Woman accused of poisoning ex-husband’s family with death cap mushrooms appears in Australian court

Courtroom sketch of Erin Patterson in Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court, Victoria, Australia. Sketch: Anita Lester

Alan Martin

A woman accused of serving her ex-husband’s parents and an aunt poisonous mushrooms with lunch appeared in an Australian court yesterday charged with three counts of murder and five of attempted murder.

Erin Patterson (49) appeared briefly in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court by video link from a Melbourne prison where she has been held since she was arrested last November.