SYDNEY: An Australian girl accused of murdering three aged kin of her estranged husband using a meal laced with toxic mushrooms had no motive to kill them, her lawyer informed the courtroom on Tuesday (Jun 17) because the defence started its closing argument.
Erin Patterson is 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, in July 2023.
The prosecution accuses her of foraging for toxic dying cap mushrooms, drying them and knowingly serving the mushrooms in particular person parts of beef Wellington at her dwelling in Leongatha, a city of about 6,000 folks some 135km from Melbourne.
Patterson denies the costs, which carry a life sentence, together with her defence earlier calling the deaths a “horrible accident”.
On Tuesday, Patterson’s barrister Colin Mandy mentioned prosecution proof that the accused’s relationship together with her estranged husband Simon Patterson had soured after a disagreement over youngster assist lacked logic.
“No matter we’d name these spats and disagreements and frustrations, it would not present any sort of motive to homicide somebody’s dad and mom,” he informed the courtroom.
In truth, the accused had a great relationship with the Patterson household, he added, saying she had loaned Simon Patterson’s siblings lots of of hundreds of {dollars} to purchase property.
Earlier on Tuesday, barrister Nanette Rogers ended the prosecution’s closing argument by accusing Patterson of a calculated path of deception earlier than and after the lunch.
“Erin Patterson informed so many lies it is onerous to maintain up with them,” Rogers informed the courtroom.
“She’s informed lies upon lies as a result of she knew the reality would implicate her.”
After the defence concludes its closing assertion, presiding decide Justice Christopher Beale will give his directions to the jury earlier than it retires to contemplate a verdict.
The trial, which is now in its eighth week and has gripped Australia, is anticipated to conclude later this month.
