Accused mushroom cook killer Erin Patterson seen for first time since murder charges

The woman accused of murdering three people by serving up a meal laced with deadly mushrooms carried a Bible into her court hearing on Tuesday.

Accused mushroom cook killer Erin Patterson has been photographed for the first time since she was charged with murdering three family members with a meal containing lethal death caps.

Clutching a large Bible, Ms Patterson, 50, was seen walking into the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning for a hearing ahead of her upcoming trial.

The Herald Sun understands a NIV (new international version) Holy Bible in large print – titled God’s Word – was the book Ms Patterson was captured carrying into the courthouse.

Accused mushroom cook killer Erin Patterson appears at the Supreme Court of Victoria. Picture: David Crosling

Ms Patterson was seen clutching a Bible.

The mother of two, wearing brown tortoise shell glasses, was dressed in a khaki knit jumper and black trousers as she was ushered inside before 10am.

Her former in-laws Don Patterson, 70, and Gail Patterson, 70, as well as Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died days after they ate an allegedly poisoned lunch at Ms Patterson’s home in the sleepy Gippsland town of Leongatha on July 29, 2023.

The Bible she is believed to have brought into court.

The back cover of the Bible was captured in the picture.

She was charged with three counts of murder in November 2023.

She was also charged with the attempted murder of Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson, 68, who was the sole survivor of the lunch.

It is alleged Ms Patterson prepared a beef wellington meal laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms.

Ms Patterson is accused of murdering three people by serving up a meal laced with death cap mushrooms. Picture: Ian Currie

The Herald Sun cannot publish details from the hearing for legal reasons.

She was seen leaving the Supreme Court after 1pm.

Ms Patterson has always denied any wrongdoing and in May last year, she formally pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

Her trial is slated for late April.

Originally published as Accused mushroom cook killer Erin Patterson seen for first time since murder charges