Mushroom deaths: Erin Patterson ‘made four attempts on ex-husband’s life’

Erin Trudi Patterson tried to kill her ex-husband again on the same day of the meal that police suspect led to the deaths of three elderly people, according to charges filed against her.

Erin Patterson, left, and her ex-husband Simon Patterson.

Alleged toxic mushrooms cook Erin Trudi Patterson tried to kill her ex-husband three times in 10 months and again on the same day of the meal that police suspect led to the deaths of three elderly people, according to the charges filed against her.

Ms Patterson, 49, of Leongatha, Victoria, is accused of ­attempting to kill her husband on four occasions between November 16, 2021, and July 29 this year, with claimed incidents also in May and September last year.

A further attempted murder charge was laid against Ms Patterson relating to July 29 this year, also at Leongatha, involving pastor Ian Wilkinson, who was critically ill after the lunch.

Ms Patterson appeared in ­Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court for 16 minutes on Friday, wearing the same clothes as when she was arrested and taken into custody on Thursday during a police search of her house.

When she reached the dock in the Morwell court in her beige knitted jumper, surrounded by two guards, her lawyer Bill Doogue walked up and asked how she was going. “OK,’’ she replied.

Don and Gail Patterson both died after allegedly falling ill after the meal.

Ms Patterson, the daughter of a children’s literary academic, was largely expressionless during the hearing, save for shaking her head in frustration when magistrate Tim Walsh removed her home ­address from the charge sheet ­before clearing it for publication.

At one point she stared in the direction of some of the 19 ­members of the media reporting on the case.

Mr Doogue noted that Ms ­Patterson’s home address was ­already well known to the media, with footage of the house having been broadcast across the globe. On Friday Ms Patterson’s labrador was still at the house, alone on the side porch.

Police sought a 20-week ­adjournment before the next hearing, arguing they needed time to analyse computer equipment seized during their investigation.

Mr Walsh was slightly ­bemused by the length of time ­requested but agreed the case would return on May 3, six months later.

“Twenty weeks to analyse computer equipment in a triple murder, when the informant was confident they had enough evidence to charge this lady yesterday?” Mr Walsh said before agreeing to the delay.

Mr Doogue also hinted at the likelihood of some other lengthy delays as the police case against Ms Patterson was tested.

On the prospect of a committal hearing, he said: “It could well go for a very long time.’’

Ms Patterson is charged with killing Heather Wilkinson, 66, Gail Patterson, 70, and Don Patterson, 70, who all died from what police suspect was toxic mushroom poisoning.

The court heard argument about where the cases against Ms Patterson might ultimately be heard, with Melbourne a ­possibility.

Heather Wilkinson died of suspected mushroom poisoning after a family lunch in Leongatha on July 29. Picture: Supplied

Morwell, where Ms Patterson attended court under guard, is 150km southeast of Melbourne. The deaths and attempted murder charges have attracted global ­attention and police also have been conducting, or sought, ­extensive laboratory testing.

Details of the allegations were not aired in court on Friday and Ms Patterson was unable to receive bail or make an application under the rules of the court.

Several members of Victoria Police were in the court for the hearing.

The allegations of attempted murder against Ms Patterson in relation to her husband come ­despite police initially claiming their separation was amicable.

Mr Patterson, 48, is a civil engineer and Korumburra local in South Gippsland. He is an active community leader who lives on the edge of the small town, about 120km southeast of Melbourne.

He and his family have largely kept silent during the crisis that gripped the community.

The three dead people were all active in the Baptist Church and highly regarded. Hundreds ­attended their memorial services.

Mr Wilkinson attended his wife’s memorial recently after being released from hospital after seven weeks, in what parishioners said was a miracle outcome.