A jury in Morwell, Victoria, has found Erin Patterson guilty of preparing and serving a deadly mushroom lunch that led to the deaths of three of her relatives and left a fourth seriously ill.
The victims — Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66 — all became gravely ill after consuming a home-cooked meal prepared by Patterson. They died within days of the lunch, which was served at her home.
The fourth victim, Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband, survived after weeks of intensive medical treatment.
Prosecutors argued that Erin Patterson knowingly included toxic death cap mushrooms in the meal and then attempted to cover up the crime by lying to police and destroying key evidence.
The high-profile case has gripped Australia, with widespread media coverage and public scrutiny surrounding the unusual and tragic circumstances of the deaths.
Patterson is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks, with legal experts anticipating a lengthy prison term given the severity of the charges.
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