Erin Patterson trial live: Ian Wilkinson, only surviving guest of lethal mushroom lunch, gives evidence on day six

Key events

The next witness is Ian Wilkinson, who survived the mushroom lunch served by Erin on 29 July 2023.

The family members of Erin and her estranged husband Simon Patterson. Illustration: Guardian Design

Court shown receipt for dehydrator that Erin Patterson bought

The prosecution has called Darren Fox, the owner and manager of an appliances store in Leongatha.

He says in November 2023 an employee told him she believed she had sold Erin Patterson, who lives in Leongatha, a food dehydrator.

Fox says store records showed Erin had purchased a Sunbeam food lab electronic dehydrator.

The court is shown a tax invoice which says “deliver to” Erin, dated 28 April 2023.

The jurors have entered the courtroom.

The next witness in the Erin Patterson murder trial will be called shortly.

Our reporter Nino Bucci was in court yesterday in Morwell, where the supreme court is sitting for the trial. Here is his report:

The Leongatha home where Erin Patterson hosted the fateful mushroom lunch. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

Recap: testimony from day five

As we wait for the trial to start today, here’s a recap of four things jurors heard on Monday:

Erin’s estranged husband, Simon, denied asking her “is that what you used to poison them?” in the days immediately after the lethal mushroom lunch. It was alleged he was referring to the food dehydrator, the court heard, although it was not clarified who “them” referred to.
The court was shown a Facebook message Erin wrote in 2023 before the lunch, according to her online friend Daniela Barkley. It read: “I’ve been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything. Mixed into chocolate brownies yesterday, the kids had no idea.”
A Facebook friend of Erin recalled her describing her estranged husband, Simon, as “coercive” and her in-laws as “demanding”. The three Facebook friends who gave evidence did not meet her in person but communicated in online true crime groups, online chats and phone calls.
The same witness, Christine Hunt, said Erin was “well regarded” in the Facebook group and known as a good researcher, describing her as a “super sleuth.”

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