She invited her husband’s relatives for dinner and poisoned them with mushrooms – 50-year-old woman sentenced

In Australia, 50-year-old Erin Patterson has been found guilty of murdering three of her estranged husband’s relatives by deliberately serving them poisonous mushrooms during a family dinner. The jury at the Supreme Court of Victoria delivered the verdict after six days of deliberation, concluding a nine-week trial that captivated the entire nation. Patterson now faces a potential life sentence, with sentencing to be announced in a later hearing.

The Fatal Dinner

The incident dates back to July 2023 in Morwell, about 150 kilometers east of Melbourne. Erin, a mother of two, hosted a lunch for her ex-husband Simon, his parents, and his uncle and aunt. The couple’s relationship had deteriorated due to custody disputes. Simon declined the invitation, but his parents, Don and Gail Patterson, along with Heather and Ian Wilkinson, accepted.

For the meal, Erin prepared a traditional Beef Wellington with side dishes. But instead of using ordinary mushrooms, she used the deadly “Amanita phalloides,” commonly known as the “death cap” mushroom. Don, Gail, and Heather died after a week of organ failure, while Ian survived because he had eaten only a small portion.

The Trial and Shocking Evidence

At first, Patterson claimed that the use of the mushrooms had been accidental. But this defense fell apart in the face of overwhelming evidence, including internet searches on her computer about poisonous mushrooms. Media described her as “cold, remorseless, and calculating.” During the dinner, she had staged an emotional moment, falsely claiming she had been diagnosed with cancer and asking for advice on how to break the news to her children—a diagnosis that later proved to be fabricated.

Facing Life in Prison

Australian media have dubbed the case the “mushroom trial of the century.” After hearing testimony and forensic analysis, the jury found Erin Patterson guilty of intentional murder. The court is expected to announce the sentencing date soon. Patterson faces life imprisonment and will have 28 days to file an appeal.

“KORÇA BOOM”