By Kristian Silva, ABC
Erin Patterson faces three charges of murder after three relatives died from eating poisonous mushrooms in a meal she prepared in 2023. Photo: ABC News
Erin Patterson complained a doctor was being "mean" to her, as they sought to move her and her children into expert care fearing they had been exposed to deadly mushroom toxins, a court has heard.
The Supreme Court of Victoria also heard Erin "didn't actually ask" about the welfare of her guests in the days following the contaminated lunch.
Text messages between Erin and her estranged husband, Simon, were shown to the court on Friday as the first week of hearings in her triple-murder trial came to a close.
On 31 July 2023, two days after a contaminated meal was served to four lunch guests at Erin's home, she was at the Leongatha Hospital.
"They're arguing with me now saying I might have to go to Dandenong (Hospital) … this doctor is not listening to me and being a bit mean about it," Erin texted to her husband.
Eventually, Erin and the couple's two children were taken to the Monash Medical Centre at Clayton in Melbourne's south-east.
"I feel nauseous and sore tummy but they gave me ondansetron and saline and fentanyl," she texted again.
Erin 'didn't actually ask' how sick in-laws were, court hears
Prosecutors allege Erin did not consume death cap mushrooms like the other four lunch guests who turned up to her house on 29 July 2023, and ate servings of beef Wellington.
However, Erin's lawyers argue she did in fact fall sick, just not to the same extent as Don and Gail Patterson, and Heather and Ian Wilkinson.
Wilkinson was the only lunch guest to survive.
Ian Wilkinson (left) was the only guest to survive the lunch. His wife Heather Wilkinson, and Don and Gail Patterson all died from suspected mushroom poisoning. Photo: ABC / Supplied
Erin has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder, with her lawyers saying the poisonings were a tragic accident.
Under cross-examination, Simon Patterson said his estranged wife did not ask about the guests' welfare in the days after the lunch.
"It intrigued me that she didn't actually ask," Simon said on Friday.
"We didn't have that conversation, I think, at any time."
The court previously heard when doctors raised concerns about Erin's health, under the belief she had eaten the same meal, she discharged herself from hospital against medical advice.
Simon agreed with defence lawyer Colin Mandy SC his wife had a history of wanting to leave hospital prematurely.
"That's fair to say, Erin hates hospitals," he said.
Simon said his wife was reluctant to have her kids checked out by doctors and did not want to "scare" them following previous bad experiences.
Tensions arose over child support payments
The court heard the couple, who remain married, separated around 2015 and remained friendly until tensions escalated from about 2019.
Erin Patterson was arrested and charged with murder on 2 November 2023. Photo: Screenshot / ABC
The pair had several disagreements over finances and arrangements for their kids but continued to stay in touch.
Simon said his wife had sent "inflammatory messages" to a family group chat, and that she was being "extremely aggressive".
"That's not the right way of categorising it, is it? She was upset, she was hurt," Mandy said.
"Perhaps you could put up the messages that she messaged the group [chat] that I mentioned and we could see," Simon responded.
Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC asked if the pair's behaviour had "descended into pettiness" at times, a suggestion Simon agreed with.
He also conceded an arrangement where he was to pay his wife $38 a month in child support payments wouldn't make much difference to their kids' private school fees.
Earlier, the trial heard Erin staged the lunch at her home and told the guests she had cancer - a claim her lawyer admitted was false.
Simon, who turned down an invitation to the lunch, said the first he heard about the cancer claim was when his sick father told him it had been mentioned.
He said his estranged wife had reported a multitude of illnesses to him in the past, including arrhythmia of her heart, depression and concerns about multiple sclerosis.
Simon will return to the witness box when the trial resumes next week.
Justice Christopher Beale reminded the jury to avoid discussing the case with others, given the intense media interest.
"Switch off from the case on weekends," he said.
The trial continues.
- ABC
