In a shocking turn of events, a woman in Melbourne, Australia, has pleaded not guilty to three charges of murder and five charges of attempted murder after allegedly serving her ex-husband’s family poisonous mushrooms.
Erin Patterson, 49, appeared in court via video link from a Melbourne prison, where she has been held since her arrest in November. She is accused of killing her former parents-in-law and her ex-husband’s aunt after they consumed a meal at her home in July. All three victims died in the hospital days later.
Patterson has not applied for bail during any of her court appearances and has waived a committal hearing, fast-tracking the proceedings. She is set to appear at Victoria state’s Supreme Court in Melbourne on May 23.
In addition to the murder charges, Patterson is also accused of attempting to murder her ex-husband, Simon, and Heather Wilkinson’s husband, Ian. Ian Wilkinson spent seven weeks in the hospital following the alleged poisoning.
Police believe the symptoms exhibited by the victims were consistent with poisoning from death cap mushrooms. If convicted, Patterson could face up to 25 years in prison for each attempted murder charge, while murder in the state of Victoria carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The case has shocked the community and raised questions about the motives behind such a heinous crime. The trial is set to be closely watched as more details emerge about this tragic incident.