An Australian jury has retired to deliberate the fate of Erin Patterson, accused of murdering three relatives with a mushroom-laced meal, as prosecutors allege deliberate poisoning and deception while the defence claims it was a tragic accident.

In Australia, the jury in the high-profile murder trial of Erin Patterson has retired to deliberate, following weeks of gripping and emotional testimony in a case that has captivated the nation.

The 50-year-old accused has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, following a fatal lunch held at her home in the rural town of Leongatha, Victoria, in July 2023. Prosecutors allege Patterson knowingly served a beef Wellington dish laced with death cap mushrooms—one of the most poisonous fungi in the world—resulting in the deaths of her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, both aged 70, and family friend Heather Wilkinson, 66. Heather’s husband, Ian Wilkinson, a local pastor, survived after spending weeks in a medically induced coma.

The prosecution contends that Patterson lied multiple times to both police and her relatives to conceal her actions, accusing her of fabricating stories, disposing of key evidence including a food dehydrator, and misleading investigators about her knowledge of wild mushrooms. Prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC argued that Patterson “told so many lies it’s hard to keep track,” suggesting her falsehoods were part of a calculated effort to evade responsibility.

However, the defence maintains that the tragedy was the result of a terrible and unintended mistake. They argue that Patterson had no motive to harm her guests—whom she claimed to love—and simply used mushrooms from a container in her pantry that may have contained both store-bought and foraged varieties. She also admitted to vomiting after the meal, which her legal team argues could explain why she did not fall as ill as the others.

Patterson further claimed she lied about having cancer to hide plans for weight-loss surgery and did not initially tell authorities about any mushroom foraging out of fear that she would be blamed.

Justice Christopher Beale delivered final instructions to the jury on Monday, reminding them they must base their verdict solely on the evidence presented and not be swayed by emotion or sympathy. He cautioned that lying alone is not sufficient to convict someone of murder, as people may behave suspiciously for a variety of reasons.

After nearly two months of courtroom proceedings and testimony from more than 50 witnesses, a final jury of 12 members was selected by ballot before being sequestered. The panel will now remain in supervised accommodation, isolated from outside contact, until a unanimous or majority verdict is reached.

The case has drawn widespread public interest due to its unusual circumstances, tragic outcomes, and questions about food safety, trust, and motive. A verdict could come within days or stretch on depending on the jury’s deliberation.