World’s attention on Morwell, as Erin Patterson’s triple-murder trial begins over mushroom poisonings

It is the criminal case that has captivated Australian and international audiences, drawing media from across the globe to a regional town in the country’s southeast. With a population of about 15,000, Morwell serves as the administrative zone for the Latrobe Valley and West Gippsland region. But Morwell has been drawn into the global spotlight due to the alleged actions of Erin Patterson at her home in Leongatha – a dairy town about 45 minutes away at the foot of the Strzelecki Ranges. Before Ms Patterson’s triple-murder trial came to town, the 161-year-old town was known for its proximity to stunning natural attractions, long history of coal mining and as the heartland of Victoria’s energy market. But this week, dozens of journalists, camera crews, podcasters and true-crime fanatics booked out hotels and short-stays across the town as a jury was tasked with reaching a verdict on one family’s tragedy. Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died from multiple organ failure induced by death cap mushroom poisoning after attending a lunch at Erin Patterson’s home on July 29, 2023. Heather’s husband, Korumburra Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, also fell gravely ill but survived after spending about a month and a half in hospital. Prosecutors allege Ms Patterson invited her estranged husband, Simon Patterson, his parents, Don and Gail, and his aunt and uncle, Heather and Ian, to the lunch with the “pretense” of a cancer diagnosis. “It is the prosecution case that the accused used the false claim that she had serious medical issues to ensure and to explain why the children would not be present at the lunch on July 29,” crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC said. Her husband pulled out the day before, but his four relatives attended and were served individual portioned Beef Wellington, mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy. It’s alleged Ms Patterson deliberately poisoned the Beef Wellingtons with deadly death cap mushrooms with “murderous intent”. On the other hand, Ms Patterson is arguing that what happened was a tragedy, and that she did not deliberately or intentionally poison the people she loved. “The defence case is that Erin Patterson did not deliberately serve poisoned food to her guests at that lunch,” her barrister Colin Mandy SC said. “The defence case is that what happened was a tragedy, a terrible accident.” To this end, she has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. As the trial got underway this week, the large presence of media has become a familiar sight around the Latrobe Valley court precinct. Eateries in the area have reported a bump in traffic and local residents have often been spotted watching the media circus as live updates are pushed out on news bulletins and websites. The Latrobe Valley courthouse is a modern building, built in 2006 with five courtrooms to cater to the regional area and usually serves solely the Magistrates’ Court jurisdiction. Much of the top floor of the courthouse has been dedicated to the trial, with rooms reserved for legal teams and media overflow. Court 4, where Ms Patterson’s trial is being held, sports a modern design, with tan wooden and off-white fabric panelling. Justice Christopher Beale, the trial judge, sits at a raised bench at the front of the room under the Victorian coat of arms which bears the state’s motto; “Peace and Prosperity”. At the rear of the court, Ms Patterson sits flanked by two guards in grey uniforms – for much of the trial she has watched on intently, but, on Wednesday, as crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers delivered her opening address, the accused woman could be seen crying. Around a large wooden bench in the centre sits the legal teams, often four on the prosecution side closest to the jury and four on the defence side closest to the witness box. There are around 40 seats in the public gallery, several have been reserved for family and friends and six have been assigned for members of the media. Weekly, court staff are holding a ballot for the few assigned seats – each organisation will receive at least one day in the courtroom per week. Down the hall, an overflow room for journalists has been set up with a live feed of the courtroom for the dozens who do not have a seat. As 15 jurors were selected to hear the case from a pool of about 120 at the start of the week, the trial judge acknowledged many of them would already know some of the details. He urged anyone present that had already made judgments about Ms Patterson, or felt they could not bring an open mind, to ask to be excused. “Being realistic, I expect that most of you, if not all of you, will have some prior information about this case because of the intense and prolonged media interest in it,” he said. “This case is likely to continue to attract a high level of media attention. Indeed, the level of media attention is likely to escalate. “The jurors selected should, as far as possible, ignore the ongoing media coverage.” Indeed this is why, when the trial comes to an end in a month-or-so’s time, the 12 Victorians that will be asked to deliberate Ms Patterson’s guilt or innocence will be sequestered. While deliberating, they will not be permitted to return home, instead they will be bussed to a hotel at an undisclosed location overnight to return to court the next morning. The trial, expected to run for six weeks, continues.