An Australian woman is accused of poisoning four people at a family dinner. The 49-year-old served a Wellington fillet which police said contained highly poisonous mushrooms. The woman must appear in court from May 7.
The 49-year-old has been in custody since November. The amateur chef cooked for her parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson, as well as Baptist pastor Ian Wilkinson and his wife Heather, on July 29, 2023. It is said that the dish contained highly poisonous green death cap mushrooms. According to experts, just one of these mushrooms contains enough poison to kill a healthy adult. It can lead to liver and kidney failure.
Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson did not survive the incident. They all showed symptoms of severe food poisoning. Only the pastor survived, but he had to be treated in hospital for almost two months.
Confusion with edible mushrooms?
However, the hostess survived the meal unscathed. The case caused a stir both in Australia and internationally. The 49-year-old is charged with three counts of murder and attempted murder. She was married to the son of Don and Gail Patterson, but had been divorced from him for some time.
After her guests died, the Australian protested her innocence: she had bought the mushrooms in a supermarket and had no reason to harm her guests. In fact, the green death cap, which grows in many parts of Australia, resembles edible mushrooms. The preliminary hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 7 at the court.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
