Triple murder trial of Erin Patterson begins over deadly mushroom lunch that allegedly killed three of her family members

Jurors in the trial of alleged triple-murderer Erin Patterson have been told three separate charges alleging she had attempted to kill her husband were dropped by prosecutors.Patterson is facing trial accused of murdering three of her in-laws and attempting to murder one more following an allegedly fatal Beef Wellington lunch she served and hosted almost two years ago.She has pleaded not guilty and maintains her innocence.Delivering his instructions to the jury, Justice Christopher Beale said three additional charges of attempted murder, which are not related to the lunch, had been dropped.Justice Beale said the withdrawn charges had related to alleged attempts on Patterson’s husband Simon Patterson’s life.“You may be aware the accused was charged with three counts of attempted murder in relation to Simon Patterson, those charges have been discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions,” he said.“In other words those charges have been dropped and you must put them out of your mind.”His comments came as the judge was instructing the jury that they would decide the case solely on the evidence adduced in the trial and not on anything they may have seen or heard outside the courtroom about the allegations.Justice Beale said they must ignore anything seen in the media or on social media about the case.“Don’t risk your opinion as judges of the facts from being contaminated, you must base your decisions based only on the evidence in this court,” he said.Simon Patterson’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, 66, fell ill and died after attending the lunch at Patterson’s Leongatha home.Wilkinson’s husband, Korumburra Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, also fell ill but survived following a stint in hospital.Prosecutors will allege Simon Patterson’s parents and aunt and uncle consumed deadly death cap mushrooms in a Beef Wellington lunch prepared by Patterson.In his opening address to the jury, Justi...