A woman who died from an allegedly intentional mushroom poisoning told a doctor the food she ate was “delicious” shortly before she died, according to new testimony in the trial against Erin Patterson this week.
Patterson, 50, is accused of murdering her ex-husband’s parents and aunt after allegedly serving them poisonous mushrooms in a Beef Wellington dish she prepared for them during a July 2023 lunch at her home in Leongatha, Australia.
Patterson previously pleaded not guilty to murder charges in connection with the deaths of Don and Gail Patterson, the 70-year-old parents of her ex-husband Simon Patterson, as well as Heather Wilkinson, 66, Simon’s aunt. Simon’s uncle, Ian Wilkinson, 68, was also treated for mushroom poisoning but recovered.
Simon, Patterson’s ex-husband, had declined an invitation to the lunch, according to The Guardian.
Related: Woman Accused of Killing 3 with Poisonous Mushrooms Hid ‘Powdered Mushrooms’ in Her Kids’ Food, Witnesses Testify
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Erin Patterson
In new testimony this week, CBS News reported that Dr. Christopher Webster, who treated the Wilkinsons, said he suspected food poisoning had caused their illness and asked the couple about the Beef Wellington their nephew’s ex-wife had served for them a day earlier.
“I did ask Heather what the Beef Wellington tasted like and she said it was delicious,” the doctor testified, according to CBS. Dr. Webster also told the courtroom that the ill couple were “conscious” and “alert” when they first came in and reported feeling ill.
“They were clearly unwell but were not distressed,” the doctor testified. “They were both able to freely communicate.”
Related: Woman Accused of Killing 3 with Poisonous Mushrooms Hid ‘Powdered Mushrooms’ in Her Kids’ Food, Witnesses Testify
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Ian Wilkinson
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Heather, Don, and Gail all died within days of the alleged food poisoning, according to BBC. Ian survived after weeks in the hospital. He testified this week that Patterson served her four guests on gray plates, but ate from an orange plate herself, according to BBC, noting that Heather told him in the hospital she “noticed the difference in colors” of the dishes.
Other testimony during Patterson’s trial has included accusations that the 50-year-old mother of two had previously bragged in a Facebook group about “hiding powdered mushrooms” in her children’s food, PEOPLE reported last month.
Members of the Facebook group also testified during Patterson’s murder trial alleging that she posted in the group asking questions about how to make Beef Wellington.
Patterson’s defense attorneys have claimed that her in-laws’ deaths were a result of “a terrible accident,” per 9 News. Her trial is ongoing.
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