This was published 1 year ago
Erin Patterson visits lawyers as mushroom deaths investigation continues
The woman at the centre of an investigation into a poisonous mushroom meal that resulted in the deaths of three people in Gippsland has visited her lawyers in Melbourne as the police continue to examine the incident.
Don and Gail Patterson and Heather and Ian Wilkinson fell ill after ingesting what is suspected to be highly toxic fungus during a lunch at the Leongatha home of Erin Patterson, 48, who is Don and Gail’s daughter-in-law.
Erin Patterson leaves her lawyers’ office after a meeting on Tuesday.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson died in hospital. Pastor Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, suffered liver damage and was in the Austin Hospital earlier this month in a critical but stable condition. A family spokesperson confirmed last week that his condition was improving.
The 48-year-old woman has strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
Dressed casually in a grey jumper and khaki pants, Patterson stayed silent as she was escorted out of her lawyers’ office in the Melbourne legal district on Tuesday afternoon.
Flanked by her legal representatives, she did not respond when asked by journalists about the purpose of the meeting with her lawyers, or whether she had anything to say about the case.
Patterson remained expressionless as she was whisked into a waiting car.
She has previously said in a written statement that the beef Wellington she cooked contained mushrooms purchased from a grocer in Mount Waverley at least three months before the lunch.
A public memorial service for Don and Gail Patterson will be held at the Korumburra Recreation Centre on Thursday at 2pm.
Patterson flanked by her lawyers in Melbourne’s legal district.Credit: Chris Hopkins
Victoria Police is still investigating the deaths.
“The investigation remains ongoing and we are unable to provide further comment,” a police spokesperson said.
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