A court ruling has been issued in Australia regarding a criminal case known as "mushroom murder." This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This case has sparked widespread discussions in the country, especially in the city of Leongatha, Victoria. On July 29, 2023, 49-year-old Erin Patterson invited her ex-husband Simon Patterson's parents, Don and Gail Patterson, along with their relatives Heazer and Ian Wilkinson, for lunch.
During the lunch, they consumed a mushroom Beef Wellington dish. A few hours later, the guests experienced severe vomiting and diarrhea symptoms, prompting their urgent hospitalization.
According to court investigations, the dish contained a highly toxic mushroom known as the "death cap." This mushroom contains the deadly substance amanitin, which can cause the liver to cease functioning within two days.
As a result, Gail and Heazer passed away on August 4, 2023, while Don died a day later. Ian Wilkinson was in critical condition and underwent treatment for several months, only partially recovering and returning home in September.
During the trial, the prosecution emphasized that Erin Patterson deliberately collected the mushrooms and added them to the dish. It was confirmed that she visited specific areas for mushroom gathering in April and May 2023, as evidenced by geolocation data on platforms like iNaturalist.
Additionally, it was revealed in court that Patterson had purchased a special device for drying mushrooms and attempted to dispose of it after the incident. Toxic mushroom residues and her fingerprints were found on the mushroom dryer discovered at Patterson's home.
During the investigation, it was also discovered that important data had been deleted from her mobile phones. Erin Patterson denied all charges in court.
She referred to the incident as a "tragic accident," claiming she mistakenly added the mushrooms. According to her, she panicked after the incident and provided incorrect information to the investigation.
The defense argued that Patterson had a good relationship with the deceased and had no financial or personal motive. However, a 12-member jury unanimously found Erin Patterson guilty of three counts of intentional murder and one count of attempted murder.
Judge Christopher Beale addressed the jury members, emphasizing that the case was being considered based on legal rather than moral criteria. He stated, "The issue is not whether Patterson is morally guilty or not, but whether there is evidence to prove her legal liability." Currently, Erin Patterson is being held in custody.
Her final sentence will be announced at the next court hearing. This case is expected to remain in history as a rare and complex crime in Australian judicial practice and has left a profound mark on public consciousness.
