In a gripping testimony that opened one of Australia’s most chilling murder trials, Simon Patterson revealed it was “very rare” for his estranged wife, Erin Patterson, to host family gatherings—raising unsettling questions about the intent behind a now-infamous lunch that ended in tragedy.
Simon, who was invited to the July 2023 meal but declined at the last minute, described his deep unease about attending. “I felt too uncomfortable,” he told the court. The lunch, which Erin had described as important and emotional in her text messages, would later prove fatal for three of the four guests who consumed her beef wellington: her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and family friend Heather Wilkinson, 66. Only Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor, survived after weeks in intensive care.
Ms. Patterson, 50, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one of attempted murder. Her defence claims the poisonings were a tragic accident—an unintentional consequence of cooking with deadly death cap mushrooms.
The trial, taking place in Morwell, Victoria, is spotlighting Erin Patterson’s alleged motive, preparation, and behaviour in the aftermath. Prosecutors argue she deliberately served the toxic dish under the false pretence of having cancer, and later took steps to conceal her actions, including disposing of a food dehydrator believed to have been used in the meal’s preparation.
Simon Patterson’s testimony painted a picture of a fractured yet lingering connection. The couple, who met in 2002 and married in 2007, had separated in 2015 but remained in frequent contact. However, their relationship soured in 2022 following financial disagreements, including over child support and tax filings.
In a poignant moment, Simon recounted how Heather Wilkinson noted something unusual: Erin had served herself on a different, coloured plate—raising suspicion that she may have avoided consuming the poisoned food.
“She asked me, ‘Is Erin short of crockery? Is that why she used a different plate?’” he told the jury, his voice breaking.
The jury also heard that Erin had received a substantial inheritance estimated at AU$2 million from her grandmother—adding a potential financial motive. And chillingly, the prosecution presented evidence of her visiting areas known for death cap mushrooms before the lunch.As the trial unfolds, the question remains: Was it an innocent culinary mistake, or a meticulously planned act of murder masked as a rare family meal?
