Accused triple-murderer Erin Patterson has been cleared of three allegations of attempted murder against her estranged husband Simon.
Dressed in a pink-striped shirt and surrounded on either side by two burly guards, Patterson faced a jury of 10 men and five women for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.
It can be now be revealed prosecutors last week dumped the three charges related to alleged attempts on her husband’s life.
Word of the development was announced in the Supreme Court of Victoria sitting in Morwell, 155km east of Melbourne, on Monday.
The news was revealed to the jury by Justice Christopher Beale on Tuesday after the members were selected by Patterson to sit on the trial.
Patterson’s former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, died from suspected mushroom poisoning after eating a beef Wellington dish cooked by Patterson at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023.
Pastor Ian Wilkinson was the only one to survive the deadly lunch, with an attempted murder charge related to his alleged poisoning remaining.
The jury heard Simon Patterson had also been invited to the deadly lunch, but did not attend.
Erin Patterson leaves the Supreme Court of Melbourne during an earlier court appearance in April
Erin Patterson had been accused of the attempted murder of her ex-husband Simon Patterson (pictured)
A court sketch of Erin Patterson in the Supreme Court of Victoria, sitting in Morwell, 155km east of Melbourne on Tuesday
‘The accused served individual beef Wellingtons to her lunch guests. Three of whom subsequently died from death cap poisoning,’ Justice Beale said.
Patterson pleaded not guilty in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court in May 2024 to three counts of murder and the attempted murder.
On Tuesday, Justice Beale began his opening address to the jury, which had been meticulously selected from a jury pool of 120 people.
While 15 jurors will take part in the full trial, which is expected to take anywhere up to six weeks, only 12 will decide Patterson’s fate.
A ballot will be held before the jury retires to consider its verdict, with three to be ejected without any input.
The additional jurors are selected as a back-up should any juror fall ill or need to be discharged during the lengthy trial process.
The opening address to jurors outlining the police allegations against Patterson in full is expected to begin on Wednesday.
For now, jurors were taken largely through the logistics of attending court, how the hearing will likely proceed and how they can apply evidence to come to a verdict.
Erin Patterson’s legal team walked into the Supreme Court of Victoria in Morwell on Monday
Crown prosecutor Dr Nanette Rogers arrives at court in Morwell on Monday
The Latrobe Valley courthouse where Erin Patterson’s fate will be decided
‘You must consider the evidence using your head, not your heart,’ Justice Beale told them.
As the trial gets underway, more than 50 reporters from across the globe have descended on the small town of Morwell, about 60km from Patterson’s home town in Leongatha, in Victoria’s Gippsland region.
Almost all available accommodation within 13km of Morwell – as far away as Traralgon – has now been snapped up by media organisations covering the trial.
True crime podcasters and documentary crews have also converged on Morwell, which is located among lush green fields and has a population of under 15,000.
Patterson has a team of lawyers defending her in the trial, spearheaded by top silk Colin Mandy, SC.
The prosecution will be led by Dr Nanette Rogers – a barrister who has spent her life in criminal law.
Morwell is known for its role as a major energy production centre for Victoria, as the centre of a major coal mining and fossil-fuel power generation industry.
Daily Mail Australia and a team of journalists will be on the ground in Morwell covering every minute of the case, with stories to appear daily online.
A podcast spearheaded by a top team of international Daily Mail journalists will accompany Daily Mail Australia’s coverage.
Daily Mail Australia will be running a podcast covering all the details throughout the trial
Heather and Ian Wilkinson in happier times. Mr Wilkinson survived the deadly lunch
Don and Gail Patterson both died after the lunch
