Pastor Ian Wilkinson shares his firsthand account of the deadly mushroom lunch at Erin Patterson's home that claimed the lives of his wife and two others, while he miraculously survived.

Inntjis transcript from the Erin Patterson murder trial:

• Long-time pastor of Korumburra Baptist Church for 26 years
• Describes his relationship with Erin Patterson as "friendly, amicable" but more like acquaintances
• Received an unexpected lunch invitation from Erin through his wife Heather
• Initially thought they were the only ones invited but learned Gail and Don Patterson were also coming
• Simon (Erin Patterson’s estranged husband) was invited but didn't attend
• Noticed Erin's reluctance when Heather and Gail wanted to see her pantry
• Observed Erin rejecting offers of help while plating the food herself
• Details how Erin used a different coloured plate (orangey-tan) while guests ate from matching grey plates
• Describes the beef wellington as "like a pasty" containing steak and mushrooms
• Confirms everyone had the same food items on their plates, though couldn't recall how much Erin ate

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📝 Show Notes — The Mushroom Murder Trial Podcast
Episode: Week Nine – Jury Locked In, Phones Missing, and the Dehydrator Dumped
Host: Lisa

This week we reach a critical juncture in the Erin Patterson trial, now into its ninth week inside the Supreme Court in Morwell, Victoria.

🔍 In this episode:

• Justice Christopher Beale continues his final instructions to the jury.
• The jury is now sequestered, an unusual move in Australia — signalling just how high-profile this case is.
• A key prosecution claim about leftovers fed to Erin’s children is thrown out by the judge, who warns the jury not to speculate without expert evidence.
• The court revisits the now-infamous dehydrator — allegedly used in a blind mushroom taste test, later dumped by Erin before a child protection visit. Was it panic? Or part of a cover-up?
• Erin’s digital trail is under scrutiny, with allegations she used multiple phones, factory reset one four times, and never handed over her “main” device. But the defence says there’s no proof she expected a search.
• The judge warns the jury about the complexity of the prosecution’s case, urging them not to overlook the simple explanations.

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🎁 Want a free mushroom sticker?
Use the Contact Us tab on the website and I’ll send one as a thank you.

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📱 Follow me on social media — links in the show notes.

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Until next time — stay tuned.

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Justice Christopher Beale has delivered his initial phase of instructions to the jury in the Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial, emphasising they alone must determine if the prosecution has proven her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The case centres on whether Ms Patterson deliberately laced a beef wellington with death cap mushrooms, killing her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, while severely poisoning Heather's husband Ian.

• Trial now in its ninth week with intense media scrutiny
• Ms Patterson pled not guilty to all charges and testified for eight days
• Justice Beale warned jurors to base verdict solely on evidence presented
• Key issue is whether Ms Patterson bears criminal responsibility, not whether the meal caused deaths
• Jury expected to retire later this week to deliberate
• Case has attracted "unprecedented media attention" according to Justice Beale

For more information, visit mushroommurdertrialcom and subscribe to our newsletter for updates. Message via the website's Contact Us tab to receive your free mushroom sticker, and consider supporting through the Buy Me A Coffee membership for exclusive content.

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