The eyes of the world were on a regional Victorian courtroom this week when a jury revealed their verdict to the world — that Erin Patterson had murdered three people with a deadly mushroom lunch. The 50-year-old mother-of-two was on Monday found guilty of killing her estranged husband Simon's parents Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66. She was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Wilkinson's husband, Ian, 68. Patterson had served her guests beef Wellington parcels laced with death cap mushrooms during their visit to her home in Leongatha in July 2023. Now, court authorities have revealed how a pool of 15,000 people was whittled down to the jury of 12 that ultimately decided her fate, and why the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell was chosen to host the 10-week trial. Patterson was charged over the deadly lunch in late 2023 although it was not until April 2025 that the prosecution began putting its evidence before a jury and Patterson, who had pleaded not guilty, could defend herself. Even before one of the country's biggest court cases in recent history began, the wheels were already turning to pick a jury that would judge the facts and deliver a verdict. It was February 2025 when 15,000 people from within the Latrobe Valley District in southeastern Victoria were sent letters notifying them they had been selected for jury service to cover several court matters starting in late April and early August. That pool was trimmed by almost half after each person answered an online questionnaire judging suitability and availability, with 7000 excused, deferred, deemed ineligible or disqualified. 'All applications are individually assessed but factors that can be considered include illness, significant travel requirements, financial hardship, caregiving, proficiency in English, and being involved in the administration of justice,' a spokesperson for the Supreme Court of Victoria said. Weeks later, in March, 1400 people from the remaining pool of 8000 were selected at random and sent a summons to attend court. Given the attention and expected length of the trial, initially thought to run for about six weeks, a larger than normal number of summonses were issued 'in case the jury needed to be discharged and a new jury empanelled'. Of the 597 people that remained by mid-April, 234 confirmed they would be available for the trial. Half of those were confirmed to attend on April 29, the Patterson trial start date, and the others were assigned to another jury pool. 'During empanelment, jury panel members were known by a number rather than their name, as is standard practice. Their occupation is also provided,' a Supreme Court spokesperson explained. 'Normally, the jury panel sits within the trial courtroom to receive information and directions from the judge and go through the selection progress. 'Because of the size of the panel, jury panel members were spread across the trial courtroom, another courtroom on the same level, and the jury panel room. 'The other two rooms were connected to the trial courtroom via video link so panel members could see and hear Justice Christopher Beale and the parties.' Beale offered the panel an overview of the case and a list of 137 names featuring witnesses, places, and legal practitioners involved in the case. This allowed panel members the chance to be excused on the grounds they knew someone involved or felt they could not be impartial. 'Over the last 20 months, there have been many newspaper and magazine articles about this case, there's been extensive radio and television coverage, there's been online commentary and podcasts,' Beale told the panel. 'As potential jurors, you have to consider whether you can bring an impartial, open mind to the consideration of the evidence that will be led in this case and can decide the case solely on that evidence. 'If you can't do that, or if you think you may struggle to do that, if you have doubts about your capacity to do that, you must ask to be excused.' Twenty-seven people were excused, including 21 who knew someone on the witness list or with particular information about the trial. Four people left due to medical reasons, and one each were dismissed because of travel and carer responsibilities. Patterson's jury challenge The numbers of the 85 remaining panel members were put into a box and shaken before a judge's associate picked one at random, announcing it and reading out that person's job in the outside world. 'That person then walked into the trial courtroom, if they weren't already there, and along a set path in front of the accused seated in the dock before taking a seat in the jury box,' a court spokesperson said. 