Local sources from Australia: BBC, The Guardian.
UK coverage: The Times.
The trial of Erin Patterson, an Australian woman accused of serving a fatal mushroom meal to her relatives, has begun in the small Victorian town of Morwell. Patterson is facing three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder for allegedly serving a beef wellington lunch mixed with death cap mushrooms to her guests. Three people, including Patterson’s former in-laws and her sister-in-law, died after consuming the meal, while one guest survived after weeks of hospital treatment. Patterson has pleaded not guilty and her defense team argues that the incident was a ‘terrible accident.’ The court heard that Patterson admits to picking wild mushrooms, lying to police, and disposing of evidence, but claims she did not intend to harm her family members. The prosecution alleges that Patterson deliberately poisoned her guests with murderous intent, citing her actions before and after the lunch as incriminating. The trial is expected to last six weeks, during which the jury will hear testimony from witnesses, including the surviving guest, medical staff, and investigators. The prosecution will not be suggesting a specific motive for the alleged crimes. The defense has urged the jury to keep an open mind and consider the possibility that Patterson’s behavior was a result of panic and distress over the tragic outcome of the meal. The trial continues in Morwell.
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