Australian Mushroom Murder estranged husband tells about tense relationship

An estranged husband of an Australian woman has been accused of murdering three elderly relatives, a meal paired with deadly mushrooms told the court Thursday that their relationship became increasingly tense a year before her death.

Erin Patterson, 50, is in trouble in Australia for the murders of mother-in-law Gail Patterson, father-in-law Donald Patterson and Gale’s sister Heather Wilkinson, as well as attempted murders by Heather husband Ian Wilkinson.

The court heard that the four men fell ill after lunch with beef Wellington, mashed potatoes and mung beans. Prosecutors accused the defendant of smearing meals with highly toxic death cap mushrooms at her home in Leongatha, a town about 135 km from Melbourne.

Erin Patterson denied the allegations, her defense said the death was a “terrible accident.”

Repeatedly reject the defendant’s lunch invitation

Erin’s husband Simon Patterson cried, telling the Supreme Court of Victoria that they were friendly separate in 2015 and worsened in late 2022 when he listed himself as a tax return.

He said the decision sparked a system of child support, meaning Simon Patterson no longer pays private tuition directly for two children.

“I’m sure she’s very upset about it,” he told the court.

He repeatedly refused to invite the defendant’s lunch, including the one on July 29, 2023, when the murder allegedly occurred, and he said he was uncomfortable with attending the meeting.

The defendant told her husband that she had made “special meals” for the group

The court heard Wednesday that the defendant lied and discussed the two children’s illness in disguise in a way that litigated the way to make sure the children were not attending and ate toxic meals.

The defense has no doubt about the defendant’s lying about cancer.

A text message between Simon and Erin Patterson read in court said the defendant found his decision not to attend was “really disappointing” because she spent a lot of time and money preparing a “special meal” for the group.

Simon Patterson, who was cross-examined by the defense, showed generous generosity to him and his family, borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars for his siblings to buy or build property. He added that she also had a good relationship with the deceased.

The case has attracted keen interest from both Australian and international media, with podcasts, journalists and documentary makers landing in the town of Morne (about two hours east of Melbourne), where the trial was held.

The trial is scheduled to be conducted in early June.