Erin Patterson and the Mushroom Murders: Why I Couldn’t Look Away

This week, Erin Patterson was found guilty of murder and attempted murder after an 11-week trial in Morwell, a small town in Victoria, Australia.

The jury concluded that Patterson killed her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail’s sister, Heather. Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, was the sole survivor. The victims had been served a beef Wellington laced with lethal death-cap mushrooms.

At the close of the trial, Ciara Doherty reflects on why this case gripped her—and so many others. Why did Erin Patterson commit such a horrifying crime? What made her take the stand in her own defence, despite overwhelming circumstantial evidence and her own admissions of lying?

On today’s Newstalk Daily, Ciara is joined by Amber Johnston, a courts correspondent with 9 News in Melbourne. Amber has covered the case extensively from the very beginning, and met Erin Patterson, offering firsthand insight into one of Australia’s most disturbing criminal trials.

Guest: Amber Johnston, Courts Correspondent, 9 News Melbourne

📱 Follow Amber’s reporting and courtroom updates on Instagram: @amberelizabethjohnston

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