SYDNEY: An Australian girl was on Monday (Jul 7) convicted of murdering three aged family members of her estranged husband with a meal laced with toxic mushrooms, in a case that has gripped the nation.
Erin Patterson, 50, was charged with the murders of her mother-in-law, Gail Patterson, father-in-law, Donald Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, together with the tried homicide of Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband.
The 4 gathered at Erin Patterson’s dwelling in Leongatha, a city of about 6,000 folks, some 135km southeast of Melbourne, the place the mom of two served them a meal of particular person Beef Wellingtons accompanied by mashed potato and inexperienced beans, which have been later discovered to include demise cap mushrooms.
On Monday, the jury within the case discovered her responsible of all 4 fees, the court docket heard in Morwell, a city round two hours east of Melbourne the place the trial was being held.
Patterson, who had pleaded not responsible to all fees, saying the deaths have been unintended, shall be sentenced at a later date.
The ten-week trial attracted enormous world curiosity, with native and worldwide media descending on Courtroom 4 on the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Courtroom in Morwell, the closest court docket to Patterson’s dwelling, the place she had requested to be tried, regardless of being warned of prolonged delays.
State broadcaster ABC’s day by day podcast on proceedings was constantly among the many hottest in Australia in the course of the trial, whereas a number of documentaries on the case are already in manufacturing.
