New Evidence Suggests Erin Patterson Previously Poisoned Estranged Husband

Recently unsealed court documents have revealed that Erin Patterson's estranged husband, Simon Patterson, suspected her of poisoning him on multiple occasions before the fatal incident involving her in-laws. Erin Patterson, 50, was convicted last month of murdering her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, by serving them a beef Wellington meal laced with death cap mushrooms at her home in Leongatha, Victoria, in July 2023.

Simon Patterson testified in a pre-trial hearing that he declined the lunch invitation due to concerns about being poisoned. He recounted experiencing severe illnesses after consuming meals prepared by Erin, including penne bolognese, chicken korma curry, and a vegetable wrap, between November 2021 and September 2022. These incidents led to hospitalizations, with one episode resulting in a coma and surgical removal of part of his bowel. Medical professionals were unable to determine the exact cause of his illnesses.

Initially, Erin Patterson faced additional charges of attempting to murder Simon during these incidents. However, prosecutors dropped these charges before her trial commenced in April 2025. The jury was not informed of these allegations during the trial. Justice Christopher Beale recently lifted a gag order, allowing this information to be made public.

Erin Patterson is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on August 25, 2025, where she faces potential life sentences for each of the three murder convictions and up to 25 years for the attempted murder conviction. Her legal team has indicated plans to appeal the convictions.