By Kristian Silva, ABC
Photo: ABC News
Lunch guest Heather Wilkinson was raving about the "delicious" beef Wellington prepared by Erin Patterson, a court has heard, unaware the meal would ultimately cause her death.
The events of the deadly lunch on July 29, 2023 are the focus of Patterson's trial in the Supreme Court. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and attempted murder.
Extended relatives Heather Wilkinson, Don Patterson and Gail Patterson died after consuming the lunch. Heather's husband, Ian, was the sole survivor.
Angela Child and Jennifer McPhee, members of the church the group attended, said they met the Wilkinsons hours after the lunch.
"Heather told me they had a lovely lunch. She told me they had a beef Wellington and described it as delicious and beautiful," Child said, in a statement read out to the Supreme Court sitting in Morwell.
McPhee gave a similar statement, which was also read out to the jury.
"Heather was happily talking about the delicious meal they had at Erin's." she said.
"She was playfully teasing Ian about how much he had eaten.
"When I left Heather and Ian, they were happy and not sick in the slightest."
Within 24 hours, the four lunch guests were in hospital, with doctors initially believing they were suffering from food poisoning. Eventually, it was determined they had ingested death cap mushrooms.
Relative quizzed Erin Patterson about mushrooms
The court heard Matthew Patterson, a son of Don and Gail, called his sister-in-law Erin from hospital to inquire about the source of the mushrooms.
"She mentioned that there were fresh mushrooms from [Woolworths] and that there were dried mushrooms from a Chinese grocer or supermarket … in the Oakleigh area," he said.
Earlier in the trial, prosecutors said investigations showed poisonous mushrooms were not being sold by the supermarket chain and that the Asian grocer mentioned by Patterson had never been identified.
Prosecutors allege that in the months leading up to the lunch, Patterson visited two areas near her home town of Leongatha where death cap mushrooms were growing.
Patterson's lawyers conceded she had foraged mushrooms in the past but argue she did not intend to deliberately poison her relatives.
They argue, despite a strained relationship with husband Simon Patterson, Erin enjoyed friendly dealings with her extended family and had previously loaned large sums of money to several of them.
Anna Terrington, the daughter of Don and Gail Patterson, broke down while giving evidence on Wednesday morning (local time), at times taking long pauses and clutching her chest.
She said her mother had told her about the lunch invite two days before the event.
"She said that Ian, Heather and Simon had also been invited. She said she didn't know what it would be about. She said it was unusual that Heather and Ian had been invited," Terrington said.
At times, Erin Patterson, also appeared emotional while watching on from the court dock.
Prosecutors have not pointed to a specific motive for the alleged crimes. A motive is not one of the elements the jury needs to consider when deciding if Patterson is guilty.
The trial continues.
- ABC
