Latest news with #poisonousMushrooms
Al Jazeera
07-07-2025
- Al Jazeera
Australian woman found guilty of triple murder by mushrooms
Australian woman found guilty of triple murder by mushrooms NewsFeed After a ten-week trial, a jury in Australia found Erin Patterson guilty of murdering three relatives and attempting to murder another by serving them lunch made with poisonous wild mushrooms. Video Duration 01 minutes 36 seconds 01:36 Video Duration 02 minutes 50 seconds 02:50 Video Duration 01 minutes 01 seconds 01:01 Video Duration 01 minutes 12 seconds 01:12 Video Duration 00 minutes 25 seconds 00:25 Video Duration 01 minutes 22 seconds 01:22 Video Duration 02 minutes 47 seconds 02:47
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Extraordinary True Story Of Erin Patterson & The Deadly Poisonous Mushrooms To Be Told In ABC Australia Drama Series
EXCLUSIVE: The extraordinary true story of Erin Patterson, who stands accused of murdering her guests with poisonous mushrooms, is being turned into a TV drama for Australia's ABC. Toxic will follow the twists and turns of a high-profile murder investigation of intrigue that has generated headlines around the world. Elise McCredie (Jack Irish) and Tony Ayres (The Survivors) are creating the series and Ayres' Universal International Studios-backed indie will produce. Described as an 'intricate series that explores the events and characters of this true-life story without judgement,' the show will involve multiple timelines and numerous perspectives. More from Deadline 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Ending Explained: It's All About Connections Joaquin Phoenix Suggests 'Beau Is Afraid' Filmgoers 'Not Take Mushrooms' Quinta Brunson Is "Looking Forward" To Roles Beyond 'Abbott Elementary' Patterson was charged with multiple counts of murder after three of her guests died and a fourth spent months in hospital following a lunch where she served them beef wellington that contained the toxic 'Death Cap' mushroom. Patterson has pleaded not guilty and has always maintained that the incident was a horrible, tragic accident, and the new show announcement comes with the defendant back in the press as the jury in her murder trial deliberates. Earlier this week, the ABC spoke to people who have effectively put their lives on hold in order to spend every day at the months-long trial. The barely believable story has amassed mega press interest due to more than a dollop of intrigue around what appears to have been an intense family feud, and it has felt only a matter of time before the events were re-told via TV drama. Working closely with ABC journalist and podcaster Rachael Brown, Tony Ayres Productions is developing the series for the ABC. Ayres said: 'True stories ask storytellers to probe the complexities of human behaviour. What really lies beneath the headlines? It's both a challenge and a responsibility to go beyond the surface – to reveal, not just sensationalise.' McCredie described the events as a 'tangled, heart-breaking story.' 'Sitting in on the trial, watching evidence unfurl, change direction, and reposition itself has been an exercise in the subjectivity of 'truth' and a blueprint for a dramatic retelling that explores multiple perspectives in an honest and compelling way,' she added. Toxic will be produced by Tony Ayres Productions (The Survivors, Fires, Clickbait, Stateless), which is backed by Matchbox Pictures and Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. Casting is incoming soon. All eyes turn to who will play Patterson. Best of Deadline Remembering Michael Madsen: A Career In Photos 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
ABC News
06-06-2025
- ABC News
Cross-examination of accused murderer Erin Patterson continues
Erin Patterson is facing three charges of murder over the deaths of three relatives who ate a meal she prepared which contained poisonous mushrooms. ( ABC News )
CBC
05-06-2025
- General
- CBC
Australian woman denies weighing 'fatal dose' of poisonous mushrooms in murder trial
Social Sharing An Australian woman accused of murder denied measuring out a "fatal dose" of poisonous mushrooms on her kitchen scales to kill three elderly relatives of her estranged husband, as she was cross-examined by the prosecution on Thursday. Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband. The prosecution accuses her of knowingly serving the guests lethal death cap mushrooms as part of a Beef Wellington at her home in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 some 135 km (84 miles) from Melbourne. She denies the charges, which carry a life sentence, with her defence calling the deaths a "terrible accident." Under cross-examination on Thursday by the prosecution, Erin Patterson was asked whether a series of photos of mushrooms placed on weighing scales in her kitchen was evidence she had been measuring a "fatal dose" to serve to her lunch guests. "I suggest that you were weighing these death cap mushrooms so that you could calculate the weight required for the administration of a fatal dose for one person. Agree or disagree?" barrister Nanette Rogers said. "Disagree," Patterson replied. Patterson accepted under cross-examination that she had lied to police and medical professionals following the lunch when she was asked whether she had ever foraged for mushrooms or owned a food dehydrator, which was later found in a waste disposal plant containing traces of death caps. The accused has previously admitted she lied about being diagnosed with cancer, but on Thursday denied doing so in order to lure her guests to have lunch at her home. "I suggest that you never thought you would have to account for this lie about having cancer, because you thought that the lunch guests would die," Rogers said. "That's not true," Patterson replied. While being examined by her own barrister Colin Mandy, Patterson said earlier on Thursday that she did not intentionally pick death cap mushrooms, or knowingly serve them to her lunch guests. Nor had she pretended to be sick after the lunch to avoid becoming a suspect in the case, she said. The trial has captured public attention across Australia, where such cases are exceedingly rare. Podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers from local and international media have descended on the town of Morwell where the trial is being held, about two hours east of Melbourne. State broadcaster ABC's daily podcast about the proceedings is currently Australia's most popular, while many domestic newspapers have run live blogs on trial developments. Justice Christopher Beale, the judge presiding in the case, told the jury the cross-examination of the accused would probably continue into next week. The prosecution rested its case on Monday after a month of evidence from relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts. After the defence rests, the parties will discuss whether the prosecution might seek to reopen its case in light of defense evidence, Beale told the jury. The trial, set to conclude this month, continues.
Al Arabiya
05-06-2025
- Al Arabiya
Australian accused in mushroom murders cross-examined by prosecution
An Australian woman accused of using poisonous mushrooms to murder three elderly relatives of her estranged husband was cross-examined by the prosecution on Thursday, denying she had measured a 'fatal dose' on her kitchen scales. Erin Patterson, 50, is charged with the July 2023 murders of her mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, along with the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson, Heather's husband. The prosecution accuses her of knowingly serving the guests lethal death cap mushrooms as part of a Beef Wellington at her home in Leongatha, a town of about 6,000 some 135 km (84 miles) from Melbourne. She denies the charges, which carry a life sentence, with her defence calling the deaths a 'terrible accident.' Under cross-examination on Thursday by the prosecution, Erin Patterson was asked whether a series of photos of mushrooms placed on weighing scales in her kitchen was evidence she had been measuring a 'fatal dose' to serve to her lunch guests. 'I suggest that you were weighing these death cap mushrooms so that you could calculate the weight required for the administration of a fatal dose for one person. Agree or disagree?' barrister Nanette Rogers said. 'Disagree,' Patterson replied. Patterson accepted under cross-examination that she had lied to police and medical professionals following the lunch when she was asked whether she had ever foraged for mushrooms or owned a food dehydrator, which was later found in a waste disposal plant containing traces of death caps. While being examined by her own barrister Colin Mandy, Patterson said earlier on Thursday that she did not intentionally pick death cap mushrooms, or knowingly serve them to her lunch guests. Nor had she pretended to be sick after the lunch to avoid becoming a suspect in the case, she said. The trial has captured public attention across Australia, where such cases are exceedingly rare. Podcasters, journalists and documentary-makers from local and international media have descended on the town of Morwell where the trial is being held, about two hours east of Melbourne. State broadcaster ABC's daily podcast about the proceedings is currently Australia's most popular, while many domestic newspapers have run live blogs on trial developments. Justice Christopher Beale, the judge presiding in the case, told the jury the cross-examination of the accused would probably continue into next week. The prosecution rested its case on Monday after a month of evidence from relatives and medical, forensic and mushroom experts. After the defence rests, the parties will discuss whether the prosecution might seek to reopen its case in light of defence evidence, Beale told the jury. The trial, set to conclude this month, continues.
