Australian woman convicted of mushroom meal murders

A small-town jury in Australia’s Victoria state on Monday found Erin Patterson guilty of three counts of murder. The mother of two killed her estranged husband’s parents and another relative with a poisonous mushroom meal, they decided, according to Australian 9News. The jury also found Patterson guilty of the attempted murder of another relative who ate the meal but survived. The decision came after a nine-week trial and six days of jury deliberations, according to the Associated Press.

What happened? Patterson served the meal—beef Wellington containing death cap mushroom paste—in July 2023. About a week later, three of her relatives died after suffering multiple organ failure from the mushrooms, according to Australian ABC News. The man who survived was hospitalized for months.

What arguments were made during the trial proceedings? Patterson argued that she accidentally foraged poisonous mushrooms and didn’t intentionally harm anyone, according to ABC. But the prosecution said she indicated her guilt by repeatedly lying about what happened, wiping her phone, and previously expressing frustration with her estranged husband’s family, according to the outlet.

What penalties does Patterson face? The mushroom murderer could receive a maximum penalty of life imprisonment under Victorian law, according to Lexology.

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