Suspected mushroom poisoning: Erin Patterson faces Australian court on murder charges

Erin Patterson, the Australian woman charged with murdering three people in a mushroom poisoning case, has also been accused of trying to murder her ex-partner on four occasions, according to court documents. 

Patterson, 49, was charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder on Thursday. 

The murder charges relate to a family lunch she hosted in July at her home in the town of Leongatha, Victoria. Police believe the victims were poisoned with death cap mushrooms. 

In court documents released to local media on Friday, police allege Patterson attempted to kill her estranged husband Simon Patterson three times between November 2021 and September 2022.

The alleged fourth attempt was on the day she served a beef Wellington lunch to his parents Gail and Don Patterson, Aunt Heather Wilkinson and her husband Ian Wilkinson. Simon Patterson did not attend the meal.

Patterson continues to maintain her innocence. 

Her case has been adjourned until 3 May to give prosecutors time to analyse computer equipment seized from her home.