Erin Patterson denies sourcing death caps as court hears final evidence in triple murder trial.

The dramatic trial of Erin Patterson reached a turning point on Thursday as the final pieces of evidence were heard in the Latrobe Valley magistrates’ court. After 31 tense days, both prosecution and defence closed their cases in the highly publicised triple murder trial linked to deadly mushroom poisoning.

Erin Patterson, who stands accused of deliberately serving lethal death cap mushrooms at a family lunch, returned to the witness box one last time. In emotional testimony, she firmly denied any intent to harm her guests or source poisonous fungi.

The case revolves around a lunch in 2022 where Patterson hosted guests who later died from mushroom poisoning. She has consistently maintained that the inclusion of the toxic mushrooms in her beef wellingtons was entirely unintentional.

In the final cross-examination, prosecutors grilled Patterson over multiple issues. They alleged she deliberately reset her phone three times in August 2023 to conceal evidence. Patterson flatly denied these accusations, insisting she never tried to hide anything from investigators.

The prosecution also challenged Patterson about a pre-surgery appointment she mentioned at a Melbourne clinic. She had previously told her lunch guests she was undergoing cancer treatment, but later admitted it was actually preparation for planned weight-loss surgery. The clinic, the court heard, offered liposuction procedures until mid-2024. Patterson explained that she had lied to her guests out of embarrassment, not malice.

Tension mounted when the prosecution raised earlier claims involving Patterson’s estranged husband, Simon Patterson. They suggested she had poisoned his parents using a dehydrator prior to the lunch, a claim she dismissed as false. She categorically rejected the idea that she had attempted to poison Simon or his family.

Turning to the fatal meal itself, Patterson’s barrister, Colin Mandy SC, asked about the preparation of six individual beef wellingtons. The prosecution previously suggested Patterson had cooked an extra poisoned portion in case Simon attended the gathering. Patterson refuted this theory, explaining she used six fillets from twin packs she already had on hand, simply because the ingredients were available.

The court also heard about Patterson’s movements in the days following the tragic lunch. The prosecution highlighted that she informed hospital staff on 31 July 2023 that she needed to pack her daughter’s ballet bag. They argued there was no ballet scheduled that day. Patterson, appearing emotional, insisted her daughter had a rehearsal. Wiping away tears, she explained she didn’t want to disappoint her son either and accompanied him to his flying lesson despite feeling unwell.

After a thorough re-examination, Mandy closed the defence’s case. Justice Christopher Beale then informed the jury that the evidence phase had officially concluded. He advised jurors that legal discussions would continue in their absence, potentially for some time, before final arguments and deliberations could proceed.

The high-profile case has gripped Australia for months, with widespread speculation surrounding Patterson’s alleged role in the deaths. Central to the trial is the prosecution’s assertion that she deliberately harvested death cap mushrooms to murder her guests, while the defence maintains that any contamination was purely accidental.

As proceedings adjourned for the day, the courtroom atmosphere was heavy with anticipation. The jury will now await the final legal arguments before retreating to decide Patterson’s fate in a case that has captivated the nation with its mix of family tragedy, mystery and deadly intrigue.