Triple murder trial of Erin Patterson begins over allegedly deadly mushroom lunch

The jury tasked with hearing Erin Patterson’s triple-murder trial have been told separate charges against the Victorian mum “have been dropped”.

Jurors in the trial of alleged triple-murderer Erin Patterson have been told three separate charges alleging she had attempted to kill her husband were dropped by prosecutors.

Ms Patterson is facing trial accused of murdering three of her in-laws and attempting to murder one more following an allegedly fatal beef wellington lunch she served and hosted almost two years ago.

She has pleaded not guilty and maintains her innocence.

Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

Delivering his instructions to the jury, Justice Christopher Beale said three additional charges of attempted murder, which are not related to the lunch, had been dropped.

Justice Beale said the withdrawn charges had related to alleged attempts on Ms Patterson’s husband Simon Patterson’s life.

“You may be aware the accused was charged with three counts of attempted murder in relation to Simon Patterson, those charges have been discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions,” he said.

“In other words those charges have been dropped and you must put them out of your mind.”

Erin Patterson’s husband Simon Patterson. Picture. NewsWire/Nadir Kinani

His comments came as the judge was instructing the jury that they would decide the case solely on the evidence adduced in the trial and not on anything they may have seen or heard outside the courtroom about the allegations.

Justice Beale said they must ignore anything seen in the media or on social media about the case.

“Don’t risk your opinion as judges of the facts from being contaminated, you must base your decisions based only on the evidence in this court,” he said.

A court sketch of Ms Patterson. Picture: NewsWire / Paul Tyquin

Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, fell ill and died after attending the lunch at Ms Patterson’s Leongatha home.

Ms Wilkinson’s husband, Korumburra Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, also fell ill but survived following a stint in hospital.

Prosecutors will allege Simon Patterson’s parents and aunt and uncle consumed deadly death cap mushrooms in a beef wellington lunch prepared by Ms Patterson.

Her husband, Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson died after an illness. Picture: Supplied

Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, also died while her husband Ian recovered. Picture: Supplied.

In his opening address to the jury, Justice Beale took the 15 person panel through housekeeping matters, including what hours they would be sitting, how the trial will unfold and what their role would be.

He said they would have to leave aside any biases and dispassionately assess the evidence as to whether the prosecution could prove beyond reasonable doubt the elements of each of the charges they’d laid against Ms Patterson.

“Your duty is to consider the evidence using your head not your heart,” he said.

“Ms Patterson does not have to prove anything, it is not for her to prove her innocence.”

Three members of Ms Patterson’s defence team, Sophie Stafford, Colin Mandy S.C and Bill Doogue, will deliver their opening remarks to the jury on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire / David Geraghty

The trial is being held in the Latrobe Valley court precinct. Picture: NewsWire / Josie Hayden

Earlier on Tuesday, a jury panel was selected from a pool of about 120 residents from the surrounding Gippsland region through a random ballot.

Under Victorian law media are unable to publish any detail that could lead to the identification of the ten men and five women who make up the jury.

The trial is being held in Victoria’s Gippsland region, about 45 minutes from Ms Patterson’s Korumburra home and about two hours east of Melbourne.

Jurors were sent home shortly after 4pm to return on Wednesday morning when the trial will hear the crown’s case against Ms Patterson and her response to the charges.

Her defence team is spearheaded by experienced barrister Colin Mandy SC while crown prosecutor Nannette Rogers SC will run the state’s case against Ms Patterson.

The trial, before Justice Beale, is expected to last for five to six weeks.

Originally published as Triple murder trial of Erin Patterson begins over allegedly deadly mushroom lunch