‘Best mum-in-law’: Erin Patterson’s Signal messages aired in court

The Victorian Supreme Court has been shown exchanges within the Patterson family discussing Covid-19, maths tutoring and Mother’s Day.

Erin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to killing three relatives with a poisonous beef Wellington.

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Erin Patterson praised deceased mushroom lunch guest Gail Patterson as the “best mum-in-law anyone could ask for” and thanked Don Patterson for assisting her son with his algebra homework, according to messages released as part of her murder trial.

Defence counsel for the accused killer on Friday tendered messages to the Victorian Supreme Court showing exchanges within the Patterson family discussing Covid-19, maths tutoring and Mother’s Day.

In the Signal messages, Gail and Don Patterson – referenced as “Nana and Papa” – also checked in on Erin Patterson’s poor health, and told her they were praying for her son after he underwent knee surgery.

Ms Patterson has been charged with the murder of Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, after allegedly deliberately feeding them a toxic beef Wellington laced with death cap mushrooms at her home in July, 2023.

She had pleaded not guilty and is defending the charges.

Don and Gail Patterson. Picture: Supplied

Ms Patterson’s barrister, Colin Mandy SC, on Friday tendered messages to the court sent in a Signal group chat including Erin Patterson, Don and Gail Patterson and their son, Simon Patterson, across 2022.

On February 22, 2022, Don Patterson – a former mathematics teacher – offered to tutor Erin and Simon’s son with his school work.

“If he needs help with any subject I might have some competence in, I am happy to provide – probably using jitsi (video conferencing software),” he wrote.

Ms Patterson thanked Don Patterson for his offer, saying her son “would absolutely love a jitsu session for maths”.

Colin Mandy SC. Picture: Ian Currie

“They’re working through algebra and he says it’s one topic he finds a little tricky so he actually mentioned last night that he thought a Papa session on algebra would really help him about now,” she wrote.

“I can send you through a pdf of the chapter so you can see what they’re up to? Thank you!”

Don Patterson said he would be happy to help, and Ms Patterson emailed him a Google Drive link with the Year 8 textbook.

“So much appreciated,” she wrote.

The court was shown messages between Erin and Gail Patterson on May 8, 2022.

“Happy Mother’s Day Erin. May god bless you. Love Don and Gail,” the first message read.

Erin Patterson replied: “Thanks Gail! Happy Mother’s Day to the best mum-in-law anyone could ask for xxoo.”

Gail Patterson responded: “Very kind of you xo.”

On November 15, 2022, Gail Patterson sent Ms Patterson a message thanking her “for the two slices you made for Sunday’s arvo tea”.

“Very thoughtful of you. We were very thankful for the mild weather we had,” she wrote. “Sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. Hope all is well good night’s sleep helped.”

Later that month, another message was sent in the group chat: “Could you please tell (your son) we are praying for his knee today and he would know God’s peace xo Nana and Papa.”

Mr Mandy continued questioning the lead investigator into the alleged mushroom murders, Detective Senior Constable Stephen Eppingstall, on Friday.

As part of cross-examination, the court heard evidence that a SIM card was allegedly removed from one of Erin Patterson’s devices and placed in another – known to the court as Phone B – on August 3, 2023.

On August 4, 2023, Ms Patterson appeared to receive messages from AusPost, HotDoc, Centrelink, Telstra and Netflix, which Mr Mandy suggested indicated she was setting up a new phone.

The court has previously heard four factory resets were performed wiping data from Phone B on February 12, August 2, August 5 and August 6, 2023.

Mr Mandy suggested if a factory reset was performed on August 5, 2023, “the only data that would have been removed from it would have been the data that was on it since the last factory reset” on August 2, 2023.

The trial continues on Monday.