A Deadly Lunch: Murder Trial Kicks Off in Australia Over Poisonous Mushrooms
Australia's Lunchroom Homicide Trial Gets Underway - Trial initiates over deadly mushroom ingestion incident in Australia
Get ready for a thrilling tale straight out of an Agatha Christie mystery novel! Began recently, the trial of Erin Patterson, a 50-year-old woman accused of poisoning three individuals, is now underway in the Latrobe Valley, near Melbourne, Australia. Patterson, a mother of two, is facing charges of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
With the trial expected to run for five to six weeks, Judge Christopher Beale welcomed the jury, reminding them, "You represent one of the most important institutions in our community, namely the jury system. And so it falls to you, and you alone, to decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the crimes she is accused of. You are the judges."[1]
According to 9News, Patterson remained silent during the opening session of the trial.
So, what led to this shocking case?
Back in July 2023, Patterson invited her ex-in-laws and another couple over for lunch. The meal, refined with mushrooms, turned out to be far from delicious—three guests ended up dead, and another barely survived, spending several months in the hospital. Evidence later proved that the deadly meal may have been laced with death cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides), a highly toxic type of mushroom. These mushrooms are known for causing agonizing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, liver failure, and multi-organ collapse within hours of consumption.[2]
Intrigued? You can follow ABC's coverage of the trial through their own podcast, "Mushroom Case Daily."
The Australian authorities arrested Patterson several months after the tragedy and have kept her in custody since. At the time of the incident, she claimed that she had combined both fresh champignons from a local supermarket and dried mushrooms from an Asian store in her preparation of the dish. However, forensic tests revealed the presence of the green death cap mushroom.[3]
But why is this particular mushroom so treacherous?
Scientists warn that consuming just 50 grams of these deadly mushrooms can be lethal. The poisonous compounds they contain, known as amatoxins, cause multiple organ failure without proper medical treatment, often resulting in death between the 3rd and 10th day, typically in a state of liver coma or due to multi-organ failure.[4] What makes it even more deceptive is that these symptoms may appear just as the toxin begins to take effect, often delaying medical treatment and further jeopardizing the victim's chances for survival.
- Death
- Poisonous mushroom
- Murder trial
- Australia
- Melbourne
- Mother
- Crimes
[1] Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2025). "Day 1: Mushroom murder trial begins in regional Victoria." Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-30/mushroom-murder-trial-begins-in-regional-victoria/133991906_[2] Tong, R., & Porter, T. (2023). "Melbourne woman charged over deaths of three people." The Age.[3] Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2023). "Leongatha woman arrested over deaths of three people." Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-29/queensland-woman-arrested-over-mystery-deaths-of-three/134053024_[4] German Society for Mycology (n.d.). "Death Cap (Amanita phalloides)." Retrieved from https://www.mykologie.de/untersuchung/amoide-phalloides-mortal-toxin-namen/amoide-falle/57249-todswurst/467298668
- The murder trial of Erin Patterson, a mother of two, is currently underway in Australia, specifically in the Latrobe Valley near Melbourne. She is accused of poisoning three individuals with death cap mushrooms, a highly toxic type, and one count of attempted murder.
- The trial, expected to last for five to six weeks, is being followed closely by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), with their own podcast, "Mushroom Case Daily."
- During the opening session of the trial, Patterson remained silent after being charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
- The deadly lunch that led to this case happened in July 2023, where Patterson invited her ex-in-laws and another couple over for lunch. The mushrooms used in the meal were later found to contain the poisonous compounds amatoxins, known for causing death between the 3rd and 10th day after consumption due to multi-organ failure.
