Erin Patterson, a 50-year-old woman, is currently on trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria, facing charges of triple murder and attempted murder resulting from a deadly lunch in July 2023. She has pleaded not guilty to the accusations involving the deaths of her former in-laws, 70-year-old Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Gail's 66-year-old sister, Heather Wilkinson.

Patterson also denies the attempted murder of the only survivor, Ian Wilkinson, Heather’s husband.

The trial, now in its sixth week, has drawn considerable public interest, with spectators lining up early each day to secure seats in the courtroom in Morwell, Victoria.

Throughout her testimony from the witness stand, Patterson expressed feelings of embarrassment and remorse about her past behaviors, including frequent lies.

Patterson's testimony revealed her struggles with low self-esteem and body image, which she linked to her decision-making leading up to the tragic lunch.

She admitted to lying to her guests about her health issues, which included a plan for gastric bypass surgery.

"I thought perhaps letting them believe I had some serious issue that needed treatment might mean they'd be able to help me with the logistics around the kids," she told the jury.

The luncheon in question involved discussions about Patterson’s previous health concerns, particularly a scare regarding ovarian cancer.

Under questioning, she acknowledged having misled her guests about her condition, saying, "I shouldn't have lied to them."

During the trial, both the Crown and defense attorneys explored Patterson's interactions with her family and friends before the lunch, including a dispute with her estranged husband, Simon Patterson.

She spoke of sending Facebook messages that expressed frustration with her in-laws, which she described as venting rather than conveying her true feelings.

Patterson provided insight into her strained family dynamics, indicating that her apology to her in-laws was meant to address her inappropriate messages and the ensuing family disputes.

She stated, "It wasn't Don and Gail's fault.

It wasn't the family's fault.

It wasn't even entirely Simon's fault.

I played a part in the issue too."

Patterson's behavior following the luncheon emerged as key parts of the prosecution's narrative, particularly her initial denials during police interrogations about food preparation methods and her foraging practices for mushrooms.

She later admitted to lying about owning a dehydrator and her experience with foraging.

In the courtroom, Crown prosecutor Nanette Rogers pressed Patterson regarding her factual inconsistencies, while defense barrister Colin Mandy focused on contextualizing Patterson's actions and reactions post-incident.

Patterson recounted a sense of panic and fear leading to her decision to mislead authorities when she learned about the deaths.

As the trial progresses, the testimonies, including Patterson’s candid admissions, contribute to the ongoing legal examination of the events surrounding the fatal lunch and the tragic aftermath.