'If the person sat down without the accused either saying 'challenge' or the prosecution saying 'stand aside' they became part of the jury.' Three people were challenged by Patterson, the maximum amount the accused is allowed to make without providing reasons. The prosecution did not stand aside anyone. Only 12 jurors can deliberate on a verdict, but 15 were selected so the trial would not be derailed by illness or if someone needed to be excused. Ten men and five women aged in their 20s to 70s were selected and asked to take an oath or affirmation to 'faithfully and impartially try the issues' and 'give a true verdict according to the evidence'. It was then the trial of Erin Patterson could begin. Juror 84 The judge informed the jury at the start of the trial how they should evaluate the evidence, and before deliberating told them of 'the law and their task in more detail'. 'The jury were told they must not read media coverage of the trial nor conduct their own research into any topics raised during the trial,' a court spokesperson said. One juror was discharged in May following concerns they may have discussed the case with family and friends, which went against instructions. 'I have not made a positive finding that juror number 84 discussed the case with family and friends but neither could I dismiss the possibility that he had. I was of the view that it was at least a reasonable possibility that he had breached my instructions,' Beale said. Following the judge's charge, and with 14 jurors remaining, two needed to be balloted off to get a final 12. The process to do this was the same as during the empanelment, with two numbers randomly drawn out. 'A very warm thank you to those two people who will be balloted off,' Beale said. 'I don't know whether you'll feel relieved or frustrated, but be assured you have made an important contribution to the administration of justice by your presence on this jury. 'I'm very grateful for it and I think the community would be very grateful too.' While most juries are able to go home at the end of each day of deliberation, that was not the case this time. Jurors were sequestered at a hotel, forced to surrender their phones and other digital devices, and could not watch free-to-air television or read the news. It is a rare move, with the last jury sequestered in the Supreme Court being in December 2022. It was revealed this week that the jurors in the triple-murder trial had stayed at the same hotel as a key police witness and members of the prosecution during the majority of their deliberations. Beale said there had been know interaction between them and the jury, with the jury on a separate floor and forced to eat meals in a conference room away from guests. On Monday, after months of evidence and a week of deliberations, the jury foreperson confirmed they had reached a verdict, convicting Patterson of three murders and one attempted murder. Juror pay Jurors are paid $40 per day for the first six days and $80 every day after that. 'The juror's employer is required to pay the difference between this amount and their usual wages,' a court spokesperson said. Beale said the jurors had been 'exceptional' during the lengthy process. 'The way you've conducted yourself throughout this trial has caught my attention and you've remained in good spirits even though the trial went much longer than you were led to believe and even though this was a major intrusion in all your lives, so I thank you again,' Beale said. For their time, the jury members were given a 15-year exemption from being called for jury duty again. The venue The venue for the trial was the Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell, two hours east of Melbourne. This venue was chosen in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act, which states the trial of an accused 'is to be held in the court sitting at the place that is nearest to the place where the offence is alleged to have been committed'. There had been an application in July 2024 to move the trial to Melbourne, with claims the three murder charges should be regarded as having been committed in the Heidelberg hospital where Don, Gail and Heather had died. 'Whilst not disputing the (Public Prosecutions) Director's entitlement to frame the offence date and location based on date and place of death, I do not regard this fact as leading to the interpretation that that is where the offence is alleged to have been committed,' Justice Jane Dixon said. 'In fact, as a matter of common sense, as argued by (Patterson's defence barrister Colin) Mandy, the Crown will submit to the jury that by the time (Patterson) had administered the luncheon food to the three deceased, she had, on their case, committed the actus reus for murder. 'The offending will be alleged in the Crown's opening statements to have been committed in Leongatha notwithstanding that the offence was allegedly completed by the death of the three alleged victims in Heidelberg.' No other applications for a venue change were made. Erin Patterson will be sentenced at a later date.
