Australian woman allegedly poisoned ex-husband three times
An Australian woman is said to have tried to kill her ex-husband three times. 49-year-old Erin Patterson was arrested because three of her guests died after a meal together and one barely survived. Court documents have now revealed that the woman is also accused of four attempted murders of her former partner. The man was also expected to attend the fatal meal, but declined the invitation.
According to consistent media reports, police say Patterson first attempted to murder her ex-husband with a dish in November 2021. Further attacks are said to have taken place in May and September 2022. Police said it was possible that the victim had fallen ill after the meals.
Several Australian media outlets reported on social media posts by Patterson's former partner in which he talked about an intestinal illness in May 2022, for which he had been placed in an induced coma for 16 days. Newspapers such as the New Zealand Herald quote a post by the man in which he wrote: "My family were asked twice to say goodbye to me as I was not expected to survive."
Forensic investigation: "death cap" in the pie
The fourth attempted murder of her ex-partner, of which Patterson is accused, is the invitation to the mushroom dinner with fatal consequences. The man himself did not show up, but his 70-year-old parents and his aunt and her husband did. Only Patterson herself and her ex-husband's uncle survived the Beef Wellington served by Patterson. The parents and aunt died in hospital, the 68-year-old uncle barely survived and suffered serious health problems.
According to forensic investigations, the beef pâté was poisoned by the notorious green button mushroom (Amanita phalloides). It is also known as "death cap". Patterson tearfully told reporters outside her home at the time that she was devastated. She had loved these people and had no reason to hurt them.
The case had generated a huge amount of media coverage. On Thursday, an investigator told the British Guardian that this had made the investigation even more difficult: "Over the last three months, this investigation has been subject to incredibly intense public scrutiny and curiosity. I can't remember any other investigation that has attracted such media and public interest."
The trial is due to continue in May 2024. The police had previously asked for more time to examine the digital evidence seized from Patterson's home.
Following the fatal mushroom dinner, international concern about the case grew, as the deadly mushroom species used, the "death cap" (Amanita phalloides), is known to be widespread in Europe and Australia. Despite her claims of innocence, Erin Patterson's ex-husband expressed fears about potential future attempts at murder or manslaughter, given their turbulent past.
Source: www.ntv.de
