Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial LIVE updates: Marathon murder case reaches its final stages

By PAUL SHAPIRO AND WAYNE FLOWER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 23:09 BST, 15 June 2025 | Updated: 23:27 BST, 15 June 2025

Follow Daily Mail Australia’s live coverage of accused mushroom chef Erin Patterson‘s murder trial at Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court in Morwell, Victoria.

Prosecution’s final questions to Patterson before closing their case

On Thursday, Dr Rogers wrapped up her case against the accused with three final questions.

The prosecutor asked Patterson if she deliberately sourced death caps.

‘Disagree,’ Patterson said.

Dr Rogers asked Patterson did she put the death caps in the beef Wellington.

‘Disagree,’ Patterson replied.

‘And did so intending to kill them, agree or disagree?’ Dr Rogers asked.

‘Disagree,’ Patterson said.

The defence asked Patterson another few questions and closed their case.

The trial will resume today at 10.30am.

Patterson claimed she vomited after gorging on cake

During her marathon time in the box, Patterson (pictured) made a series of admissions.

Patterson admitted she gorged two-thirds of a cake after the lunch but later vomited it up.

Patterson said she couldn’t tell what was in her vomit when pressed by Dr Rogers.

Patterson also claimed she ate a kilo of mushrooms between July 23 and July 27.

Dr Rogers suggested Patterson purchased 1.75kg of mushrooms between July 23 and July 27.

‘Incorrect,’ Patterson replied.

Patterson said the amount was a kilo-and-a-half and she ate one kilo and used the rest of the mushrooms for the Wellingtons.

Dr Rogers suggested that is an ‘untruth’.

‘Disagree,’ Patterson said.

Dr Rogers suggested Patterson had twice the amount of mushrooms the RecipeTin Eats recipe she used to make the Wellingtons called for and there was no need to add extra mushrooms.

Patterson also claimed she took an emergency roadside poo while driving with her children the day after the lunch but Dr Rogers also suggested this was a lie.

A court sketch drawn from a video link shows Erin Patterson, an Australian woman accused of murdering three of her estranged husband's elderly relatives with a meal laced with poisonous mushrooms, appearing as a witness for her own defense, at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates' Court in Morwell, Australia, June 2, 2025. AAP/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. AUSTRALIA OUT. NEW ZEALAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN NEW ZEALAND. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN AUSTRALIA.

Patterson faced grilling under cross-examination: ‘correct or incorrect’

Patterson spent eight days in the witness box across two weeks of the marathon trial.

The accused killer was grilled by Dr Rogers who asked Patterson dozens of questions ending with the line ‘correct or incorrect?’ or ‘agree and disagree?’.

During her time under cross-examination, Patterson was shown a photo of suspected death cap mushrooms on a scale and was asked if she weighed those mushrooms to ensure she had enough to kill her lunch guests.

Patterson denied the prosecution’s accusations.

Patterson was first questioned by her own counsel defence barrister Colin Mandy SC (pictured).

Mr Mandy ended his line of questioning by asking Patterson if she intended to poison her lunch guests.

Prosecution to commence closing address

Crown Prosecutor Dr Nanette Rogers SC (pictured) is expected to commence giving her closing address to the jury.

Dr Rogers previously indicated her address will last two days and maybe more.

The prosecutor will summarise the key aspects of the case against Patterson.

EXCLUSIVE DM Erin Patterson trial JUNE 12 DM EXCLUSIVE DAYRATE Nanette Rogers

What’s next in the Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial?

Last Thursday, Erin Patterson entered the witness box for her eighth and final day in her own marathon murder trial.

Patterson has been a big drawcard with dozens of members of the public braving the cold to queue up outside (pictured) the courthouse very early each morning to get a front row seat in the courtroom.

Patterson, 50, is accused of murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, after allegedly serving them a beef Wellington lunch made with death cap mushrooms.

Patterson is also accused of attempting to murder Heather’s husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, who survived the lunch after spending several weeks in an intensive care unit.

The court heard Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon, was also invited to the gathering at her home in Leongatha, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, but didn’t attend.

Witnesses told the jury Patterson ate her serving from a smaller, differently-coloured plate than those of her guests, who ate off four grey plates.

Patterson told authorities she bought dried mushrooms from an unnamed Asian store in the Monash area of Melbourne, but health inspectors could find no evidence of this.

Justice Christopher Beale said the prosecution will commence its closing address today.