Mushroom murder-accused cook Erin Patterson is accused of making four attempts on her ex-husband’s life, court documents reveal.
Erin Patterson, 49, made a brief appearance in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning after a police raid at her home on Thursday led to charges in an alleged poisoning case.
She has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
Charge sheets released to the media by Magistrate Tim Walsh indicate police allege Ms Patterson attempted to kill her ex-husband Simon Patterson, 48, four times between 2021 and this year.
Three alleged attempts occurred between November 16 and 17, 2021, May 25 and 27, 2022, and September 9 last year.
The fourth alleged attempt is said to have occurred on July 29, when his parents, aunt and her husband fell ill after eating a meal at her Leongatha home.
Simon Patterson was expected to attend the lunch, hosted as part of a church mediation process for their relationship, but pulled out last minute.
His parents, Gail and Don Patterson, both 70, and aunt, Heather Wilkinson, 66, died in hospital days after the alleged poisoning.
Mrs Wilkinson’s husband, Ian, a 69-year-old Korumburra pastor spent seven weeks in hospital following the lunch in a critical condition — With Ms Patterson accused of his attempted murder.
Ms Patterson has steadfastly denied responsibility for the deaths.
“I lost my parents-in-law, my children lost their grandparents,’’ she told The Australian on August 16.
“And I’ve been painted as an evil witch. And the media is making it impossible for me to live in this town. I can’t have friends over.”
She was remanded into custody on Friday and will return to court in May next year.