The chilling allegations against convicted triple-murderer Erin Patterson have taken a darker turn, with court documents revealing she allegedly made repeated attempts to poison her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, years before serving the fatal mushroom-laced beef Wellington that killed three family members.
Patterson, 50, was last month found guilty of murdering her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, during a family lunch on 29 July 2023. Heather’s husband, pastor Ian Wilkinson, survived after weeks in hospital. Simon Patterson narrowly escaped the deadly gathering, cancelling his attendance a day earlier.
Newly released details from pre-trial hearings – previously suppressed – outline Simon’s claims of a years-long poisoning campaign. He described multiple incidents between 2021 and 2022 where food prepared by Erin allegedly left him gravely ill, including Bolognese pasta, a chicken korma curry on a camping trip, and a vegetable wrap during a coastal outing.
One episode in May 2022 left him in a coma, requiring major bowel surgery. “My family were asked to come and say goodbye to me twice,” Simon told the court. Another time, he lost almost all muscle control before being rushed to hospital.
A doctor friend urged him to keep a food diary, and by early 2023, Simon confided his suspicion that Erin was behind his illnesses. He even recounted being offered cookies, supposedly baked by their daughter, but feared they were laced with toxins. Investigators later found poison-related research on Erin’s computer and suspected rat poison may have been used in at least one incident.
Simon’s sister warned their parents before the fatal lunch, but they reassured her they would be fine. Days later, she joined relatives in a hospital chapel as three family members lay dying.
Other unusual evidence excluded from trial included Erin disposing of a food dehydrator after the lunch, a Facebook post about a mushroom-poisoned cat she never owned, and unexplained visits to a local tip.
Justice Christopher Beale has scheduled sentencing for 25 August, when victim impact statements will be heard.
