Overview

• Erin Patterson wrapped up eight days of testimony in the Supreme Court of Victoria, denying she intentionally included death cap mushrooms in the July 2023 beef wellington lunch.
• She acknowledged lying to police about foraging and to guests about her health, including a false claim of ovarian cancer testing, raising questions about her credibility.
• Patterson detailed sourcing button and dried mushrooms from stores but conceded she may have inadvertently included wild varieties preserved in her pantry.
• Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC repeatedly suggested Patterson deliberately sourced and served toxic fungi with intent to kill, a claim she unequivocally rejected.
• The trial now pauses its evidence phase and will resume Monday with the prosecution’s closing address followed by the defence before the jury begins deliberations.