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Erin Patterson tells mushroom trial ‘embarrassment’ over weight loss surgery plan led to cancer lies Erin Patterson explains health lies, food issues and how she made mushroom lunch as murder trial continues
(about 1 hour later)
Triple murder accused also tells court she may have unintentionally added foraged mushrooms to beef wellington dish Triple murder accused tells court she may have unintentionally added foraged mushrooms while trying to improve ‘bland’ beef wellington dish
Who are Erin Patterson and the other key figures in Australia’s mushroom trial?Who are Erin Patterson and the other key figures in Australia’s mushroom trial?
Erin Patterson has told a court she believes she unintentionally added foraged mushrooms to her beef wellington mix while trying to improve its “bland” flavour, and lied to her lunch guests about having cancer because she was embarrassed about upcoming weight loss surgery.Erin Patterson has told a court she believes she unintentionally added foraged mushrooms to her beef wellington mix while trying to improve its “bland” flavour, and lied to her lunch guests about having cancer because she was embarrassed about upcoming weight loss surgery.
In her third day in the witness box, Patterson also admitted lying on multiple occasions to her mother-in-law about medical appointments, in part because she wanted her to keep showing her care.In her third day in the witness box, Patterson also admitted lying on multiple occasions to her mother-in-law about medical appointments, in part because she wanted her to keep showing her care.
Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to poisoning four in-laws with beef wellington served for lunch at her house in Leongatha on 29 July 2023.Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to poisoning four in-laws with beef wellington served for lunch at her house in Leongatha on 29 July 2023.
Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering her estranged husband Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Simon’s uncle and Heather’s husband.Patterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering her estranged husband Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Simon’s uncle and Heather’s husband.
Erin Patterson hosts lunch for estranged husband Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt and uncle Heather and Ian Wilkinson. Patterson serves beef wellington.Erin Patterson hosts lunch for estranged husband Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt and uncle Heather and Ian Wilkinson. Patterson serves beef wellington.
All four lunch guests are admitted to hospital with gastro-like symptoms. All four lunch guests are admitted to hospital with gastro-like symptoms. 
Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson die in hospital. Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson die in hospital. 
Don Patterson dies in hospital. Victoria police search Erin Patterson’s home and interview her. Don Patterson dies in hospital. Victoria police search Erin Patterson’s home and interview her. 
Ian Wilkinson is discharged from hospital after weeks in intensive care.Ian Wilkinson is discharged from hospital after weeks in intensive care.
Police again search Erin Patterson’s home, and she is arrested and interviewed. She is charged with three counts of murder relating to the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson. Police again search Erin Patterson’s home, and she is arrested and interviewed. She is charged with three counts of murder relating to the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, and the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson. 
Jury is sworn in. Jury is sworn in. 
Murder trial begins. Jury hears that charges of attempting to murder her estranged husband Simon are dropped.Murder trial begins. Jury hears that charges of attempting to murder her estranged husband Simon are dropped.
Lawyers for Patterson say the death cap mushroom poisoning was a tragic and terrible accident.Lawyers for Patterson say the death cap mushroom poisoning was a tragic and terrible accident.
Under questioning from her lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, on Wednesday, Patterson said she made multiple changes to the RecipeTin Eats recipe she was following to prepare the beef wellington.Under questioning from her lawyer, Colin Mandy SC, on Wednesday, Patterson said she made multiple changes to the RecipeTin Eats recipe she was following to prepare the beef wellington.
It was a dish she had never made, but she wanted to try something special for her guests, she said.It was a dish she had never made, but she wanted to try something special for her guests, she said.
The changes were mostly due to her not being able to source a larger “log” of steak as specified in the recipe, and having to instead buy individual steaks.The changes were mostly due to her not being able to source a larger “log” of steak as specified in the recipe, and having to instead buy individual steaks.
This meant she required more mushrooms for a duxelles, and more pastry, Patterson said.This meant she required more mushrooms for a duxelles, and more pastry, Patterson said.
She said that on the morning of the lunch she started cooking down the mushrooms, as she needed to remove almost all water from them in order to stop the pastry in the dish becoming soggy.She said that on the morning of the lunch she started cooking down the mushrooms, as she needed to remove almost all water from them in order to stop the pastry in the dish becoming soggy.
But after cooking them for about 45 minutes she tasted the mixture, and found it to be bland.But after cooking them for about 45 minutes she tasted the mixture, and found it to be bland.
She went to her pantry to source dried mushrooms from a container that she believed only had mushrooms in it that she’d bought from an Asian grocer in Melbourne several months earlier.She went to her pantry to source dried mushrooms from a container that she believed only had mushrooms in it that she’d bought from an Asian grocer in Melbourne several months earlier.
“At that time to your knowledge what was in the tupperware container,” Mandy asked.“At that time to your knowledge what was in the tupperware container,” Mandy asked.
