Convicted triple-murderer Erin Patterson reportedly tried multiple times to poison her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, using meals she prepared, a court has revealed. The Australian woman was found guilty last month of killing three family members and attempting to murder another with a toxic mushroom-laced dish. The court heard that the 50-year-old allegedly provided her husband with cookies purportedly baked by their daughter, along with other meals, in an effort to poison him.
The allegations against Patterson were initially shielded from the public eye to protect the integrity of the trial proceedings but are now being made available. Following a tragic incident on July 29, 2023, when Patterson's relatives consumed the toxic meal and subsequently died, Simon Patterson's suspected poisoning attempts surfaced. The court learned that Erin was initially charged with attempted murder against Simon, but these charges were retracted just before the trial commenced, with no explanation provided.
In emotionally charged pre-trial hearings, Simon Patterson outlined his harrowing experience, suggesting he endured a multi-year campaign where he was repeatedly poisoned through food. He narrowly escaped death after the fatal lunch, having pulled out of their gathering at the last minute. "I have a lot to grieve," he expressed before the court, reflecting on the loss of his family members and the ongoing legal battle.
In a sequence of troubling events, Simon Patterson explained that he started believing he was being targeted by his estranged wife after experiencing serious health complications post-meal. He recalled a bout of illness after eating Erin's Bolognese penne in November 2021, followed by hospital trips and comas after consuming chicken curry in May 2022 and a vegetable wrap later that year.
With the support of a family friend who was a doctor, Mr. Patterson began maintaining a food diary to monitor his health. Concerned about possibly being poisoned, he conveyed his fears to select family members before the ill-fated lunch. The court heard how Erin's past actions and peculiar interests revealed possible motives behind her alleged attempts.
Additional peculiar evidence included a visit to a local dump before the fatal lunch, suggesting she may have discarded evidence. The jury was informed of a suspicious post made by Patterson in 2020 concerning a cat that didn't belong to her, suggesting her fascination with poisonous mushrooms.
The court's findings have raised questions and prompted discussions among the public as the sentencing hearing approaches, set for August 25. Inquiries and concerns regarding the devastating events that unfolded continue to resonate throughout the local communities affected by the tragedy.
