Mushroom cook Erin Patterson had a reputation as a “super sleuth” among true crime fans on social media in the years before she was accused of triple murder, a jury has been told.
Patterson, 50, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one of attempted murder over serving a poisonous beef Wellington lunch in July 2023.
She will face day six of a Supreme Court murder trial at the Latrobe Valley court in Morwell today.
Patterson is accused of killing her parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson.
She is also accused of trying to kill Heather’s husband Ian Wilkinson, the only surviving lunch guest.
Three members of a true crime Facebook group Patterson was part of gave evidence to the jury of 15 people yesterday about their interactions with her in the years before the lunch.
The group was created to discuss the case of convicted baby killer Keli Lane, but also discussed other cases, politics and to share personal stories.
Christine Hunt, who said she met Patterson online about six years ago, was asked about the accused triple murderer’s reputation in the group.
“She was well known to be able to research and get information quickly from the internet,” she told the jury.
“So she was a bit of a super sleuth in that group.”
Hunt, who gave evidence via video link, said she had four or five phone conversations with Patterson over the years, but they had never met in person.
She said they had discussed Patterson’s relationship with her estranged husband Simon and difficulties with his family.
“She’d used the word ‘coercive’ at times and also that his family were very demanding and that she was really challenged by their demands,” Hunt said.
The trial before Justice Christopher Beale continues.
