A file of evidence in the case against accused mushroom chef Erin Patterson has been finalized by homicide detectives.
Patterson, 49, is awaiting trial after being charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder following the fatal lunch at her home in Leongatha, Gippsland, Victoria. on July 29.
Pastor Ian Wilkinson, 70, was the sole survivor of the deadly lunch, which claimed the lives of his wife Heather Wilkinson, 66, and Ms Patterson’s former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70 years.
Ms Patterson’s husband, Simon Patterson, pulled out of the lunch at the last minute.
Victoria Police confirmed on Friday that his brief had been lodged. It is expected to include witness statements from Simon Patterson and Mr Wilkinson.
A file of evidence in the case against accused mushroom chef Erin Patterson has been finalized by homicide detectives
Detectives had 20 weeks to prepare the case which was due to be submitted to court by Monday.
Patterson has meanwhile hired renowned attorney Philip Dunn KC to defend her.
She is currently being held at the Dame Phyllis Frost Center in Victoria, a maximum security prison that can accommodate 600 women.
Prisoners at the prison include serial killer “Black Widow” Robyn Lindholm, matriarch and gangland killer Judy Moran, violent “little terrorist” Momena Shoma and Ms. Patterson’s new cellmate – the rapist warden of the Malka Liefer school.
The ultra-Orthodox Jewish director was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the sexual abuse of two young high school students in August 2023.
Don and Gail Patterson are in the photo. They lost their lives after the Beef Wellington lunch on July 29.
Ms Patterson was arrested after serving a beef Wellington lunch to her guests, which police said contained deadly mushrooms.
She was arrested at her home on November 2 and taken to Dame Phyllis Frost, where sources say she needs protection from other inmates due to her alleged crime.
“If Erin was no longer protected, the girls would harm her,” they told the Sun Herald.
“She would have killed three elderly people. There is a rule, we don’t touch the elderly and we don’t touch babies so because of that, we put ourselves in protection.
“She would do it very, very hard in there because she would only be able to talk to two or three girls and that’s it.”
Court documents revealed Ms Patterson had been charged with attempted murder of her husband on four occasions.
Ian Wilkinson was the only survivor of the lunch, losing his wife Heather (pictured together)
This would have taken place between November 16 and 17, 2021, between May 25 and 27, 2022, September 6, 2022 and during the mushroom lunch in July 2023.
Ms Patterson is believed to be housed in a self-contained unit at Dame Phyllis Frost and has a bed, shower, toilet, sink, desk and cupboard.
As she is on remand, she is not required to work and would have access to a kitchen where she can prepare her own meals.
The accused mushroom chef is next due to appear before Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court via video link for a committal hearing on May 3.
She denies any wrongdoing.