1News
09-07-2025
- 1News
Full scope of mushroom trial media circus revealed
The full scope of the circus surrounding the mushroom murder trial has been revealed as the biggest media matter the Supreme Court has managed in recent history. As the Victorian trial entered week 11 on Monday, almost double its expected six weeks, a jury returned with four guilty verdicts and convicted Erin Patterson of three murders and one attempted murder. Her estranged husband Simon's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, all died after Patterson served them beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms in July 2023. A total of 252 media outlets had been interested in the case, the Supreme Court of Victoria confirmed this afternoon. This included 15 international media from the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand, which grew to 22 after the verdicts were handed down, a court spokeswoman said. ADVERTISEMENT There were nine authors, including acclaimed writer Helen Garner, seven podcasts, seven documentary film crews, including one from streamer Stan, and one drama series – ABC's Toxic. "These figures make the trial the biggest matter media-wise the court has managed in recent history," the court's media and public affairs manager Anthea Cannon said. The court actively monitored the extensive trial coverage and issued 16 directions to media to remove content, including four for social media commentary, she said. The working-class town of Morwell has been the backdrop of one of the world's most talked-about trials. (Source: 1News) Most were related to breaches of sub judice, a form of contempt related to publishing information that might improperly influence a jury, and a small number of inaccuracies were corrected. Cannon said the court was pleased with the quality and diligence of reporting, but was concerned some outlets and commentators with no direct contact with the trial were purporting to cover the case. "At least one such outlet has been referred to the Office of Public Prosecutions for contempt as a result," she said. ADVERTISEMENT "The way this trial captured the public's attention and was discussed and dissected in popular culture was particularly challenging and should serve as a reminder why the principle of sub judice exists – to ensure every person who appears in court is afforded a fair trial." Justice Christopher Beale told the trial, while the jury was out on June 16, that the Kyle and Jackie O Show would be referred to prosecutors for potential breach of sub judice for commenting about it live on air. 1News Australia correspondent Aziz Al Sa'afin speaks to Breakfast in the wake of yesterday's verdict. (Source: Breakfast) Meanwhile, the court has confirmed sequestered jurors were placed in the same hotel as the police informant Stephen Eppingstall and prosecutors while they deliberated. Justice Beale's associate emailed both defence and prosecution about the incident but said there had been no interaction between prosecutors, police and the jury. "The jury have had a separate floor to themselves and have eaten their meals in a conference room separate from other guests of the hotel. But all guests use the same entrance at the hotel," the email said. Most hotels had been booked out as national tennis table championships were being held in the Latrobe Valley at the same time as the jury entered its final days deliberating. ADVERTISEMENT On Monday morning, the prosecution emailed the associate to say they were no longer staying at the same hotel. The email said the informant had been staying in a different wing of the hotel and was using a different entrance to the jurors. "And he took steps to avoid common areas from the point that he became aware that they were there," the email said. The prosecution's legal team had to move from its accommodation on Friday and tried to move again when it became aware the jury was at its new accommodation. However, due to a lack of available accommodation, they could only move senior counsel and prosecution solicitors stayed at the same accommodation. "We confirm that the prosecution solicitors did not interact with the jury at any stage and also took steps to avoid any incidental contact in common areas," the prosecution email said. ADVERTISEMENT Patterson will next face court later in 2025 for a pre-sentence hearing.
The Irish Sun
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
‘You did it': Doc who treated mushroom killer Erin Patterson tells how he knew she was a ‘heinous' murderer in minutes
