She had served her former in-laws and her ex-husband's aunt a roast Wellington stuffed with Amanita Phalloides, one of the most poisonous mushrooms in the world, at a dinner party in July 2023. At the end of what has been called the trial of the century in Australia, Erin Patterson, 50, was found guilty of triple murder and attempted murder of her fourth guest, the husband of her ex-husband's aunt .

During the trial, which lasted more than two months, the defendant maintained that the poisoning had been accidental. But a 12-member jury found her guilty.

Her husband, from whom she was separated, had declined the invitation.

The trial, held in the small rural town of Morwell in south-eastern Australia, attracted a large amount of media, especially international, and crime enthusiasts.

The mother of two had prepared a meal of beef Wellington, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy. She was joined that afternoon by Don and Gail Patterson, the elderly parents of her long-estranged husband, Simon. Simon’s maternal aunt, Heather Wilkinson, and her husband, Ian, a well-known pastor at the local Baptist church, rounded out the group. Patterson was disappointed that her husband, Simon, had declined to attend the dinner because he felt “uncomfortable.” Still legally married, their once cordial relationship was showing signs of strain. “I hope you change your mind,” she texted him, to no avail.

Patterson purchased expensive cuts of tenderloin and coated the meat in minced mushrooms before enveloping it in pastry to make individual packets of baked Beef Wellington.

Death mushrooms are easily confused with other edible varieties and are said to have a sweet taste that belies their potent toxicity . The trial found that guests devoured the fatal dish so much that they had no appetite for the cake served for dessert.

(Online Union)

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