Erin Patterson trial: Update on trial progress as alleged poisoner poised to return to witness box

[Pelican Press 0]

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Erin Patterson trial: Update on trial progress as alleged poisoner poised to return to witness box

The Supreme Court judge overseeing Erin Patterson’s triple-******* trial has given jurors an update on what to expect in the coming weeks.

Addressing the 14-person panel about midday on Thursday, Justice Christopher Beale told jurors the trial length had “probably been on your minds”.

Justice Beale said at the start of Ms Patterson’s trial six weeks ago he’d given jurors an estimate of six weeks and, while he would not provide an updated time frame, he would summarise “how things will play out from here on”.

“It’s likely that Ms Patterson will be in the witness box for the rest of the week and probably into early next week,” he said.

“After she has completed giving evidence, it will be necessary, or the law requires it for me to have some legal discussions with the parties.

“And those discussions could take a couple of days.”

Justice Beale said this could see out the hearings next week, which will be a day short due to the King’s Birthday public holiday in Victoria.

Camera IconErin Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of ******* and one count of attempted *******. Supplied. Credit: Supplied

Justice Beale said the discussion would include whether there is to be any more evidence in the case and what directions of the law would be necessary for him to give at the end of the trial.

After all evidence had been adduced, the judge said the prosecution and defence would deliver their closing addresses which could take a couple of days.

“And then my final directions to you, which involves three parts: giving you directions about legal principles that apply in this case, which takes quite a bit of time; identifying for you the key issues in the case and summarising for you the evidence and arguments in relation to those issues; that also takes a fair time,” Justice Beale said.

“So I haven’t put a figure on it, but I have tried to put you in the picture as to how this is going to play out and it may be necessary for you to make some arrangements.”

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Following this, Justice Beale said the jurors would be given “all the time you need” to decide the facts of the case.

Ms Patterson is facing trial after pleading not guilty to the ******* of her husband’s parents and aunt, and the attempted ******* of his uncle.

Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, died in hospital in the week after eating a beef wellington lunch at Ms Patterson’s home on July 29, 2023.

Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, survived after spending about a month and a half in hospital.

Prosecutors allege the accused woman deliberately spiked the lunch with death cap mushrooms.

Her defence accepts there were death cap mushrooms in the meal but argues she did not intentionally poison anyone and the case is a “tragic accident”.

The trial continues.

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