Woman Accused of Killing In-Laws with Poisonous Mushrooms Has Some Attempted Murder Charges Dropped Ahead of Trial

• Erin Patterson, who was accused of feeding poisonous mushrooms to her estranged husband Simon Patterson’s family, had some attempted murder charges dropped before her trial begins
• Justice Christopher Beale reportedly told the jury at the Supreme Court of Victoria at Morwell on Tuesday, April 29 that prosecutors were not pursuing charges that Erin had attempted to kill Simon
• Erin has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges she faces

A woman who has been accused of feeding her estranged husband’s family poisonous mushrooms had several attempted murder charges against her dropped. 

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the BBC and British newspaper The Guardian, Erin Patterson, 50, is no longer accused of attempting to murder her estranged husband Simon Patterson in Victoria, Australia.

PEOPLE previously reported that the 49-year-old pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder after inviting Simon’s parents, Don and Gail Patterson, 70, for lunch at her house in July 2023. 

Erin also invited Gail’s sister and brother-in-law, Heather Wilkinson, 66, and Ian Wilkinson, 68, to her lunch, where she served Beef Wellington.

However, according to News.com.au, it was later discovered that the dish contained poisonous mushrooms. Don, Gail and Heather were hospitalized and died within days, while Ian recovered weeks later.

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Per The Sydney Morning Herald, Justice Christopher Beale told the jury at the Supreme Court of Victoria at Morwell on Tuesday, April 29 that prosecutors were not pursuing charges that Erin attempted to kill Simon on that occasion and others in 2021 and 2022. The charges relating to the alleged poisoning of the other four family members remain.

PEOPLE has contacted the Supreme Court of Victoria for comment.

According to The Guardian, a court transcript of the jury empanelment showed that Simon had also been invited to the lunch on July 29, 2023, but declined the invitation.

“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,” Beale said, per The Sydney Morning Herald.

The outlet adds that Simon and Wilkinson will give evidence at the trial, which could take around six weeks.  The jury, which was selected from a panel of 120 people, is made up of five women and 10 men.

Beale reportedly explained that three jurors will be balloted off, with a verdict being reached by the remaining 12.

“In this case it’s alleged by the prosecution, the accused has committed three murders and one attempted murder. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges,” he said. “It’s for you the jury and you alone to decide if she is guilty of the crimes alleged against her … to decide what are the facts.

Beale added, “You are the only ones in the court who can make a decision about the facts. It’s also your task to apply the law to the facts you have found … and decide if the accused is guilty or not guilty.”

Beale also reportedly told the jurors to weigh evidence with an open mind and avoid carrying out their own research, adding that jail time or fines could be the result of breaching this rule.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, opening addresses to the jury are set to begin on Wednesday, April 30.