MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A woman accused of serving her ex-husband’s family poisonous mushrooms pleaded not guilty in an Australian court on Tuesday to three charges of murder and five charges of attempted murder.
Erin Patterson, 49, appeared briefly in Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court by video link from a Melbourne prison, where she has been held since her arrest in November last year. She is accused of killing her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail Patterson’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66.
All three died in a hospital days after consuming a meal at Patterson’s home in July.
She pleaded not guilty to all charges and will appear at Victoria state’s Supreme Court in Melbourne for the first time on May 23.
Proceedings have been fast-tracked after Patterson dispensed with a committal hearing where a magistrate would have examined the prosecution’s case to ensure there is sufficient evidence to warrant a jury trial.
Julia Fox and Law Roach team up for a sustainable fashion competition show
Young entrepreneurs taking to world of AI
China launches new remote sensing satellite
Freight service in focus ahead of 6th CIIE
EU Council adopts a plan worth 6 billion euros for Western Balkans to speed up enlargement process
Stronger support for advanced machine tools urged
Online mini dramas making major headway
How major US stock indexes fared Monday, 5/6/2024
China's mega water diversion project benefits over 150 mln people
WNBA expansion franchise Golden State hires Ohemaa Nyanin as its general manager
Profile: Xi Revives Culture, Spearheads Innovation for Modern Civilization