Convicted murderer Erin Patterson allegedly tried several times to poison her estranged husband, a court has heard.
Patterson, 50, was found guilty last month of killing three relatives and attempting to kill another with a toxic mushroom-laced beef Wellington in July 2023. Her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, died. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived after weeks in hospital.
Newly released court details show Patterson was once accused of trying to kill her husband, Simon Patterson, years before the fatal lunch. He claimed she served him tainted pasta, cookies, curry, and other meals, causing severe illness on multiple occasions. In one case, he spent weeks in a coma and had part of his bowel removed.
The charges related to these earlier incidents were dropped before trial, and Patterson denied the allegations. Investigators never confirmed exactly what she may have used, but suspected rat poison in at least one incident.
Simon Patterson told the court he stopped eating food his wife prepared and warned some family members. The day before the fatal mushroom lunch, he pulled out of attending.
Patterson will be sentenced on 25 August, when victims’ families can give impact statements.
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