Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson fronts court over deadly mushroom meal

Court documents have revealed police allege Erin Patterson attempted to murder her ex-husband four times as the mushroom lunch cook fronted court charged with murder.

Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson has faced court charged with killing her lunch guests with a deadly mushroom meal, while police allege she attempted to murder her ex-husband at the deadly lunch.

The 49-year-old stared at journalists but showed little emotion during a short filing hearing at Morwell’s Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning, where she faced three charges of murder and five of attempted murder.

Police asked for extensive time to analyse her computer, which was seized in raids on Thursday.

Ms Patterson was flanked by two security guards as she sat behind a pane of glass in the dock.

Wearing brown reading glasses and a grey jumper, Ms Patterson’s cheeks were flushed red.

When her defence lawyer, Bill Doogue, asked how she was going, Ms Patterson replied, “OK”.

Police and detectives arrive at La Trobe Valley Magistrates’ Court for Erin Patterson’s filing hearing. Picture: Josie Hayden

A prosecutor asked Magistrate Tim Walsh for a 20-week adjournment because “there needs to be some analysis of some computer equipment that was seized yesterday”.

“Twenty weeks to analyse computer equipment in a triple murder, where the informant’s confident he had enough evidence to charge this lady yesterday?” Mr Walsh replied.

“I can’t comment, Your Honour,” the prosecutor said.

“Twenty weeks!” Mr Walsh returned, then sighed.

Mr Doogue told Mr Walsh that the case “seems to be based on a lot of analysis that we haven’t received and hasn’t even been completed at this point of time”.

Police were granted the 20-week period, with their brief of evidence due to be served on March 25, 2024.

A court sketch of Erin Patterson in Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court. Picture: Anita Lester

Mr Walsh noted that material in the case would be “voluminous”, with the court hearing that a committal testing the evidence against Ms Patterson could run for weeks.

Asked whether Ms Patterson was applying for bail, Mr Doogue said, “unfortunately, no”.

Mr Doogue said there were no custody management issues, and his client was remanded in custody.

No supporters of the accused murderer could be seen in the packed country courtroom, as dozens of other observers watched the ten-minute proceeding on the video link.

Throughout the short hearing, Ms Patterson looked concerned while maintaining a frown.

She nodded briefly when the magistrate mentioned an application by the media for court documents.

Erin Patterson has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. Picture: Brooke Grebert-Craig

His Honour redacted her street address from charge sheets “even though everybody knows where she lives”.

It comes after the 49-year-old spent her first night in custody on Thursday following a three-month probe by the homicide squad.

Her in-laws Gail and Don Patterson, both 70, died after the mysterious lunch at her Leongatha property on July 29, as too did Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66.

Heather’s husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, 68, miraculously survived after he spent two months in hospital.

Ms Patterson also faces five attempted murder charges.

Charge sheets reveal that Ms Patterson is accused of attempting to murder her ex-husband Simon at the deadly lunch.

She also stands accused of trying to kill him on three separate occasions, between November 16-17, 2021, on May 25-27, 2022, and on September 6, 2022.

Erin Patterson’s lawyer, Bill Doogue, arrives at La Trobe Valley Magistrates’ Court. Picture: Josie Hayden

The May dates align with when Mr Patterson battled a mystery gut illness.

The Herald Sun revealed in August that he collapsed at home and was forced into an induced coma for 16 days.

“Some of you will know that I’ve had some serious medical problems since late May,” he said on social media in June 2022.

“My family were asked to come and say goodbye to me twice, as I was not expected to live.

“I was in intensive care for 21 days.”

The documents name Ian Wilkinson as a second attempted murder victim at the lunch on July 29.

Meanwhile, his wife, Heather Wilkinson, her sister, Gail Patterson, and husband Donald Patterson are identified as murder victims, with all three dying in Heidelberg.

The sisters died on the same day — August 4 — while Donald Patterson died one day later, on August 5.

Ms Patterson was ordered to return to the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on May 3 for a committal mention, where she will appear by video link.

However, it’s possible her case might be sent back to Melbourne to ensure it progresses as quickly as possible.

Originally published as Accused triple murderer Erin Patterson fronts court over deadly mushroom meal