### Woman Accused of Poisoning Family with Death Cap Mushrooms Speaks Out

In a high-profile trial taking place in Victoria's Supreme Court, Erin Patterson, accused of serving a dinner laced with death cap mushrooms that killed three of her four guests, defended herself vigorously on Wednesday. Patterson, 50, is accused of deliberately poisoning her estranged husband's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, and their relative, Heather Wilkinson, at a July 2023 gathering.

Prosecutors allege that Patterson lured her guests under false pretenses of having cancer and knowingly prepared a toxic meal. Patterson insists the incident was an unfortunate accident stemming from a mushroom storage mishap, and maintains her innocence against charges of murder and attempted murder that could lead to life imprisonment and a 25-year sentence, respectively.

During her rare decision to testify, Patterson recounted how she planned a special meal, having selected expensive ingredients and researched various recipes to make the lunch memorable. She adjusted her chosen beef Wellington recipe in order to enhance the flavor, believing she was using dried fungi purchased from an Asian supermarket. Patterson admitted that she now suspects there may have been wild mushrooms, which she had foraged weeks prior and stored in her pantry, mixed with the store-bought ones.

Patterson, who separated from her husband Simon in 2015, confessed to lying about her health to her in-laws, claiming she had cancer when, in reality, she intended to undergo weight loss surgery. She stated her motive for the lie stemmed from personal shame over her inability to control her weight and dietary habits, resulting in her fabricating the serious illness.

The court heard that Patterson experienced minor symptoms from the poisonous dish, prompting her to self-induce vomiting and later seek hospital treatment. Unlike her guests, she recovered quickly, fueling prosecutors' claims that she had intentionally avoided poisoning herself. She explained that years of struggling with eating disorders led her to this behavior, which ironically may have saved her life.

The court was further informed that, after a confrontation with her estranged husband at the hospital, Patterson destroyed potential evidence by disposing of her dehydrator and wiping her cellphone containing images of foraged mushrooms. Initially, she told investigators that all the mushrooms used were store-bought, despite suspecting otherwise.

Prosecutors argue that Patterson's actions were premeditated, although no clear motive has been suggested. The trial is set to continue with Patterson’s cross-examination by the prosecution on Thursday.