Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial LIVE updates: Deadly lunch survivor’s shock move as court is told guests’ verdict on how the fateful meal REALLY tasted

Korumburra Baptist Church treasurer Angela Child issued a statement which was read to the jury.

Ms Child said she had a meeting with Ian Wilkinson just hours after the fateful lunch.

She waited at their home for Ian and his wife Heather to arrive home.

When they arrived, Heather told Ms Child they ‘had a lovely lunch’.

‘Delicious and beautiful,’ the jury was told.

‘She continued to rave about the meal,’ Ms Child said.

Ms Child added that neither looked sick.

Church secretary Jennifer McPhee attended the same meeting and confirmed they spoke of the ‘delicious meal’.

‘She playfully teased Ian about how much he had eaten,’ Ms McPhee said in her statement to the court.

Survivor of the fatal mushroom lunch Ian Wilkinson has returned to court and is sitting just metres from the woman accused of murdering his wife, Heather.

Mr Wilkinson yesterday gave evidence in the trial of Erin Patterson (pictured below), who is also accused of attempting to murder the Korumburra Baptist Church pastor.

The only guest to survive the lunch was excused yesterday by the court after his lengthy and emotional evidence concluded – but he has returned to hear today’s session.

The jury heard evidence from toxicology specialist Dr Mark Douglas, who suspected Don and Gail Patterson were suffering from death cap mushroom poisoning but did not have enough medical evidence to administer the antidote for the lethal fungi.

Dr Douglas, who was the toxicology registrar at Dandenong Hospital when Don and Gail attended, was told the patients had consumed a potentially deadly meal about midday on July 29, 2023.

‘That was the question was being put forward, could these symptoms be related to the meal,’ Dr Douglas said.

He was also informed that Ian and Heather Wilkinson had presented at Leongatha Hospital with similar symptons and eaten the same meal prepared by Erin Patterson, who today appeared in court wearing a pink shirt.

Dr Douglas was also informed that Gail ate about a third of the meal, however she and Don were transported to the Austin Health ICU.

The jury heard Gail had been told her sister and Ian were being wheeled into hospital as well.

Dr Douglas told the jury that Mr Wilkinson was alert and talking on arrival at Dandenong Hospital, but he was extremely nauseated and carrying a vomit bag.

‘He was constantly vomiting,’ he said.

The jury heard Heather had also eaten the whole portion.

‘She said it was delicious,’ Dr Douglas said.

The jury in the trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of three counts of murder and one of attempted murder after serving a deadly mushroom-laden beef Wellington lunch, has heard how her guests died in agony.

The deceased lunch guests are Erin’s former parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson.

Pastor Ian Wilkinson (pictured below), who gave evidence yesterday that he prayed for Erin after she told her lunch guests she had cancer, also consumed the toxic meal but survived after spending several agonising weeks in intensive care.

Yesterday, Monash Health junior doctor Beth Morgan told the jury she reviewed initial examinations taken when Don and Gail first arrived at Dandenong Hospital about 7.30pm on July 31.

She said Don had signs of metabolic acidosis – a condition which makes the blood more acidic, as explained to the jury.

Dr Morgan also said Don was losing iron through his unabated vomiting and diarrhea.

She told the jury Don was severely dehydrated, had abnormal electrolyte readings and there was ‘significant kidney damage at this stage’.

The court heard Don had four liver function tests after arriving at the hospital and each one was abnormal.

Other medical witnesses told the court that Don and Gail had suffered vomiting and diarrhea up until their deaths.

Earlier yesterday, lead defence barrister Colin Mandy SC attempted to raise doubt over a key piece of evidence that his client ate from smaller plate than her guests.

The jury had earlier heard evidence that Erin Patterson ate from a small ‘orangy-tan’ plate while her guests ate from four larger grey plates.