An Australian woman accused of killing three people and attempting to kill another by serving them poisonous mushrooms in a beef Wellington meal has said her trial, she had wanted the meal to be “special”.
Erin Patterson, 50, is on trial for murdering Don and Gail Patterson, Heather Wilkinson, and Ian Wilkinson. She pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming it was a tragic accident.
Patterson told the court that she accepted rare invitations from her home were unusual but said she arranged the occasion to discuss a health issue and wanted to make a nice meal for her relatives to thank them for their support.
“I wanted it to be special,” Patterson said. However, prosecutors argue that Patterson put poisonous fungi into their food in a carefully crafted plot to kill them.
Patterson had previously admitted to misleading guests about needing cancer treatment as a cover for weight-loss surgery she was planning but too embarrassed to disclose.
Prosecutors have questioned whether the mushroom contamination was an accident or part of a deliberate plan. They also highlighted Patterson’s use of an iNaturalist website that listed locations of death cap mushrooms near her home, raising suspicions about her intentions.
Patterson denied allegations that she had planned to kill her in-laws and said she loved them like family members. The trial is now expected to run for at least another fortnight.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y8e1l55kko