An Australian mum has been found guilty of the murder of her estranged husband's parents and aunt and the attempted murder of another guest by serving them a meal laced with poisonous mushrooms. Erin Patterson, 50, invited her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, to lunch on July 29, 2023, accompanied by Gail Patterson’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66.

Mrs Wilkinson's husband, Reverend Ian Wilkinson, attended the lunch too. All four guests fell ill following the lunch, which consisted of beef wellington, mashed potatoes and green beans, the court was told. Prosecutors had alleged that the mother of two laced the meal with deadly death cap mushrooms, also known as Amanita phalloides. 

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The court heard how all four became ill after eating their meal off four large grey dinner plates, while Patterson ate hers off a smaller, tan coloured plate.

The prosecution's case alleged that she ate from a visibly different plate in order to ensure that there was no cross-contamination.

All four fell ill in the hours following the meal, which took place at Patterson's home, Mrs Wilkinson and Mrs Patterson dying on August 4, 2023, while Mr Patterson lost his life a day later.

Patterson’s estranged husband had initially agreed to attend the lunch but later pulled out. The pair had been separated since 2015.

Reverend Wilkinson said that immediately after the meal, Patterson told the group that she had been diagnosed with cancer, suggesting that she had invited them in order to get their advice on the best way to tell her children.

The defence did not dispute the Reverand’s claims on the cancer diagnosis.

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The trial lasted much longer than the original forecast of six weeks, with dozens of expert witnesses called to testify, with Patterson spending eight days giving her testimony.

Both Patterson and her ex-husband told in testimony how their relationship had remained amiable since their split until around 2022, when things started to deteriorate.

Responding to Simon’s decision to pull out of the lunch the night before, she texted him: “I wanted it to be a special meal, as I may not be able to host a lunch like this again for some time."

The case has attracted significant public interest thanks to the method used by Patterson, with the courtroom experiencing a large media scrum outside it each morning made up of traditional media as well as new forms such as podcasters and Youtubers.

A sentencing date is yet to be scheduled. Patterson had pleaded not guilty to the three charges of murder and one of attempted murder.