Erin Patterson Allegedly Tried to Poison Husband Repeatedly, Court Hears
A court was told that convicted triple-murderer Erin Patterson attempted to kill her estranged husband with tainted food on several occasions before being found guilty of murdering three relatives.
In Melbourne's Supreme Court, prosecutors detailed accusations that Erin Patterson, 50, repeatedly tried to poison her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, over several years.
Patterson was last month convicted of killing her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, after serving them a mushroom-laced beef Wellington in July 2023. Their pastor, Ian Wilkinson, survived.
During pre-trial hearings, Simon Patterson described multiple earlier attempts on his life, including a curry, a chicken wrap, Bolognese pasta and chocolate cookies supposedly baked by their daughter. One incident left him in a coma for weeks.
He said he began keeping notes when he noticed illness after meals his wife had prepared. He shared his concerns with his father, GP relatives and other family members but did not report them to police at the time.
On the day of the fatal lunch, Simon Patterson declined the invitation. He later confronted relatives in the hospital chapel, accusing his wife of long-term poisoning attempts.
Prosecutors say evidence shows a calculated, years-long campaign by Erin Patterson to eliminate her husband with poisoned meals before turning her tactics on other family members.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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