ERIN Patterson fronted the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court in Morwell this morning (Friday, November 3) at around 10.15am.
The 49-year-old Leongatha woman was arrested yesterday morning (Thursday, November 2), charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. The three murder charges and two of the five attempted murder charges relate to a fatal mushroom lunch in Korumburra on July 29 2023, which resulted in four people falling ill. Three of those four later died, while the other survived after spending two months in the Intensive Care Unit. The three other attempted murder charges are believed to relate to three separate poisonings between 2021 and 2022, the Herald Sun reported. Upon her arrest, Ms Patterson was taken to Wonthaggi Police Station for questioning after police searched her Leongatha home, where the family lunch was served. Following her filing hearing at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court, Patterson was remanded in custody to front the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court again on May 3, 2024. The 20-week adjournment was asked by Prosecutor Acting Sergeant Greg Ellis, who wanted more time to analyse evidence that was seized the day before, to which Patterson’s lawyer Bill Doogue agreed. Both the defence and prosecution wanted to move the case to Melbourne, but Magistrate Tim Walsh denied the attempt to keep the next hearing in Morwell. Nine News reported that Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Homicide Squad said that charges were the “next step” in the investigation. Patterson has previously denied all accusations of wrongdoing.
