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Erin Patterson pleads not guilty over alleged mushroom murders of
relatives
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* **In short:** Erin Patterson has formally pleaded not guilty to th
* Ms Patterson has also elected to have her case fast-tracked to a V
* **What's next?** The case was adjourned to a directions hearing i
Accused killer Erin Patterson has formally pleaded not guilty to
murder over the alleged mushroom poisonings of three of her relatives,
and has elected to have her case "fast-tracked" to a Victorian Supreme
Court trial.
Ms Patterson was charged with murder after the deaths of three guests
who ate a beef Wellington at her home in the Victorian town of
Leongatha, south-east of Melbourne, last year.
In the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court Tuesday morning, Ms Patterson
entered not guilty pleas to three counts of murder and five counts of
attempted murder.
Ms Patterson, who appeared from prison via video link, was asked by
Magistrate Tim Walsh to declare whether she was guilty or not guilty
to each of the charges.
"Not guilty your honour," she said.
At the end of the hearing, Magistrate Walsh said there was "an
extremely voluminous" brief of evidence that had been compiled by
police.
"It's not the sort of matter that can just be passed to another
barrister on a few weeks' notice," he said.
The case was adjourned to a directions hearing in the Supreme Court in
Melbourne on May 23.
## Decision to fast-track trial will cut down court wait time
Ms Patterson's decision is a shift in her legal strategy, after her
defence lawyers previously indicated they wanted a committal hearing
to take place in Morwell, which would not have taken place until 2025.
Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC did not indicate what had prompted
the change of position, but re-iterated that his client understood the
consequences of fast-tracking the case.
Erin Patterson was arrested late last year.(ABC News)
Ms Patterson's decision will save a significant amount of court time
because a committal hearing — where police evidence is formally tested
before a trial — will not take place.
The schedule of the upcoming jury trial will be determined by the
Supreme Court.
Once assigned to the court, it often takes between six and 18 months
before the trial takes place.
Upcoming directions hearings will likely determine the timetable for
the case. Before the trial, witness lists will be formalised and a
judge may be asked to rule on which pieces of evidence can be
presented to the jury.
Ian Wilkinson (left) survived, but his wife Heather and couple Don and
Gail Patterson died from suspected mushroom poisoning.(Supplied/ABC
News)
The case, which has garnered worldwide attention, centres on the lunch
attended by Ms Patterson's in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, along with
Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson and Heather's husband Ian Wilkinson.
The four fell gravely ill after attending the lunch, Mr Wilkinson the
only guest to survive what police allege was an alleged mushroom
poisoning carried out by Ms Patterson.
Ms Patterson protested her innocence, saying she never meant to harm
anyone and was "devastated" by the deaths of her relatives.
Homicide detectives also charged Ms Patterson with five counts of
attempted murder.
They allege Mr Wilkinson and Ms Patterson's estranged husband Simon,
who was not at the lunch, were intended targets.
Police also allege Ms Patterson attempted to murder Mr Patterson in
November 2021 at Korumburra, in May 2022 at Howqua and in September
2022 at Wilsons Promontory.
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