Today's Edition
SYDNEY (dpa)
An Australian woman was found guilty on Monday on three charges of murder relating to a deadly mushroom-laced lunch she had served guests.
The jury found 50-year-old Erin Patterson guilty on three charges of murder and one of attempted murder relating to the Beef Wellington lunch she had served in July 2023, according to Australian media reports.
She had pleaded not guilty to the charges, arguing the incident was a tragic accident.
Patterson was found guilty of murder in relation to the death of her former in-laws and her former mother-in-law's sister. The trio died in hospital days after eating the meal.
She was found guilty on a charge of attempted murder relating to the sister's husband, who was taken to hospital in a critical condition but survived.
The mother of two children was arrested in November 2023, and her house was searched.
Over two months, the jury heard from more than 50 witnesses, including the two families, medical experts, a fungi scientist and Erin Patterson.
The Beef Wellington was found to have contained highly poisonous death cap mushrooms. Patterson repeatedly insisted she did not know how the poisonous mushrooms got into the dish, telling the police she had prepared the meal using both fresh and dried mushrooms.
Shortly before her arrest, Patterson sent investigators a written account of her version of events through her lawyers.
"I am now devastated to think that these mushrooms may have contributed to the illness suffered by my loved ones. I really want to repeat that I had absolutely no reason to hurt these people whom I loved," she wrote.
Patterson herself was treated in hospital for severe stomach pains and diarrhoea after the meal, but discharged herself against medical advice, the attending physician told the court.
Patterson faces life imprisonment for the crimes, although Judge Christopher Beale will not announce the sentence until a later date.
