Deadly mushrooms didn't come from shop, trial told

Court hears how Erin Patterson’s account of events changed

- MAROOSHA MUZAFFAR

A health official has told an Australian court that it is “highly unlikely” the deadly mushrooms involved in a suspected triple murder came from commercial supply chains, including Woolworths and Asian grocers.

The testimony of health official Sally Ann Atkinson came during the trial of Erin Patterson, who is accused of serving a lunch containing toxic mushrooms that led to multiple deaths in 2023. Ms Atkinson ruled out that store-bought mushrooms could be deadly or contaminated and discussed her department’s report after the deaths of three of Ms Patterson’s relatives that “the risk to public health was deemed very low”.

Ms Atkinson said that she spoke with Ms Patterson several times in the days after the fatal mushroom lunch in July 2023. She told the court that the Department of Health’s investigation into the suspected mushroom poisoning continued until 11 August, after which a report was compiled.