“At that time just mushrooms … from Melbourne,” Patterson responded.“At that time just mushrooms … from Melbourne,” Patterson responded.
“And now what do you think?” Mandy asked.“And now what do you think?” Mandy asked.
“Now I think that there was a possibility that there were foraged ones in there as well.”“Now I think that there was a possibility that there were foraged ones in there as well.”
After this answer, Patterson took a long pause, and appeared to become emotional, before dabbing her eyes and cheeks with a tissue.After this answer, Patterson took a long pause, and appeared to become emotional, before dabbing her eyes and cheeks with a tissue.
She also said she lied to her guests about needing upcoming cancer treatment, after having a previous scare for ovarian cancer, as she was too “embarrassed” to tell them about plans for weight loss surgery.She also said she lied to her guests about needing upcoming cancer treatment, after having a previous scare for ovarian cancer, as she was too “embarrassed” to tell them about plans for weight loss surgery.
“Not proud of this, but I led them to believe I might be needing some treatment … in regards to [ovarian cancer] in the coming weeks and months,” she said.“Not proud of this, but I led them to believe I might be needing some treatment … in regards to [ovarian cancer] in the coming weeks and months,” she said.
“They all showed a lot of compassion about that … Ian said, why don’t we pray for Erin, and so that’s what we did.“They all showed a lot of compassion about that … Ian said, why don’t we pray for Erin, and so that’s what we did.
“I did lie to them.”“I did lie to them.”
When asked by Mandy “why didn’t you tell them the truth about what you were intending”, she responded: “I was ashamed of the fact that I didn’t have control over my body or what I ate. I was ashamed of that, I felt embarrassed.When asked by Mandy “why didn’t you tell them the truth about what you were intending”, she responded: “I was ashamed of the fact that I didn’t have control over my body or what I ate. I was ashamed of that, I felt embarrassed.
“I didn’t want to tell anybody, but I shouldn’t have lied to them.”“I didn’t want to tell anybody, but I shouldn’t have lied to them.”
The sole surviving lunch guest, Ian Wilkinson, who was in court on Wednesday, watched on impassively.The sole surviving lunch guest, Ian Wilkinson, who was in court on Wednesday, watched on impassively.
Patterson told the court on Tuesday she accepted death cap mushrooms were in the beef wellington she prepared. Patterson has previously told the court she accepted death cap mushrooms were in the beef wellington she prepared.
Patterson said that after her lunch guests left, she felt over full. The court heard on Tuesday that she had a habit of purging food, dating back to her 20s, after binge eating.
Patterson said that this also happened in the hours after the beef wellington lunch.
“I felt sick, felt over full, so I went to the toilet and brought it back up again,” she told the court.
She developed abdominal pain and diarrhea later that evening, she said, and decided against going to church the following morning because she remained unwell.
Her son had a flying lesson later that day, and Patterson said she decided to make the almost hour drive as her symptoms had eased. But she again felt unwell on the drive, and stopped to do diarrhea in bushes by the side of the road.
At this stage, she also knew Don and Gail were unwell after the lunch.
Patterson said the symptoms worsened, and by the following morning, 31 July, she decided she should go to hospital to receive fluids.
After dropping her kids to catch a school bus, she went to Leongatha hospital.
She said that once she said her name to Dr Christopher Webster, he said “we’ve been expecting you”.
“When I said my name, his reaction communicated that he knew who I was … or that name triggered something for him, and that threw me, quite a bit,” she said.
Patterson said she was then asked question about the meal, including confirming she had cooked it, and whether the beef wellingtons had been pre-made.
“I think I said why, why are you asking, and he said ‘There’s a concern’ or ‘We’re concerned you’ve been exposed to death cap mushrooms.
“I was shocked but confused as well. I was just expecting to come in for saline for gastro.
“I didn’t see how death cap mushrooms could be in the meal and the information that I had was that I had diarrhea, Don and Gail had been a bit unwell, but that was all I knew. I remember feeling very puzzled.”
Patterson said that when she was told soon after this that she would be admitted and then transported via ambulance to Melbourne for treatment, she “felt really anxious, and stressed and confused, I felt really overwhelmed”.
“I couldn’t move my brain out of being stuck in what I thought the day was going to look like,” Patterson said.
The court has previously heard Patterson discharged herself against medical advice soon after this point, so concerning Dr Webster that he called local police in a bid to make her return to hospital.
Patterson told the court on Wednesday that she always planned to return, but went home to to bring her dog inside, pen her lambs, and prepare a bag for a rehearsal her daughter was expected to attend after school.
It is the prosecution case that Patterson did not eat death cap mushrooms at the lunch and that she pretended she was suffering the same type of illness as her guests “to cover that up”.
