Erin Patterson Convicted Murder In-Laws, Attempted Husband Poisoning

Erin Patterson was found guilty of murdering her estranged husband Simon Patterson's parents and aunt by poisoning a beef Wellington with deadly death cap mushrooms during a lunch in Victoria, Australia. Prior to the fatal event, Patterson allegedly attempted to poison Simon on four occasions with various toxic dishes, including bolognese pasta, chicken korma curry, and poison-laced cookies, which led to charges of attempted murder. Legal proceedings separated the murder and attempted murder charges to ensure a fair trial, with prosecutors appealing to include all charges together but ultimately failing. Simon Patterson testified about the suspicious illnesses he suffered after tasting meals prepared by Erin and his growing fear that she was deliberately poisoning him. The family's strained relationships, including disputes over child support and aggressive messages sent by Erin to Simon's parents, were highlighted during the trial. Despite the prosecution not being required to prove a motive, the evidence of Patterson's repeated poisoning attempts was pivotal in securing her conviction.