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.
Teacher Appreciation Week: Top school's staff go 'beyond the textbook'
Xi Visits Wuliangsu Lake in China's Inner Mongolia
Gerard Butler appears in high spirits as he watches Chelsea FC thrash West Ham 5
Xi Stresses Improving Quality of Party's Organizational Work
Saudi Arabia sets ambitious tourism goal
An encounter of elegance in Yunnan rainforest
Nutrition experts add traffic light health labels to famous food paintings
Mystery as California firefighters find two dead bodies inside 'human
Xiplomacy: China Elevates Ties with Palestine, Pledging Support