THE doctor who treated Australian mushroom killer Erin Patterson has revealed how he knew she was a "heinous" murderer within minutes. Dr Chris Webster treated the Leongatha, Victoria, mother and now- 9 Infamous convicted mushroom killer Erin Patterson Credit: AFP 9 The partially eaten beef wellington Credit: AFP 9 Erin Patterson checking herself out of hospital 9 Patterson, 49, had cooked a beef wellington with lethal death cap mushrooms and intentionally fed it to four guests, killing three, for lunch in July 2023. Webster he had spent the next morning treating two of the poisoned four only for Patterson to turn up complaining of gastro, he Within minutes, Webster knew she was a cold-blooded killer. The doctor said: "I thought, 'Okay, yep, you did it, you heinous individual. You've poisoned them all'." Read more on world news The at-home chef was also convicted of one count of attempted murder against local pastor Ian Wilkinson - Heather's husband - in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Webster had first treated Heather and Ian at Leongatha Hospital the next morning after the lunch with intense gastroenteritis-like symptoms. He initially believed it was a case of mass food poisoning and through quizzing his patients suspected the meat in the beef wellington was the culprit. Most read in The US Sun Webster said: "I did ask Heather at one stage what the beef Wellington tasted like and she said it was delicious." The doctor took Heather and Ian's blood samples and then sent them for analysis to a larger town with better facilities than the small rural Leongatha Hospital. 'Mushroom killer' Erin Patterson GUILTY of murdering three relatives with deadly beef wellington Soon after, he received a call from the doctor treating the other two who were poisoned - Don and Gail - at Dandenong Hospital. She said it was the mushrooms, not the meat, and Webster's stomach dropped. Webster had hooked Heather and Ian with fluids, but quickly changed tack as he realised their life was on the line. He knew he needed to save their failing livers and prepared to send them to a larger hospital where they could get better care. 9 Dr Chris Webster said he knew Erin Patterson was a killer Credit: ABC 9 CCTV video footage of Patterson disposing of a food dehydrator used to prepare the mushrooms Credit: AFP But then a person presented themselves to the hospital claiming they had gastro symptoms. Webster asked Patterson for her name and said when he heard it: "The penny dropped… it's the chef." The doctor quizzed the chef about where the mushrooms had come from - Woolworths, she said. It was with that answer that Webster knew she was guilty. But the doctor said that made no sense as the supermarket giant would have stringent food safety standards. Webster also said Patterson didn't seem worried about the danger Heather and Ian - lying only metres away - were in. He then sent Ian and Heather off in an ambulance to Dandenong Hospital, saying he tragically knew they wouldn't return. When he returned, Patterson had checked herself out against medical advice. After desperately trying to call Patterson but being unable to reach her, Webster called the cops. He said: "This is Dr Chris Webster from Leongatha Hospital. I have a concern about a patient who presented here earlier, but has left the building and is potentially exposed to a fatal toxin from mushroom poisoning." 9 Patterson in court during the trial 9 The chef broke down in tears when she spoke to media after the deaths At the trial, Patterson said she had been caught off guard by the information about the deadly mushrooms and went home to pack an overnight bag and feed the animals. She also had a "lie-down" before returning to the hospital. When she finally did, Webster tried to get her to also bring her children, who the chef claimed had eaten leftovers. In court, Patterson said she was "concerned that they were going to be frightened." Days later, Patterson was Wearing a long coat and sunglasses, Patterson is seen unloading the food dehydrator at the Koonwarra Transfer Station on August 2, 2023 - an apparent attempt to erase evidence linked to the deadly beef wellington meal. And in a chilling image also released by the court, the meal that left her family dying in agony is laid out next to forensic evidence bags. The annotated photo was taken during toxicology testing at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. 9 A death cap mushroom Credit: Nine
Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
‘You did it': Doc who treated mushroom killer Erin Patterson tells how he knew she was a ‘heinous' murderer in minutes
THE doctor who treated Australian mushroom killer Erin Patterson has revealed how he knew she was a "heinous" murderer within minutes. Dr Chris Webster treated the Leongatha, Victoria, mother and now-convicted killer after she took herself to hospital following the infamous lunch. 9 Infamous convicted mushroom killer Erin Patterson Credit: AFP 9 The partially eaten beef wellington Credit: AFP 9 Erin Patterson checking herself out of hospital 9 Patterson, 49, had cooked a beef wellington with lethal death cap mushrooms and intentionally fed it to four guests, killing three, for lunch in July 2023. Webster he had spent the next morning treating two of the poisoned four only for Patterson to turn up complaining of gastro, he told the BBC. Within minutes, Webster knew she was a cold-blooded killer. The doctor said: "I thought, 'Okay, yep, you did it, you heinous individual. You've poisoned them all'." Patterson was convicted on Monday of killing her 70-year-old in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister Heather, 66. The at-home chef was also convicted of one count of attempted murder against local pastor Ian Wilkinson - Heather's husband - in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Webster had first treated Heather and Ian at Leongatha Hospital the next morning after the lunch with intense gastroenteritis-like symptoms. He initially believed it was a case of mass food poisoning and through quizzing his patients suspected the meat in the beef wellington was the culprit. Webster said: "I did ask Heather at one stage what the beef Wellington tasted like and she said it was delicious." The doctor took Heather and Ian's blood samples and then sent them for analysis to a larger town with better facilities than the small rural Leongatha Hospital. 