Accused death cap cook no longer facing three attempted murder charges

Justice Christopher Beale told the jury, which was empanelled on April 29, that the accused would not be facing three attempted murder charges relating to her estranged husband, Simon Patterson.

"Those charges have been discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions. In other words, those charges have been dropped, and you must put them out of your mind," he said.

The triple-murder trial started in regional Victoria nearly two years after three people died and another was hospitalised following an alleged death cap mushroom poisoning.

Ms Patterson, 50, is facing three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder at Latrobe Valley Law Courts in Morwell, Gippsland.

Ms Patterson pleaded not guilty to the charges and has always maintained her innocence.

She is accused of serving a poisoned beef Wellington to her relatives, Don and Gail Patterson and Heather and Ian Wilkinson, at her home in Leongatha on July 29, 2023.

Ian Wilkinson survived but his wife Heather, Don and Gail died from suspected mushroom poisoning.

The trial in Morwell, east of Melbourne, is occurring around 45 minutes from Leongatha, where the crimes were allegedly committed.

Ms Patterson's defence is led by barrister Colin Mandy SC. Nanette Rogers SC is the senior prosecution lawyer for the case.