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.
Chinese cars gain popularity in Botswana
Watch: Christopher Luxon speaks on anniversary of mosque attacks
EDITORIAL: Hong Kong’s security ordinance will strangle city’s society, economy
Community housing developments stall as government funding not guaranteed
Defending national champion LSU boosts its postseason hopes with series win against Texas A&M
Tāngarākau Gorge road to remain closed until mid
Person seriously injured, another dead after Browns Bay assault
Harrison Ford's Star Wars script sells at auction
Shocking moment Pennsylvania man pulls a gun on pastor in front of horrified congregation
Fire kills 43 in Bangladesh capital
Blackpink fans joke that singer Rosé, 27, is a jinx that breaks up high
Motor racing Jos Verstappen's outburst raises big questions for Red Bull