Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson’s life behind bars before trial

Details about accused triple murderer Erin Patterson’s life behind bars before facing trial over the mushroom deaths has been revealed.

Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson has been forced into a protected unit at a women’s maximum security prison along with pedophile rapist Malka Leifer as fears mount for the mother of two’s safety.

Ms Patterson, 49, has spent four months behind bars at Ravenhall’s Dame Phyllis Frost Centre after she was charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder in November last year.

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Erin Patterson visits lawyers, one month after deadly mushroom meal.

During her first court appearance, police were granted a 20-week adjournment, with their brief of evidence due to be served on Monday.

The brief is expected to contain a group of documents such as witness statements and photographs the prosecution will rely on as evidence against Ms Patterson.

Today the Herald Sun launches an explosive five-part podcast series, The Mushroom Cook, which looks at the remarkable case that was splashed across newspapers and websites of some of the biggest media publications around the world.

Last year, there were more than 1700 broadcast search results across the globe with coverage making headlines anywhere from the United States and New Zealand to Singapore and Trinidad.

It comes as a prison source said Ms Patterson was placed into a protection unit, housed with some of the worst female offenders including convicted pedophile teacher Malka Leifer.

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Pedophile rapist Malka Leifer. Picture: Ahmad Gharabli

The insider said Ms Patterson required isolation from other inmates due to personal safety risks.

“If Erin got out of protection, the girls would hurt her,” they told the Herald Sun.

“She allegedly killed three elderly people.

“There’s a rule, you don’t touch the elderly and you don’t touch babies so because of that, you go into protection.”

The protection unit at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre consists of two types of accommodation — cells and self-contained units.

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Ms Patterson has spent four months behind bars. Picture: Mark Dadswell

It is believed Ms Patterson is detained in one of the self-contained units, which is decked out with a bed, shower, toilet, sink, desk and closet.

She cannot leave her unit but can freely walk around it.

The prison source revealed that Ms Patterson may have access to a kitchen where she cooks her own meals.

“She can cook anything, there’s all sorts of meats, vegetables, fruit,” the source said.

“All the stuff you can buy in Coles and Woolworths, if she feels like steak, she can make that.”

Dame Phyllis Frost Centre is one of two female prisons in the state and currently houses more than 500 women.

Ms Patterson’s former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson died after allegedly eating a poisonous beef wellington dish at her Leongatha home on July 29.

Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson miraculously survived after he spent two months in hospital.

Ms Patterson will return to Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on May 3 for a committal mention where she will appear via video link.