Erin Patterson’s daughter says accused mushroom poisoner was ‘very good’ cook, murder trial hears

Erin Patterson’s children ate the leftovers of her beef wellington lunch after their mother and relatives fell ill eating the same meal the previous day, a court has heard.

Videos of interviews the siblings gave separately to police on 16 August 2023 have been shown to the jury in Patterson’s triple murder trial.

Patterson, 50, faces three charges of murder and one charge of attempted murder relating to the lunch she served at her house in Victoria’s Leongatha on 29 July 2023.

She has pleaded not guilty to murdering or attempting to murder the relatives of her estranged husband, Simon Patterson.

Patterson is accused of murdering Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, his aunt Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Simon’s uncle and Heather’s husband.

The start of Patterson’s daughter’s evidence was shown to the jury on Thursday, and both videos were completed on Friday.

Patterson family Illustration: Guardian Design/Guardian Design

In her interview, the daughter said her mum told her that dinner on 30 July 2023 was leftovers from the lunch.

“I remember I was asking her what we were having that night, and she said she was making leftovers from yesterday’s lunch,” she said.

When the police officer asks “is she a good cook”, Patterson’s daughter responded “yes, very good”.

She said she did not like eating mushrooms, and had never gone mushroom picking.

Her brother said he understood police were speaking to him “about the lunch of five people … and all five of them ended up in hospital, and three of them have passed”.

“And when you say passed …” the officer asked.

“Three of them have died,” Patterson’s son said.

He described the meat he and his sister consumed as “eye fillet” beef. He says his mother heated up the meat that she had cooked a day earlier.

Patterson’s son said the meat, which was served with potatoes and beans “was very soft … some of the best meat I’ve ever had”.

Patterson made leftovers for herself too, he said, but did not eat it as she felt unwell, so he ate her food.

They ate all of the leftovers, he said.

The court has previously heard that police recovered at least one beef wellington, and part of another, from a wheelie bin at Patterson’s house on 1 August, the following day.

Patterson’s son described Patterson and Simon’s relationship as “very negative”, and said his father “does a lot of things to try and hurt Mum”.

He said Simon contacted his school to be included on billing records, so that he could remain informed of his children’s activities and school reports, but did this without contacting Patterson.

A suppression order prevents either of the Patterson children from being named.

Their interviews, known as video audio recorded evidence, were taken in Morwell police station.

The start of their daughter’s evidence was shown to the jury on Thursday, and both videos were completed on Friday.

The trial continues next week, but no evidence will be heard on Monday.