It says that this is also why she was reluctant to receive medical treatment for death cap mushroom poisoning.
Earlier on Wednesday, she was taken to a series of photos she said she had taken in 2020 of mushrooms she had foraged.Earlier on Wednesday, she was taken to a series of photos she said she had taken in 2020 of mushrooms she had foraged.
She was also shown a series of messages previously read to the court about an exchange with Gail regarding medical tests and a biopsy for a lump on her elbow.She was also shown a series of messages previously read to the court about an exchange with Gail regarding medical tests and a biopsy for a lump on her elbow.
Patterson said she had previously had elbow pain, and “thought” she had a lump, and when she told the Gail and Don about this they had shown her care.Patterson said she had previously had elbow pain, and “thought” she had a lump, and when she told the Gail and Don about this they had shown her care.
Although the pain eased, she decided to say the ailment persisted.Although the pain eased, she decided to say the ailment persisted.
She admitted lying to Gail about an appointment, a needle biopsy, and an MRI.She admitted lying to Gail about an appointment, a needle biopsy, and an MRI.
“Why did you tell those lies?” Mandy asked.“Why did you tell those lies?” Mandy asked.
“So some weeks prior, I had been having an issue with my elbow with pain … and I’d told Don and Gail about that,” Patterson responded.“So some weeks prior, I had been having an issue with my elbow with pain … and I’d told Don and Gail about that,” Patterson responded.
“They had shown quite a lot of care about that, which felt really nice.“They had shown quite a lot of care about that, which felt really nice.
“The issues started to resolve … I didn’t want their care of me to stop, so I just kept it going.”“The issues started to resolve … I didn’t want their care of me to stop, so I just kept it going.”
Later, Patterson admitted another “misleading statement” about getting test results regarding the elbow back.Later, Patterson admitted another “misleading statement” about getting test results regarding the elbow back.
She said she made that statement as she hoped it could become a way of solving “logistical” issues that could arise with her children when she had upcoming gastric bypass surgery, which she did not want to tell anyone about.She said she made that statement as she hoped it could become a way of solving “logistical” issues that could arise with her children when she had upcoming gastric bypass surgery, which she did not want to tell anyone about.
“Something I’d been thinking about in the background and doing some preparation for was I had come to the conclusion that I wanted to do something once and for all about my weight and my poor eating habits, so I was planning to have gastric bypass surgery.“Something I’d been thinking about in the background and doing some preparation for was I had come to the conclusion that I wanted to do something once and for all about my weight and my poor eating habits, so I was planning to have gastric bypass surgery.
“I remember thinking I didn’t want to tell anybody what I had done, I was really embarrassed about it, so I thought letting them believe I had something that required serious treatment … [would] help me with logistics around the kids, and I wouldn’t have to tell them.”“I remember thinking I didn’t want to tell anybody what I had done, I was really embarrassed about it, so I thought letting them believe I had something that required serious treatment … [would] help me with logistics around the kids, and I wouldn’t have to tell them.”
Patterson said she had a pre-appointment regarding the surgery scheduled for September 2023.Patterson said she had a pre-appointment regarding the surgery scheduled for September 2023.
Patterson also told the court there was no assigned plates or seats, and that she did not own grey plates. Ian Wilkinson previously told the court that lunch guests were served on grey plates, while Patterson served herself on a smaller, coloured plate.Patterson also told the court there was no assigned plates or seats, and that she did not own grey plates. Ian Wilkinson previously told the court that lunch guests were served on grey plates, while Patterson served herself on a smaller, coloured plate.
Her evidence continues.Her evidence continues.
In Australia, the Butterfly Foundation is at 1800 33 4673. In the UK, Beat can be contacted on 0808-801-0677. In the US, help is available at nationaleatingdisorders.org or by calling ANAD’s eating disorders hotline at 800-375-7767. Other international helplines can be found at Eating Disorder HopeIn Australia, the Butterfly Foundation is at 1800 33 4673. In the UK, Beat can be contacted on 0808-801-0677. In the US, help is available at nationaleatingdisorders.org or by calling ANAD’s eating disorders hotline at 800-375-7767. Other international helplines can be found at Eating Disorder Hope
In Australia, the Butterfly Foundation is at 1800 33 4673. In the UK, Beat can be contacted on 0808-801-0677. In the US, help is available at nationaleatingdisorders.org or by calling ANAD’s eating disorders hotline at 800-375-7767. Other international helplines can be found at Eating Disorder HopeIn Australia, the Butterfly Foundation is at 1800 33 4673. In the UK, Beat can be contacted on 0808-801-0677. In the US, help is available at nationaleatingdisorders.org or by calling ANAD’s eating disorders hotline at 800-375-7767. Other international helplines can be found at Eating Disorder Hope