Source : Perth Now news
The highly anticipated trial of accused triple-murderer Erin Patterson has begun in the country Victorian town of Morwell, as a pool of Gippsland residents is whittled down to a small group tasked with deciding the case.
About 120 Victorians called up for jury duty gathered at the Latrobe Valley court precinct on Tuesday morning where a random ballot will select potential jurors.
Both the prosecution and defence will have the opportunity to challenge potential jurors if their jury number is pulled from the box .
Once the final jury panel is selected they will receive instructions from trial judge Justice Christopher Beale.
The 50-year-old mother of two is accused of murdering her former in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, after the trio fell ill and died following an allegedly poisoned meal at Ms Patterson’s home on July 29, 2023.
She is also accused of the attempted murder of Ms Wilkinson’s husband, Korumburra Baptist Church pastor Ian Wilkinson, who also fell ill but survived.
Prosecutors will allege the group consumed deadly death cap mushrooms in a beef wellington lunch prepared by Ms Patterson.
She has pleaded not guilty to the four charges and has always maintained her innocence.
After jurors have received Justice Beale’s instructions, the trial will move onto opening addresses from the prosecution and defence — likely on Wednesday.
The trial is being held in Victoria’s Gippsland region, about 45 minutes from Ms Patterson’s Korumburra home and about two hours east of Melbourne.
Her defence team is spearheaded by experienced barrister Colin Mandy SC while crown prosecutor Nannette Rogers SC will run the state’s case against Ms Patterson.
The trial, before Justice Beale, is expected to last for five to six weeks.
