THE mystery surrounding Australia’s mushroom poisoning case has deepened as Erin Patterson has been hit with five counts of attempted murder.
The 48-year-old faces three counts of murder and police allege she tried to kill her ex-husband four times, although it is not clear who the fifth charge refers to.
ABC News: Anita LesterErin Patterson appeared in court on Friday charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder after the deadly lunch[/caption]
Four of the five counts of attempted murder are believed to relate to her ex-husband Simon Patterson, who fell ill three times after meals in 2021 and 2022
Erin was arrested and charged after cops raided her home on WednesdayReuters
But on Friday the mum-of-two “trembled” as she appeared in court and was charged with five total counts of attempted murder following the deadly lunch on July 29 this year.
Four of those counts relate to a 48-year-old Korumburra man – believed to be Erin’s ex-husband Simon Patterson.
It is not explicitly clear who the fifth charge relates to, although it is possible it may be connected to the invitation her ex-husband received to go to the deadly lunch.
He is said to have become ill on three occasions following meals in 2021 and 2022, seeing him placed into an induced coma and in ICU for 21 days.
Simon was also supposed to go to a fateful family lunch in July this year but sources claimed he pulled out at the last minute.
Given the complicated nature of the case, and the fact that he wasn’t there for the meal, a mysterious gap has been left in the prosecution’s case as they bring forward the fifth charge.
His parents, aunt and uncle still went to Erin’s house where she served up a beef Wellington that allegedly contained death cap mushrooms.
Gail and Don, both 70, later lost their lives in hospital along with Gail’s sister Heather, 66.
Erin’s fourth alleged victim, Ian, miraculously survived but was left critically ill and spent two months in a hospital.
Doctors have claimed all four of their symptoms were consistent with poisoning by death cap mushrooms, which grow wild in the Leongatha area.
The alleged killer was then arrested and charged on Wednesday after cops raided her home in East Victoria, Australia.
Police took several items from the home using trained dogs but didn’t say what they had.
Patterson appeared dishevelled with messy hair wearing a grey jumper as she appeared in court on Wednesday.
She showed no emotion throughout the hearing other than a tremble in her jaw as she took her seat.
The only words she spoke were a quiet “good morning” in response to Magistrate Tim Walsh’s greeting.
Prosecutors requested a 20-week delay before Patterson next appears, saying they needed more time to “analyse some computer equipment seized” in their raid on her home.
Patterson’s lawyer Ben Doogue hinted the case could “well go on for a very long time”.
Magistrate Walsh told Patterson he was not able to grant her bail and the defendant nodded repeatedly.
She was remanded into custody and will return to court in May.
Detective Inspector Dean Thomas said on Friday: “Today’s charges are just the next step in what has been an incredibly complex, methodical and thorough investigation by homicide squad detectives.”
He added that the investigation “is not over yet”.
“I know that people will no doubt have many unanswered questions about this matter, however I urge people to be especially mindful of unnecessary speculation and not sharing misinformation,” he continued.
Patterson has always furiously denied any wrongdoing.
She previously told The Australian: “I lost my parents-in-law, my children lost their grandparents.
“And I’ve been painted as an evil witch. And the media is making it impossible for me to live in this town. I can’t have friends over.”
Supplied/shared by familyDon and Gail Patterson died after the deadly lunch on July 29[/caption]
APCops searching Erin Patterson’s home on Wednesday[/caption]
7NewsThe moment the accused killer was led into custody this week[/caption]
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