Erin Patterson, an Australian woman facing murder charges, testified in court that the toxic lunch she served, which killed three relatives, was an unfortunate accident. Patterson, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one of attempted murder, claimed the meal made her ill too. During her testimony, she detailed her preparation of the meal that included the potentially deadly death cap mushrooms.
Patterson reported that she had consumed only a small portion of the beef Wellington—her childhood favorite—before indulging in dessert. After eating several slices of cake, she vomited but claimed that she had been over-full, not suffering from the same intense symptoms as her guests.
Prosecutors allege she deliberately poisoned her guests with the mushrooms, while her defense argues that the meal was contaminated by accident. On the stand, Patterson admitted to having misled her relatives concerning a supposed cancer diagnosis, a tactic she employed to secure help as she prepared for gastric bypass surgery.
The incident has drawn significant public attention and the trial has included over 50 witnesses in the Victorian Supreme Court. Patterson stated that after the lunch, she disposed of her food dehydrator and erased contents from her phone, fearing accusations of poisoning from her estranged husband following the subsequent deaths of her former in-laws and their relative.
As the trial proceeds, Patterson's defense continues to unravel the circumstances surrounding the toxic meal, maintaining she is not guilty of the charges against her. Tomorrow, she will face cross-examination from prosecutors.