'Mushroom killer' Erin Patterson GUILTY of murdering three relatives with deadly beef wellington Soon after, he received a call from the doctor treating the other two who were poisoned - Don and Gail - at Dandenong Hospital. She said it was the mushrooms, not the meat, and Webster's stomach dropped. Webster had hooked Heather and Ian with fluids, but quickly changed tack as he realised their life was on the line. He knew he needed to save their failing livers and prepared to send them to a larger hospital where they could get better care. 9 Dr Chris Webster said he knew Erin Patterson was a killer Credit: ABC 9 CCTV video footage of Patterson disposing of a food dehydrator used to prepare the mushrooms Credit: AFP But then a person presented themselves to the hospital claiming they had gastro symptoms. Webster asked Patterson for her name and said when he heard it: "The penny dropped… it's the chef." The doctor quizzed the chef about where the mushrooms had come from - Woolworths, she said. It was with that answer that Webster knew she was guilty. But the doctor said that made no sense as the supermarket giant would have stringent food safety standards. Webster also said Patterson didn't seem worried about the danger Heather and Ian - lying only metres away - were in. He then sent Ian and Heather off in an ambulance to Dandenong Hospital, saying he tragically knew they wouldn't return. When he returned, Patterson had checked herself out against medical advice. After desperately trying to call Patterson but being unable to reach her, Webster called the cops. He said: "This is Dr Chris Webster from Leongatha Hospital. I have a concern about a patient who presented here earlier, but has left the building and is potentially exposed to a fatal toxin from mushroom poisoning." 9 Patterson in court during the trial 9 The chef broke down in tears when she spoke to media after the deaths At the trial, Patterson said she had been caught off guard by the information about the deadly mushrooms and went home to pack an overnight bag and feed the animals. She also had a "lie-down" before returning to the hospital. When she finally did, Webster tried to get her to also bring her children, who the chef claimed had eaten leftovers. In court, Patterson said she was "concerned that they were going to be frightened." Days later, Patterson was caught on CCTV trying to cover her tracks by dumping the food dehydrator she used in her twisted murder plot. Wearing a long coat and sunglasses, Patterson is seen unloading the food dehydrator at the Koonwarra Transfer Station on August 2, 2023 - an apparent attempt to erase evidence linked to the deadly beef wellington meal. And in a chilling image also released by the court, the meal that left her family dying in agony is laid out next to forensic evidence bags. The annotated photo was taken during toxicology testing at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.
The Star
09-07-2025
- The Star
Celebrity chef dismayed her recipe used by Australia's mushroom killer
This undated handout photo from the Supreme Court of Victoria released on July 7, 2025 shows an annotated photo of plates containing samples of a beef Wellington meal laced with toxic mushrooms that was prepared by Australian home cook Erin Patterson, during a toxicology analysis at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. -AFP/ Supreme Court of VictoriaUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS MELBOURNE: One of Australia's most famous chefs said she was dismayed to learn killer cook Erin Patterson partially used her recipe when baking a poisonous beef Wellington that killed three people. Patterson was found guilty this week of murdering her husband's parents and elderly aunt in 2023 by lacing their Saturday lunch with lethal death cap mushrooms. She based the dish - poisonous fungi aside - on a recipe by celebrity Australian chef Nagi Maehashi, the author of best-selling cookbooks. Maehashi said her recipe for the perfect beef Wellington had become "entangled in a tragic situation". "It is of course upsetting to learn that one of my recipes - possibly the one I've spent more hours perfecting than any other - something I created to bring joy and happiness, is entangled in a tragic situation," she said late Tuesday (July 8) on social media. Throughout a trial lasting more than two months, Patterson maintained the beef-and-pastry dish was accidentally poisoned with death cap mushrooms, the world's most-lethal fungus. But a 12-person jury on Monday found the 50-year-old guilty of triple murder, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. She was also found guilty of attempting to murder a fourth guest who survived. - AFP
